5 overlooked Panthers players who can make a big impact in 2022

Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DL

This year is going to be pivotal for Yetur Gross-Matos.

Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Gross-Matos has been derailed by injuries during his first two seasons in the NFL. When he was selected, the Penn State product showed that his athleticism could help him become a very quick, physical player on the edge of the Carolina Panthers’ defense but so far, things haven’t worked out.

The reason this year will be so huge is that the Panthers didn’t make any big moves to replace Haason Reddick, who was instrumental in Brian Burns’ success last year and left in free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Gross-Matos’ size, he has the ability to be flexible on defense. While he’s slated to start at the defensive end spot alongside Burns, he could be utilized in many ways.

Marquis Haynes will also give Gross-Matos some tough competition on the edge. But with how much stock Carolina put in on drafting the player just two years ago, they’ll likely try and get the most out of him.

If Gross-Matos performs the way we all thought he would before he arrived at the next level, the lineman will make a big impact this season.