Carolina Panthers: Best Available Player #3

The Carolina Panthers could look to beef up their defensive end position with their first round pick.

If there is one position that the Carolina Panthers are looking for in this upcoming draft, it is defensive end. This is not just because the team needs a fourth end in the rotation or could use a better pass rush. It is because the position is deep in this draft. Talking about a first round use of a pick on a defensive end may not be enough, but it is where we are going to start.

The Panthers made use of a dynamic rotation of defensive ends throughout the season. None of them collected a huge number of sacks last year. Charles Johnson was hurt. Jared Allen was at the end of his career. Kony Ealy came on and had a huge game in the Super Bowl, and third down rusher Mario Addison was productive at times. Still there was a lack of dominance at the position like when Greg Hardy and Johnson teamed up three years ago.

Ealy may be ready to breakout into that kind of player, but the Panthers could use an option on the other side of the formation. Johnson, at $3 million this season, probably is not that player for much longer. So what is out there for the Panthers to pick up in the draft pool at thirty?

According to a mock draft by Will Brinson of CBS Sports, there are six defensive end prospects that could go in the first round. He has four going in front of the Panthers and one behind. The man that Brinson has the Panthers taking Emmanuel Ogbah of Oklahoma State.

A Nigerian immigrant, Ogbah was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last year. He was an All-America at his position with thirteen sacks on the year. The 6’4” 273 lbs Ogbah ran a 4.63 forty yard dash at the NFL combine and his strengths as a pass rusher are in his explosiveness off the line. He has good strength in rip moves, although some believe him to be a one trick pony on the edge rush.

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The questions about Ogbah are mostly questions about his state of mind. Observers have noted that he doesn’t seem to play up to his potential on every play. This was a similar criticism given to Jadaveon Clowney when he entered the league. It is possible that Ogbah will give more effort when it begins to matter more (i.e. getting paid).

Ogbah is a lot of talent in need of seasoning, and the Panthers would be a good spot for him. He would not need to star right away as he figured out the NFL game. He could develop behind Charles Johnson as Ealy did and then overtake him next year or sometime in the near future.

Next: Jason Spriggs

Of course, Ogbah is not the only guy at the end position. Tomorrow we look at another defensive end prospect who might be available at pick 30.

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