Brandon Smith – Carolina Panthers LB
- Middle Linebacker No. 3
- Outside Linebacker No. 4
There was plenty of excitement when the Carolina Panthers traded up to land Brandon Smith, a physically gifted linebacker from Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a habit of sending this sort of player to the next level and although he’s still a little raw, the upside is almost astronomical.
It’s hard to gauge just what Smith’s ceiling is when he puts it all together. He was one of the testing standouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and has also flashed moments of true quality in college – something that did not go unnoticed by the Panthers.
It might take some time for Smith to generate meaningful reps. However, if the Panthers end up releasing free-agent signing Damien Wilson following his offseason arrest, then the prospect might be able to stamp his authority on the roster much sooner than anticipated.
Smith is a stout force against the run and is outstanding in coverage for a man his size. There are some things to work on from a technical standpoint, but nothing to suggest he cannot become the team’s long-term successor for Luke Kuechly if everything clicks into place.
Expecting miracles from Week 1 would be unrealistic. Smith is a work in progress but should be a core special teams player while further improvements to his game take place in 2022.