With the 2019 season basically over, it’s time to start looking ahead to April and the 2020 NFL draft.
Free agency will obviously dictate some of these moves, but here are a few positions the Panthers need to address in this coming draft class.
Defensive back
James Bradberry and Ross Cockrell are both going to become free agents in March and Donte Jackson has struggled in his second season, so cornerback is a major position of need for Carolina. They should definitely target one in the early rounds, perhaps even the first. Safety is also a potential need with Tre Boston hitting the open market and plenty of room for improvement from that unit. Expect a lot of focus on LSU prospects in the coming months, with corner Kristian Fulton and safety Grant Delpit both linked to Carolina in mock drafts.
Defensive tackle
Dontari Poe was certainly having a good season before landing on injured reserve, but he is a potential cap casualty in 2020. The Panthers can save almost $10 million in cap space by releasing Poe next offseason. Even if they don’t, he is a free agent after 2020 and the Panthers will need to get younger up the middle since Vernon Butler is the only tackle currently on the roster who is still in his prime.
Left guard
Greg Van Roten isn’t terrible, but he is 29 years old and the Panthers may decide to move on without him. Daryl Williams is also clearly not a viable option at left guard long term. If they choose to go a different direction, Tyler Larsen is a versatile backup who can spot-start if needed. Starting fresh with a rookie to develop is probably the best option, though.
Edge rusher
Brian Burns was a home run of a first-round pick, even considering his wrist injury and seeing limited snaps. He’s going to be a force for the Panthers for a long term. However, Carolina will need some other rushers opposite him. They could bring back Mario Addison, but he’s over 30 and Bruce Irvin is likely a one-year rental, only. Pairing Burns with another solid pass rusher would provide a solid foundation for the edge rotation.
Quarterback
This depends on what the team decides to do with Cam Newton. As we get closer to April, we will know more about whether Newton will be back in 2020. There’s also the factor of a new coaching staff that may not be sold on either Will Grier or Kyle Allen. The Panthers won’t be picking high enough to get a top prospect like Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa. Prospects like Jacob Eason and Jamie Newman should be available on Day 2, though.
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