The Panthers are in an interesting position at linebacker, as with Jermaine Carter’s emergence in the second half of last season there should be no pressing need to find a new starter. What looked to be one of the Panthers’ biggest needs for this offseason over the first half of the season is now more of a secondary concern, but that doesn’t mean that this won’t be an area that the Panthers are looking at in the 2021 NFL draft.
For a start, while Jermaine Carter did play quite well over the second half of the season, he is a pending free agent after this season. Additionally, while Shaq Thompson only signed a new contract last offseason, the Panthers will be able to create nearly $9m if they move on from him next offseason and, while it would be unfair to say that he played poorly in 2020, and he is clearly one of the leaders on the defense, it’s hard to say that his play quite matches his cap hit, which makes him the second most expensive off-ball linebacker in the NFL for 2021.
The Panthers’ need at linebacker then, besides needing to add depth behind the two main starters in the short-term to replace Tahir Whitehead and possibly Adarius Taylor , is to find players with developmental upside who can largely play special teams in 2021 but who also have the potential to be serious starting options in 2022 and beyond to give the Panthers options in how they approach the position next offseason. As always though, a chance to add a high-quality immediate starter is also going to be quite hard to pass on.
So what does the 2021 draft class have to offer the Panthers at linebacker?
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame; 6’1 215lbs
LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 02: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action on defense during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at Cardinal Stadium on September 2, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Notre Dame defeated Louisville 35-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Owusu-Koramoah is probably the only linebacker in this draft who stands a good chance of coming in and making an immediate impact for the Panthers, with the other top linebackers in the class not being particularly good scheme fits. While there is some talk about whether his better fit is at safety or at linebacker, in the Panthers’ defense he looks to be a good fit for the second linebacker role, allowing Jeremy Chinn to play more true safety with Jermaine Carter playing more of a rotational role. If the Panthers are set on adding a new starter in the draft, then it probably has to be Owusu-Koramoah.
On tape, he shows the movement skills to match up with tight ends and running backs in man coverage, though he could stand to tighten his footwork a little at the head of routes. He also flashes nice instincts and some ball skills to make plays on the ball on the back end, though this is probably the area where some improvement could make the biggest impact on his game. As a run defender, he has the physicality to take on blocks and shows good gap awareness though he could do with wrapping more consistently as a tackler.
Given where he is projected to be selected, Owusu-Koramoah probably only makes sense for the Panthers if they trade down in the first round into the early twenties, but it is hard to see that he will be the top option for the Panthers unless they are absolutely set in the fact that they can’t move forwards with their current linebacker partnership.
Cameron McGrone, Michigan; 6’1 236lbs
Michigan linebacker Cameron McGrone (44) celebrates with teammates after a sack in the fourth quarter of their Big Ten football game against Iowa at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Michigan won the game, 10-3, and improved to 4-1 on the season. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
Where the 2021 linebacker class looks strong is day two, with a number of good, if slightly developmental, prospects, and one or two of them could well fall to the third round, if not to early in the fourth round. One such player is Michigan’s Cam McGrone, who would be an ideal fit for a team looking for a linebacker to be an impact player on special teams in year one with the potential to contribute in a more significant way after some time to develop.
McGrone is certainly a good athlete, with the speed to cover sideline-to-sideline and the quickness and movement skills to be a really impactful player in coverage. As a run defender, he is a good technical tackler and shows good gap awareness, though he could continue to work on his technique when it comes to working off blocks as he can get swamped at times. He could stand to work on his footwork at the head of routes but he has the ability to play man coverage against most tight ends and running backs while his range and movement skills are very good in zone though he needs to show he can be used this to generate turnovers.
McGrone could become the best linebacker from this class, and should at least be a passable NFL starter, but if he can show improvement in his anticipation in zone than that would really help to take his game to that next level. He would probably be a bit of a luxury for the Panthers in the third round, but he is one of a few linebackers who have a lot of developmental value.
