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Carolina Panthers: The Five Players To Decide the Season

By John Woodcock

Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) celebrates his sack with teammate Star Lotulelei (98) on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter during the NFC Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) celebrates his sack with teammate Star Lotulelei (98) on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter during the NFC Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Vernon Butler (Louisiana Tech) after being selected by the Carolina Panthers as the number thirty overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Vernon Butler

The rookie from Louisiana Tech was a little something of a surprise on draft night but everybody understood the logic. The Panthers build from the line out on defense and Butler was adding another big body to that defensive middle.

Butler’s job will be to inject energy in substitutions. No one would have a problem if Butler turned in a breakthrough rookie year, but really all he has to do is be what Dwan Edwards was. Whenever Edwards reported in for the Panthers, you never really worried about him being there. Of course Edwards had the advantage of a decade plus in the league to get there.

Butler won’t get that kind of time (years of experience), but if he can play at a level where there is no visible drop-off in the defense when he is on the field then that is a victory for the Panthers. Butler may one day be a star, but that isn’t what the second line defense needs right this minute.

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