The Carolina Panthers made history in the 2020 NFL draft, becoming the first team in the common era to make all of their picks on defense. It’s not hard to see why. Last season, the team ranked second-to-last in points allowed per game and since then they have lost six starters.
Given the situation, they will have to lean heavily on this rookie class, as Matt Rhule admitted yesterday. So, how did they do?
Here are our early letter grades for the Panthers’ class of 2020.
No. 7: Auburn DT Derrick Brown
Carolina needed help at defensive tackle, but taking one in the top 10 is not a good use of draft capital. Brown’s mediocre athletic testing makes it even harder to swallow. His combine performance ranked him in the 64th percentile among interior defensive linemen.
Unless Brown becomes the next Fletcher Cox or Aaron Donald, they might wind up regretting this one, especially because Isaiah Simmons was still available. The Cardinals knew better than to pass on a prospect like that and they didn’t hesitate to snap him up with the next pick. Apparently, the Panthers had Brown higher on their board, which raises questions about their evaluation process.
That said, Brown is a powerful and disruptive lineman who frequently drew double teams in college, which may have contained his pass rushing production. He’ll be great defending the run, so if he can develop more moves and becomes a legitimate threat to get to the quarterback, it will help justify this pick a lot.
Grade: C
No. 38: Penn St. DL Yetur Gross-Matos
The Panthers doubled up on their defensive line with their second-round pick and they got a lot more value at this spot. Many analysts expected Gross-Matos to be a first-round pick.
Unlike Brown, there’s no question that Gross-Matos will be a strong pass rusher at the next level. Over the last two seasons, he totaled 17 sacks and 34.5 tackles for a loss at Penn State. His length and fluid movement will translate well against pro offensive linemen. At the combine, Gross-Matos showcased his blend of power and explosiveness with 20 bench press reps and a 120 inch broad jump, which ranked in the 85th percentile.
While he will be penciled in at EDGE across from Brian Burns, expect defensive coordinator Phil Snow to slide him inside as well.
Grade: B+
No. 64: Southern Illinois DB Jeremy Chinn
Releasing Eric Reid despite a negative cap hit and passing on Isaiah Simmons in the first round were among the worst moves made by the front office this offseason. Drafting Chinn at the end of the second round helps make up for both of them.
Chinn’s best selling point is his ability to line up at multiple positions. Like Simmons, he can play linebacker, box safety, slot corner, free safety and even some outside corner. He’s also one of the freakiest athletes to get drafted in recent years. Chinn ran a 4.45 second 40-yard dash at the combine to go with 20 bench press reps, a 41 inch vertical and a 138 inch broad jump. Those scores ranked him in the 99th percentile for safeties.
We’re not crazy about trading up to get there, but the pick itself was beyond reproach. This was the best selection the team made this year.
Grade: A+
No. 113: Notre Dame CB Troy Pride Jr.
Waiting until Day 3 to address the hole at cornerback was a risky proposition by the Panthers, but they landed a good one with Pride.
During his time at Notre Dame, Pride proved that he has the ball skills to make an impact in the NFL. He posted four interceptions and 18 pass breakups over the last three seasons. Pride also has speed, as he ran a 4.4 second 40-yard dash at the combine.
Pride will need those wheels to keep up with the wide receivers around the NFC South. The question mark here is if he has the size to succeed outside. Pride checks in at 5-foot-11, 193 pounds with 30 5/8 inch arms. Those are the kind of physical attributes you typically see in a slot cornerback.
Assuming that the team sees Pride as the replacement for James Bradberry, they’re rolling the dice. This pick may be the single biggest x-factor in deciding how successful this draft is. Pride will be under more pressure to perform than anyone else in this class.
Grade: B
No. 152: West Virginia S Kenny Robinson
It became apparent with this pick that the Panthers made ball skills a top priority this year. At both West Virginia and in the XFL, Robinson showed excellent anticipation attacking the ball. He totaled seven interceptions in college and two more playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks this year.
While Pride’s size is a question mark, it’s an obvious plus for Robinson. He measures in at 6-foot-3, 191 pounds, which makes him a big specimen for a defensive back. Like Chinn, he also has the ability to play multiple spots. His best fit is playing the centerfield safety role, which makes him an ideal backup behind Tre Boston. If the Panthers want to get him on the field faster, he could also wind up playing some slot corner.
If Phil Snow can reign in his aggressive instincts a bit, Robinson should develop into a quality starter. Getting him this late was an excellent value.
Grade: A-
No. 184: Baylor DT Bravvion Roy
Derrick Brown was never going to be able to fill the void at defensive tackle by himself. Not after the team lost Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Vernon Butler to free agency. Kyle Love also remains unsigned.
Roy should make for a good fit given the team’s interior needs and his previous experience playing for Matt Rhule. He has the look of a classic space-eater and run stuffer in the same mold as Poe at 6-foot-1 and 333 pounds. However, he also showed some potential as a pass rusher in college. Last season, he posted 5.5 sacks.
Most sixth-round picks don’t see a lot of playing time as rookies, but Roy could be an exception to the rule. Given the lack of depth inside, he could see significant snaps rotating in behind Brown and Kawann Short.
Grade: B
No. 221: FIU CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Like the other defensive backs taken earlier, Thomas-Oliver offers plus speed and athleticism. He ran a 4.48 second 40-yard dash at the combine. He also posted a 34 inch vertical and a 127 inch broad jump.
As one would expect from a former wide receiver, Thomas-Oliver has solid ball skills. He had two interceptions and 18 pass breakups over the last two seasons. Thomas-Oliver is also much more physical than your average cornerback and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty – he posted seven tackles for a loss, as well.
At 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds, Thomas-Oliver has the requisize size to play outside cornerback in the NFL. He projects as a backup behind Donte Jackson and Troy Pride.
Grade: A