Nick Niemann, Iowa; 6’4 233lbs
Photo Credit: Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan
The Panthers have a pretty good recent history of turning day three linebacker picks into starters, with AJ Klein, David Mayo and now Jermaine Carter all making the journey from special teamers, to rotational pieces to full-time starters. While it might not be the most exciting solution to their linebacker needs, looking to add somebody on day three who can make a contribution on special teams early on with the potential to possibly earn more significant playing time on defense as time goes by would make a lot of sense given the Panthers’ other needs.
Niemann spent quite a lot of time playing in the slot in Iowa, but also spent some time as a more conventional inside linebacker, and certainly has the movement skills, speed and quickness to play at a high level in the NFL. He is a good tackler, shows good gap awareness and does a pretty good job of preventing blockers from being able to swamp him, though he could stand to improve his hand usage to then work off of blocks. In coverage, he needs to tighten up his footwork at the head of routes and to turn the flashes of anticipation and ball skills in more consistent aspects of his game, but shows great range and movement skills.
Niemann is expected to be drafted late on day three, if he is at all, and at this range looks to be really good value, as well as being somebody who would be a good fit for the Panthers if they want to add depth in the short-term with an outside chance that he can develop into a quality starter with time.
Jabril Cox, LSU; 6’4 231lbs
Photo Credit: HILARY SCHEINUK/The Advocate
Jabril Cox is very much a project, and how he was used at LSU in his one season of FBS football probably hasn’t entirely helped that, but he is a project with an awful lot of upside. He is also somebody the Panthers’ coaching staff got a chance to work with at the Senior Bowl and so they are possibly the best-placed of the NFL teams to judge whether he can turn his enormous talent into consistent play at the NFL level. If they do think he’s somebody they want to coach, then he will likely require a day two pick to ensure he comes to Carolina, but he can certainly pay that investment off if he puts it all together.
As a run defender, Cox shows good gap awareness and flashes the ability to work off blocks with pretty good tackling technique but can be a slightly passive at times and needs to show more consistent hand usage to prevent blockers from swamping him. In coverage, he needs to tighten up his footwork as this can really limit his potential at points, but he has the speed and movement skills to follow receivers through routes down the field and flashes really promising anticipation and ball skills to generate turnovers on the back end.
Cox needs to play with more discipline in coverage in terms of his technique, and would likely benefit from playing a more conventional linebacker role rather than spending quite so much time at the line of scrimmage in the slot. While Cox is a risk, he does show the ability to be a consistent turnover threat in coverage which is not something that can be said for the other linebackers the Panthers have on the roster right now.
Chazz Surratt, North Carolina; 6’2 225lbs
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 28: Chazz Surratt #21 of the University of North Carolina reacts after making a tackle during a game between Clemson University and University of North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Surratt is another player like Cox and McGrone who looks to be selected on the second day of the draft, and who would be something of a luxury for the Panthers as somebody who would largely be expected to sit and learn while playing special teams for much of their rookie season. Cox is also an interesting prospect because he started his college career as a quarterback and, while he has played at a high standard at linebacker, a lot of his value is based on the fact that there is yet untapped potential to take his game to even greater heights.
Surratt has gained a lot of attention as a blitzer, but while he is certainly effective in this role, it is what he has shown when asked to drop into coverage that is really encouraging. He shows good range and movement skills and, while his footwork is still a work in progress, he shows the ability to match up in man coverage or drop into intermediate zones. He is still learning the game from the defensive perspective, but he shows nice flashes of awareness and, if he can turn his understanding of passing concepts into anticipation to go with his ball skills, then he can be a really valuable coverage player.
As a run defender, he is a good tackler with good gap discipline, though he can get caught peeking inside at times, but will need to show that he can consistently work off of blocks in the box at the next level. Overall, he has room for improvement, but could be a high-quality starter with time.
Photo Credit: MICHAEL WOODS/AP
The Panthers aren’t in a position where they have to draft a linebacker in 2021 but, with Tahir Whitehead likely being allowed to walk, they could at the very least look to target a developmental prospect on day three. With that said, if they really like what they see from the likes of a Cox or a Surratt then they could definitely be part of the conversation, especially if either or both are still on the board come the third round.
(Top photo via UNC Athletics)
