Now that the major free agent signings have been finalized, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team heading into the 2016 NFL Draft. Today, the Carolina Panthers are the focus.
The Panthers had a great 2015 season, finishing the regular season 15-1, and ultimately losing to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. But even though the Panthers had a really impressive 2015 campaign, they still have areas they need to address through the draft this year.
The Panthers full 2016 draft order is below:
Round 1: Pick 30
Round 2: Pick 63
Round 3: Pick 93
Round 4: Pick 129
Round 5: Pick 168
Round 7: Pick 252
The Panthers traded their sixth round pick to the Chicago Bears for defensive end Jared Allen and they do not have any compensatory picks.
CAROLINA PANTHERS 2016 NFL DRAFT: TOP 3 NEEDS
CORNERBACK/SAFETY
Defensive backfield was probably an area that the Panthers needed to address even before cornerback Josh Norman left Carolina, but with Norman now with the Washington Redskins they must look to help their secondary. Carolina rescinded the franchise tag previously offered to Norman, who then reportedly made a last second attempt to sign said franchise tag. The outspoken corner then ended up signing a five-year, $75 million ($50 million guaranteed) with the Redskins. There is no doubt that Norman was one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL last season, but only time will tell if his success was largely a function of playing mainly zone coverage (as opposed to locking down each team’s top receiver) in a really good defense. While there is a good chance that Washington regrets giving Norman that huge contract, there is no doubt that he is a talented corner and Carolina will miss what he brought to their defense last season.
As of now the Panthers have Bene Benwikere, who is coming back from a season ending injury (fractured leg), Brandon Boykin (signed this off-season) and Robert McClain on their roster as probable starters at cornerback, along with Lou Young as a reserve. In the past Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman hasn’t viewed cornerback as a highly important position, but there is no doubt that Carolina needs to add some talent and depth at the position through the draft.
Currently Carolina has (probable) starting safeties Tre Boston and Kurt Coleman on their roster, along with Dean Marlowe and Trenton Robison, after releasing Roman Harper this off-season. The Panthers need to, at the very least, add some depth at safety.
RUNNING BACK
The Panthers do have a talented, every down, running back, in Jonathan Stewart, who ran for 989 yards and six touchdowns on 242 carries in 2015, on their roster. But the 2016 season will be Stewart’s ninth in the league and he missed three games at the end of last season due to injury. The other backs on Carolina’s roster, Fozzy Whittaker, Cameron Artis-Payne and Brandon Wegher, are probably not number one backs. They are good complimentary pieces, but if Stewart goes down with another injury the Panthers will want to have another talented back on their roster.
Carolina also has to keep in mind that Stewart is 29 years old and running backs typically have a big drop off at 30 years old. Gettleman and head coach Ron Rivera may want to draft a running back this year as insurance against an injury to Stewart and to help plan for a future without the former Oregon Duck. Yes, quarterback Cam Newton is capable of running the ball effectively, but the Panthers do not want to keep putting their franchise quarterback in a position to sustain an injury.
WIDE RECEIVER
Newton needs more weapons at his disposal and Carolina should look to add some depth at the receiver position. Both Kelvin Benjamin (who had a heck of a rookie season in 2014) and Stephen Hill sustained torn ACLs in training camp last season and how they will come back from an ACL tear is still uncertain. Jerricho Cotchery, who had the third most receptions on the team in 2015, was released after the Super Bowl.
Carolina’s offense was certainly impressive last season, even without Benjamin and Hill, but if there is a receiver that the Panthers like on the board when they pick in rounds three or four, they would be wise to select said receiver.
The Panthers could certainly look to draft a defensive end this year as well, and they just might do so since Gettleman values defensive line so highly. But I don’t think this need is as pressing, even with Jared Allen retiring this off-season, as the three mentioned above, since the Panthers already have Kony Ealy (three sacks in the Super Bowl 50) and Charles Johnson set to start, with Ryan Delaire, Mario Addison and Arthur Miley as added depth.
Yes, Carolina needs better production out of their defensive ends, and Johnson is only signed to a one-year deal, but addressing the areas of cornerback, safety, wide receiver and running back in 2016 is more important.
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