4 EDGE draft prospects the Carolina Panthers should monitor in 2022

Carolina Panthers should monitor Derick Hall

The best EDGE rusher in the SEC not named Will Anderson is not LSU’s B.J. Ojulari nor is it Georgia’s Nolan Smith. It’s Derick Hall.

Hall isn’t a household name among NFL fans looking at potential top prospects for the potential 2023 NFL Draft class. However, he is a pass rusher that could place his name among the class’ best heading into his senior year at Auburn.

As a junior, Hall enjoyed a productive season with 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. His coming-out party arrived against Alabama when he rattled Bryce Young’s cage with 3.5 sacks in an overtime loss to the eventual SEC Champions.

At an estimated 6-foot-3 and 256 pounds, Hall plays somewhat of a similar hybrid EDGE/off-ball role that now-Eagles pass rusher Hasson Reddick played during his one and only season with the Carolina Panthers. Assuming that defensive coordinator Phil Snow returns next season, he could be a fit on the Panthers’ defense.

I came away impressed with Hall’s pass rush skillset. He deploys a repertoire of moves and secondary counters using his dynamic and powerful hands to get by offensive linemen.

Hall is also a stout run defender. He sets the tone by setting firm edges and stays disciplined when it comes to reading the flow of the offensive line and attacking into gaps.

The preseason first-team All-SEC is not an elite athlete by any means. However, he makes up for it by playing with incredible effort and hustle to the football. Hall has also shown adequate lateral agility that allows him to drop into zone coverage when playing as an off-ball linebacker.

Hall can be inconsistent when it comes to gap integrity and body control in the run game. Even so, this is a pass rusher Panthers fans should monitor throughout the season that could enter the top-50 discussion with another impressive campaign.