Carolina Panthers: Looking at Draft Needs Overview
The Carolina Panthers will be going into the 2016 NFL Draft with some flexibility.
The Carolina Panthers will be drafting before we know it. The Combine is already behind us, and now we can start to look at the things the Panthers might be looking at in the draft. Like last year, the Panthers may have a couple of need areas but they can afford to be flexible in their choices. This is especially good since the Panthers are picking at the bottom of the draft with the exception of the Broncos.
The Panthers are obviously strong at quarterback, defensive tackle, linebacker, tight end, and some places on the offensive line. Despite speculations that the Panthers are looking for receiver help, the return of Kelvin Benjamin should rectify any issues there. The positions were the Panthers might need help are as follows:
Defensive End
The committee is getting smaller. The Panthers have seen Jared Allen retire and Charles Johnson get cut. Now the team is down to Kony Ealy and Mario Addison at end. Ealy is due to become a starter, but the team really needs more support at the position. It is also a position with some depth in the draft.
No, the Panthers won’t draft Joey Bosa from the 31st pick. However you could find someone like Emmanuel Ogbah down there or potentially wait until a later round. Ealy was a second rounder.
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Cornerback/Safety
As a Tar Heel football watcher, it is hard to say that Tre Boston is the answer at the safety position. The Panthers coaching staff may have a different idea, or they may try to sign a veteran to shore up that position.
Cornerback, on the other hand, needs some work. Charles Tillman is a free agent and soon to be 35. Bene Benwikere should return, but the team will need a serviceable nickel and/or dime back to face the number of teams that use multiple receiver looks.
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Offensive Tackle
Mike Remmers is a free agent and got pretty beat up during the Super Bowl. The team could move away from him if they could draft a replacement. Chris Burke of SI’s latest mock draft has the Panthers taking Taylor Decker of Ohio State. Burke describes Decker as a road grader on the run, which reminds me of descriptions of Jeff Otah.
Running Backs
Every year that Jonathan Stewart continues to play, every year there is a chance that his hour glass will run out. The Panthers got some good use from Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne behind Stewart, but the team might look at a third or fourth round guy as a potential upgrade to either on of those guys.
These are the areas that the Panthers should address in the Draft. What they will ultimately do will be decided on April 28-30.