Ranking the Panthers' Three Best Draft Picks (and Two Worst)
By Joe Summers
Carolina Panthers' Two Worst NFL Draft Picks
1. Trevin Wallace - Linebacker, Kentucky (3rd Round)
There are reasons to like the Trevin Wallace pick. He's an explosive athlete with fantastic leadership qualities, and you could see him develop into a captain for the defense down the road if all goes well.
Unfortunately, he ranked in the 35th percentile in height, 38th in weight, and 34th in bench press. Small players without ideal strength could struggle in the run game and against big tight ends in coverage, and Wallace needs to be as sharp as possible in play recognition to mitigate those weaknesses.
Most mock drafts pegged him as a fourth or fifth round prospect, so Carolina using the No. 72 overall pick on him was a reach. If you believe in his leadership qualities, that may not matter for a young defense, but this was a risky selection regardless.
An element that’s encouraging for new #Panthers LB Trevin Wallace: the testing numbers are corroborated by the athleticism in games. He’s an explosive player who has serious closing burst + consistently brings violence to the finish. pic.twitter.com/c2nvAhdhOz
— Ricky Raines (@rickyboboddy) April 29, 2024
This might wind up being a genuis pick regardless of the size concerns. He was in the 90th percentile or better in both the 40-yard dash and broad jump, and athleticism often translates well to the professional level.
Wallace will need time to develop though. In the meantime, he can contribute on special teams, but you're hoping for more out of a third-round pick than just a special teams role.