The Panthers are probably better set at corner than they have been in a while, with last year’s starters returning in James Bradberry and Donte Jackson and a returning Ross Cockrell expected back after a season spent on injured reserve. This might not mean much to some, but Cockrell was seen as a real contender to get significant playing time before going down with a broken leg and the 27-year old gives the Panthers three legitimate corners. The one immediate issue they do have – aside from sheer depth – is a lack of a classical nickel corner to match up with smaller slot receivers in the slot.
This isn’t a must fix, as there is a chance that the Panthers could move Gaulden down from safety to play nickel as he did in college, but the Panthers would, of course, like to be able to find somebody who can offer depth while also being able to play nickel.
Before we get to my suggestion for a mid-round depth option, you should first check out my Cornerback Big Board, take a closer look at why it’s so hard to draft a cornerback and get it right, check out my suggestion for a late-round nickel corner option and have a listen to our offseason series, The Great British Drafting Show detailing the Panthers’ needs and wants come April’s draft.
Now that you’ve finished with some homework, why would Ohio State’s Kendall Sheffield make sense on the Panthers’ roster?
Athleticism And Movement Traits – Younger And Faster, Personified
Sheffield didn’t run at the scouting combine nor at the Ohio State pro day due to a pectoral injury, but the expectation was that he was going to run fast – really fast. On tape, it was extremely rare to see anybody run away from him and the speed with which he came back to the ball at times will be a rare trait, even at the NFL level:
He also showed decent ability to mirror receivers through routes:
While he isn’t perfect in this regard, the questions about Sheffield have little to do with his ceiling, but rather his floor, and as with every position, that tends to come back to technique.
Up Next: Coverage Skills
