3 Panthers on Thin Ice After Major Defensive Coaching Shakeup

3. Ejiro Evero, Defensive Coordinator

This is a make-or-break season for Ejiro Evero in Carolina. The defensive coordinator's last few years in the league is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL.

When he was the defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos, Evero was considered a surefire future head coach. He was even offered the interim job there after Nathaniel Hackett's firing. He turned down the interim position and had multiple interviews with the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks for their head coaching vacancies since then.

Once a promising head coaching candidate, Evero's star isn't shining as brightly anymore. After back-to-back seasons of finishing 29th and 32nd defensively with the Panthers, Evero has to show significant improvement next season.

The Panthers almost completely overhauled Evero's staff. They will presumably make sweeping changes to the roster on that end of the floor. Then, it will be up to the 44-year-old coach to make things work.

Improving the defensive line and the pass rush will be of utmost importance. The very leaky run defense has to take a step forward. The defensive backfield was relatively better compared to the rest of the unit but the pending free agencies of the two starting cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson complicate matters.

If they leave, the Panthers will have to find credible solutions to replace them while also upgrading the rest of the defense. Otherwise, Evero will be among the first coordinators in the league to be fired.

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