4 Panthers who could get more playing time under Ejiro Evero in 2023
By Dean Jones
Brandon Smith – Carolina Panthers LB
Two things that the Carolina Panthers valued heavily during their defensive makeover are versatility and athleticism. Something that obviously enticed Ejiro Evero enough to resist other offers and commit his short-term future to the organization.
Evero has proven credentials when it comes to maximizing the production of players with high athletic traits. This means big improvements could be coming for Brandon Smith, the 2022 fourth-round selection that caught the eye on occasions during his rookie campaign.
The former Penn State star is fast, physical, and explosive. This makes Smith one of the more intriguing players for Evero to mold into a potential starter if some technical flaws are figured out during the preparation period.
Smith looked the part when given more responsibilities by Steve Wilks. An unfortunate injury cut his campaign short just as momentum started to build, so it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the gifted linebacker can put this to good use throughout OTAs and camp.
Evero could use Smith anywhere across the front seven given his unique attributes. And the new defensive coordinator certainly has the credentials to unlock the player’s true potential.
Considering there could be plenty of turnover within Carolina’s linebacking corps this spring, opportunity knocks for Smith. Whether he can seize it or not is the big question.