Earlier this week, the news broke that Mississippi State’s Jeffery Simmons suffered a torn ACL during a recent workout. On top of being barred from the scouting combine, this could knock Simmons out of contention for being a potential first-round pick. There are still a number of good defensive tackle prospects in the 2019 NFL draft class, though.
Let’s move inside and take a look at four that the Panthers should consider if they decide to move on from the under-performing Dontari Poe.
Dexter Lawrence, Clemson: 6-foot-4, 351 pounds
The red flags for Lawrence are obviously well-documented, as a positive drug test cost him both of Clemson’s playoff wins over Notre Dame and Alabama. He is still arguably the best 3-4 nose in this class. The question is will a team like Carolina be comfortable taking him in round one or if he will slip. Red flags aside, Lawrence is a beast in the middle and very good against the run. That would certainly help in a division that sees Alvin Kamara and Devonta Freeman twice each.
Renell Wren, Arizona State: 6-foot-6, 298 pounds
Wren is one of our favorite Carolina mock picks and is someone that can come in and add a lot of explosiveness. He might project better as a 4-3 tackle, but the Panthers have noted they may mix up their fronts, rather than stick primarily to a 3-4. Either way, Wren’s size and power would be a welcome addition to the defensive front seven.
Daylon Mack, Texas A&M: 6-foot-1, 327 pounds
Mack may not have been on many radars last month, but he certainly is now. After a dominating performance at the Shrine Game, Mack earned the call-up to the Senior Bowl and continued to impress scouts and draft analysts with his ability to attack the line of scrimmage. He also clocked in at 327 pounds, which checks off another box. Mack was moved around while at Texas A&M, so he can come after you from a variety of positions.
Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois: 6-foot-2, 310 pounds
Don’t let the name of the school fool you. We already know how athletic Saunders is. How many 310-pounders do you know that can back-flip as fluid as he can? But he’s a lot more than that. Saunders can play. He is violent with his hands, consistently wins with leverage and can be highly disruptive. He controls the line of scrimmage. Saunders would be an excellent fit in the middle if Carolina does in fact move to a 3-4 defense.
