The Carolina Panthers had a strong free agency, making multiple signings to improve their defense.
Still, many holes are left on the roster, and the Panthers need to hit on their first-round pick to keep the rebuild on track. So, what’s the best course of action for their only first-round pick?
Edge Rusher Among Panthers’ Top Priorities
The Panthers were one of the worst teams in the NFL in total sacks last year, ranking 29th.
They also had the worst raw pressure rate at 25.1%, along with the slowest time to pressure at 2.8 seconds. In free agency, the Panthers added nice defensive line pieces in Bobby Brown III, Patrick Jones II, and Tershawn Wharton, but this doesn’t solve the lack of an outside pass rush. They need an impact player who consistently generates pressure, something they’ve lacked since trading away Brian Burns.
The Panthers could target a guy like Jalon Walker from Georgia, who the Panthers seem to like, and head coach Dave Canales has spoken glowingly of him.
Wide Receiver Instead?
The Panthers traded up and took Xavier Legette with the last pick in the first round last year.
He had a pretty up-and-down year as he struggled with drops and creating the same explosive plays he did in college. The rest of the receiving room leaves a lot to be desired as Adam Thielen led the group in yards, and Jalen Coker flashed potential but isn’t a true No. 1. The Panthers know they need more pass catchers, as they considered trading for D.K. Metcalf but ultimately didn’t make an offer.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would be the likely selection if the Panthers went receiver, as he’s the odds-on favorite to be the first receiver picked. The Panthers have said they still see Legette as a No. 1 receiver, but during draft season, this could be a smoke screen.
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Trading Down is a Possibility
The Panthers could trade down and acquire more assets that fill more holes on the roster.
There’s plenty of talent throughout the first round that the Panthers could use, such as Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, or Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. The question is who would be willing to trade up, and what player they would want to trade for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who could fall, and a quarterback-needy team might look to move up and take him.
What’s the Best Option?
The Panthers’ best option is to stay put and draft an edge rusher unless a great offer comes in for the pick, which would be hard to envision unless things fall perfectly their way.
Carolina’s defense was awful last year, and giving the younger receivers a chance to grow is the best option since there are more dire needs elsewhere. Last offseason, the Panthers went all out to help Bryce Young, and this year, the main objective should be to rebuild the defense completely.
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