Each week this offseason, we’ll be focusing on one position and how the Panthers may choose to address their needs; whether they’re in the market for an upgrade at starter or just a reliable backup, every player on the 53-man roster is going to be important in 2018.
This is Linebacker Week.
After Thomas Davis announced earlier this offseason that the 2018 season will be his last, Shaq Thompson seems well-placed to take over the second linebacker role after this season for the Panthers, but there is a surprising lack of depth at outside linebacker as the meat of the offseason approaches. With this in mind, it would not be surprising to see the Panthers target outside linebacker as a lower-priority need in either free agency or the draft. While it would be surprising to see the Panthers spend a high draft pick on an outside linebacker given their other needs, this could be yet another area of interest for the Panthers on the final day of the draft.
The Big Board
There is no absolute standout prospect at outside linebacker in this draft, but there are a number of decent prospects who could develop into high quality starters. Vander Esch, Nwosu and O’Daniel all have the potential to be quality starters in the NFL but all need development to various degrees; O’Daniel in particular could do with adding some bulk in order to improve against the run, something he struggled with at times on tape. While it wouldn’t be completely impossible to imagine the Panthers adding one of these three, they are all likely to be drafted earlier in the draft than the Panthers should be realistically expected to target the position.
Tegray Scales is a more pro-ready prospect than some of the above, but his limitations in coverage could be harder to fix and given the Panthers lack of immediate impact at the position, he is probably a less suitable target than some of the others. Depending on how far down the draft board they fall, Baker and Griffin could be options for the Panthers given their athletic upsides, but as with most prospects the Panthers interest in them will depend on how late they are available.
Where the Panthers most realistic options will likely lie is towards the end of the middle rounds, and should the likes of Darius Leonard or Darius Jackson still be available, their athletic potential and ability to contribute on special teams could warrant a late-round selection. Leonard, in particular, moves well in space and given some time to develop and add weight could be a rotation piece once Thompson takes over Davis’ role.
Darius Leonard. Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Another player who might make sense for the Panthers is Skai Moore. While he lacks the upside of some of the other prospects, he could offer late-round depth and special teams ability; while he is probably unlikely to develop into a quality starter, given the Panthers’ lack of any real depth at outside linebacker, he could offer late-round injury coverage.
The Panthers need at outside linebacker is possibly more significant than might be first imagined, especially given Thomas Davis’s pending retirement; while the Panthers could look to address this in the draft, this is one area where a low value free agent should also be a realistic option.
