The Carolina Panthers got some upgrades on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the 2019 NFL draft.
Here’s some early projections for the new class of rookies for the regular season.
Brian Burns
57 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF, 3 PBU
The team’s No. 1 draft choice out of Florida State should be a feature for the Panthers defense in 2019. But with his role in a new hybrid scheme still very much a mystery, it’s hard to judge how much playing time Burns will get when the season comes around. Burns may have to transition to left-side defensive end in nickel packages, which may stunt his production initially. Even still, these predictions may be a bit conservative.
Greg Little
16 starts
Of all of the Panthers rookies, new left tackle Greg Little has the best chance of making an impact, given the fact that he will likely be starting at such a crucial position right out of camp. If Little can shore up the blind side, then Cam Newton’s life in the pocket will be made much easier. As long as Little stays healthy, he should start every game.
Will Grier
22/46, 178 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
If all goes well for Newton and company in 2019, Grier will play the role of victory cigar on Sundays, which will keep his throwing attempts to a minimum. But should Newton get injured, it’s possible that Grier will be the next man up and get the opportunity to show why the team drafted him. These projections assume Newton will stay healthy and Grier only gets to play in garbage time.
Christian Miller
33 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FR
With an injury history and the label of being a raw talent coming out of Alabama, Christian Miller’s route to starting on Sundays will be much different than that of Burns. Early on, Miller might have to make his way on special teams where he will get the majority of his snaps, with only a minor amount coming on defense.
Jordan Scarlett
76 carries, 288 yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 16 yards
With Elijah Holyfield and Cameron Artis-Payne in the way, it’s debatable if Scarlett will even make the roster this year. However, with the team’s commitment to take some of the workload off Christian McCaffrey in 2019 and implement another rusher into the mix, it may be the perfect time for a rookie back to step up.
Dennis Daley
1 start
Daley also faces an uphill battle for getting playing time as a rookie, but the team’s lack of depth at offensive tackle could result in at least one start for the South Carolina product. Until then, Daley will see special teams snaps for the majority of the season. He will probably only get to start if Daryl Williams or Taylor Moton are injured.
Terry Godwin
18 catches, 112 yards, 1 TD
Of all Carolina’s rookies this year, Godwin has the most difficult path for finding a meaningful role. The wide receiver room is stacked from top to bottom and there’s a couple of guys who can do the same things Godwin can. If Godwin gets a legitimate chance, he could surprise though. Veteran slot receiver Jarius Wright should be his main competition.
