The Carolina Panthers came into the 2018 NFL Draft with multiple needs across their roster, and they’ve answered most of the questions, while at the same time asking others; Marty Hurney and Ron Rivera continued their practice of bringing in players with not just speed, but quantifiable skills at multiple positions. Rashaan Gaulden played cornerback but is expected to compete for starting safety; Marquis Haynes was the defensive end with the most sacks in Ole Miss history and may be asked to drop into coverage in Carolina; DJ Moore said he feels comfortable playing literally any position on the field.
While the draft is over, the offseason continues and the roster will not be set, so just because there are questions at running back and left guard doesn’t mean those questions will remain until the team starts training camp in August. But for now, let’s bask in the glow that are eight new Carolina Panthers.
The team has said since the beginning of the offseason that they wanted to surround Cam Newton with weapons, and they added another big one on the first day of the draft, one that doesn’t necessarily need to catch deep passes to make big plays; when asked what were his strengths, Moore had his answer at the ready.
“I would say run after the catch, right off the bat,” Moore said breathlessly via phone call after being selected by the Panthers. “An exciting player – I’m just going to bring something new to the game every week, so it’s going to be something to look out for. At the same time, you’re going to get a hard worker and somebody that is going to know the game plan and be ready to go week in and week out.”
With the 24th pick in the draft, the Panthers added a wide receiver to an already crowded room by drafting DJ Moore from Maryland in the hopes that Moore can provide an additional tool in Cam Newton’s toolbox – the team has certainly worked to remake the wideout group since Hurney’s arrival last July, trading Kelvin Benjamin at the 2017 trade deadline which allowed Devin Funchess to blossom as the team’s #1 wide receiver to the tune of 30 catches for 455 yards and five touchdowns over the second half of the season even while playing with a bum shoulder. The team is hopeful that second-year wideout Curtis Samuel will be healthy enough to contribute after the 2017 second round pick only played in nine games and appeared to be upping his production before a broken ankle with ligament damage ended his season in Week 10. With newcomers Torrey Smith and Jarius Wright joining Damiere Byrd and Russell Shepard on the roster, a team that was forced to start former practice squad players in their first-round playoff loss to the Saints will likely not encounter that problem this season.
In 2017, Jackson showed the speed and tackling ability to play inside cornerback, lining up against quicker slot receivers – the 5’10”, 178-pounder has the closing speed to chase down every player on the field; for his career, he compiled 116 tackles (4 for loss) and four interceptions to go with 22 passes defensed.
In LSU’s upset victory over Auburn, Jackson had four passes defensed in the fourth quarter alone, three of them coming on three consecutive attempts; his natural position is on the outside where he is expected to compete with Ross Cockrell to start opposite James Bradberry.
Jackson joins Bradberry, Kevon Seymour, Ross Cockrell, Corn Elder and Captain Munnerlyn in what is an extremely young secondary group – one thing that Jackson brings to the table is the swagger that may be lacking in what is a quieter group. When ‘Thieves Ave’ was the address with Josh Norman leading the group, there was a cockiness and an attitude to the group defending the back of the field. Jackson is definitely not lacking in that category, his Twitter bio simply read “Cocky.” for most of the 2017 season.
Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers went back-to-back in the second and third round on cornerback, pulling the trigger on James Bradberry and Daryl Worley, who would end up starting across from each other in the secondary for the majority of the 2016 & 2017 seasons – fast forward to 2018 and the Panthers have double dipped in the secondary again – first drafting Donte Jackson from LSU to play outside cornerback with the 55th pick in the draft and following that with a self-described ‘hybrid defensive back’ in Tennessee’s Rashaan Gaulden in the third round.
“The way I attack the game is try to get the ball however I can,” said Gaulden. “I’m just thinking about the football whenever I can as far as forcing fumbles, getting tipped balls, or even making interceptions. That’s just a major emphasis of my game. That goes beyond just playing the game. I think about that when I’m off the field. I think about that throughout my day. Just trying to figure out ways how I can get the ball.”
While the 6’1, 197 pound Gaulden is listed as a cornerback, he has played at multiple positions, including nickel, outside corner and safety – GM Marty Hurney and Head Coach Ron Rivera said that they expected him to come in and compete for the starting safety spot with free agent signee Da’Norris Searcy. Gaulden started 10 games in his junior year and recorded 65 tackles, forced three fumbles and recovered three more; he also added six passes defensed over the course of the season.
Next Up: The Panthers Find Some Upside In The Mid-Rounds
