Offensive Line
Questions To Answer: Who will play left tackle between Taylor Moton and Daryl Williams? Or will they find their left tackle through the draft? Will Greg Van Roten play left guard again as he did in 2018 as the only Panthers player to take 100% of the snaps? Could Williams slide into the guard slot if the Panthers draft a tackle? Is Williams healthy enough to be depended on after knee surgery ended his season during Week 1 of 2018?
What They Said: “I think Daryl’s done a nice job in terms of his rehab and getting ready for next season as we go forward – whether or not that affects [the draft] or impacts it, I don’t think that’s part of the equation. It’s the way the board is set as we go through this and then the decision as to whether we make those picks. Right now, everything’s going as scheduled with Daryl.” – Ron Rivera on Daryl William’s health.
Possible Pick & Analysis: As early as 16, but no later than the third round. This offensive line doesn’t have enough depth on the outside to start the 2019 season. There might be potential franchise left tackles available in the first round and the Panthers may not be able to pass on one if he’s available at 16, especially if they feel confident in Daryl Williams moving over to guard.
Quarterback
Questions To Answer: Who will back up Cam Newton? Is Cam Newton’s shoulder healthy enough to get through a full season? Do the visits with quarterbacks high on draft boards indicate that they’ll take a quarterback as high as Round 2? Do they feel comfortable with Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen if the board doesn’t fall the way they want?
What They Said: “He’s progressing very well. There is no timetable, obviously, and we’re not going to push – we’re going to make sure that when he’s ready to roll [that] he’s exactly where he needs to be…I haven’t really had a chance to see him throw a football or anything yet, but that time’s coming and we’ll see how he is.” – Ron Rivera on Cam Newton’s health.
“I wouldn’t say you need anybody to push him, I just think you need to have somebody ready to play – you never know what the circumstances or situations are going to be like, so until that situation occurs, we’ll just continue to groom who we have, whether that’s someone we get from this draft class or it’s the guys that we have right now and we feel very comfortable with the guys we have.” – Ron Rivera on whether they’re drafting a quarterback to push Cam Newton.
Possible Pick & Analysis: Some say as early as the second round for a player like Will Grier – while Ron Rivera says they haven’t spent any more time than usual with quarterbacks in the pre-draft process, the caliber of quarterbacks they’re speaking with is different than past seasons. A high draft pick spent on a quarterback may reveal how they feel about Cam Newton’s long-term health – his contract is up after next season – more than how they value the quarterback selected.
Up Next: A Backup for CMC? And What’s the Panthers Most Glaring Roster Hole?
