The Panthers will be picking at No. 7 when the 2020 NFL draft comes around in April. General manager Marty Hurney has built his reputation on an excellent batting average in the first round. The organization will need Hurney to make another splash pick, because as we just witnessed this team has a lot of ground to gain on contenders like the Saints.
Here are seven players who might be on the board when it’s the Panthers’ turn to pick at No. 7.
Auburn DT Derrick Brown
Dontari Poe, Vernon Butler and Gerald McCoy might all be gone by the time the draft comes. That means the Panthers have to reload their interior defensive line, even with Kawann Short returning. Brown (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) is the best defensive tackle in this class by far. Over the last two seasons, he’s totaled 8.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. Brown has also forced three fumbles and broke up six passes. Drafting a disruptive force like Brown would give Carolina the young foundation it needs for the next generation of tackles.
Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah
James Bradberry is likely to sign a long-term extension at some point this offseason. Then again, he might not get the elite cornerback money he’s looking for from the new front office. Either way, the rest of the corner rotation is shaky. Donte Jackson regressed in a bad way this year and Ross Cockrell is will be 29 when next season begins. College prospects are never a slam dunk but it would come as a shock if Okudah (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) does not become a star cornerback at the next level. He’s posted three interceptions and nine pass breakups in the 2019 season.
Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
Yes, Shaq Thompson just signed a four-year deal and Luke Kuechly isn’t going anywhere. That said, Kuechly’ performance this season proves he can’t play at an elite level forever. Drafting Simmons (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) would be all about potentially finding the next Kuechly. Simmons has some of the same range, at least. He’s posted an impressive 231 tackles in his college career, with 26.5 of them coming for a loss.
LSU S Grant Delpit
No school produces better DB prospects than LSU and the Panthers already have a couple of them on their roster. Eric Reid has two years left on his deal, but Tre Boston will become a free agent and Carolina desperately needs more depth even if he comes back. Delpit (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) is versatile and he plays fearlessly like all good safeties should. He’s totaled six sacks and eight interceptions for the Tigers, who will be facing Simmons’ Clemson team in the national championship.
Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
Right tackle Taylor Moton has been Carolina’s most consistent offensive lineman for the last couple of years. Keeping him around will require a major extension, though. The Panthers may decide they’d rather save that money for someone else and start over with a younger prospect at that spot. Thomas has the requisite size (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) to play tackle in the NFL. He was an All-American Freshman and was named first-team All-SEC each of the last two seasons.
Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa
The edge rotation is also likely to undergo a major makeover this offseason. Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin are both on the wrong side of 30 years old and will become free agents in March. Drafting a young edge rusher like Epenesa (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) to pair with Brian Burns for the long run would be a smart idea. Epenesa has totaled 26.5 sacks and 36 tackles for a loss in just 37 college games. Like Burns, he also has a knack for forcing fumbles, with eight in the last two years.
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tua may or may not be available when Carolina is on the clock. The question is if QB-needy teams will pass on him early because of concerns about his leg injury. If he drops to seven, the Panthers have to at least consider it. Tagovailoa (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) would represent a solid centerpiece for the next coach to build around once Cam Newton’s career is over. His touchdown-to-interception ratio was a crazy 87/11 in college.
