By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers weren’t able to retain the 2019 Defensive Player of The Year Stephon Gilmore this off-season (as he signed a two-year contract worth $23 million dollars with IND), but they did re-sign cornerback Donte Jackson on a three-year contract worth $31.5 million dollar deal. Of course, Jackson has been a stud for the Panthers defensive unit (12 interceptions in four seasons). Jackson ousted a 70.4 grade by PFF in 2020, which was the second-best grade on the defense. In 2021, PFF gave him a 61.3 grade.

Jackson might not be Gilmore, but it’s worth noting that he is five years younger than the short-lived Panthers CB.

The Panthers defense will rely on their 2021 first-round pick Jaycee Horn to step up as the CB2 moving forward. Horn broke his foot after three games last season and spent the rest of the season on IR. It would be an understatement to say Horn is highly motivated after a tough rookie campaign. Per Carolina Panthers, Horn stated, “It killed me regardless of the circumstances, I ain’t hitting my goals last year, you know? I wanted to be in that conversation. I wanted to be in the playoffs, I wanted to win, and I couldn’t do any of that. I was hurt, so even though I couldn’t control it, with me being hurt, it still ate at me bad. So all I can do is keep stacking the days and wait till game one.”

The Panthers should also witness playing time from Rashaan Melvin and C.J. Henderson. Melvin is a 32-year-old CB that will enter his second season with the team (after returning on a one-year deal). His best season came in 2017: three interceptions and 13 pass deflections. Henderson’s name might sound familiar, as the Jaguars selected him ninth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Jaguars CB that only played in eight games as a rookie was shipped to the Panthers in exchange for TE Dan Arnold in late September last season.

The Panthers may have had struggles with their passing game (with the 32nd ranked QB by Chris Simms), but their pass defense really shined last season – fourth in passing yards allowed last season. I really like the Gilmore-less pass defense moving forward, as Horn and Henderson should help Jackson unveil a potent CB unit in the NFC South for many seasons.

The post Panthers CB outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Here are few reasons why Horn was the right choice:

The NFC South is home to the best WR corps in the last 25 years

The Panthers compete in a division where they see 2019 Offensive Player of The Year, Michael Thomas twice a season, Mike Evans twice a year, and all-time great Julio Jones twice a year. Those are six games against the cream of the top wideouts. 

Evans ousted 182 yards and two touchdowns in the two games combined against the Panthers. Jones had 10 catches for 137 yards in the one game against the Panthers secondary. Michael Thomas did not play in 2020 against the Panthers, but he was dazzling every defense in 2019.

Carolina was 17th against the pass in 2020. The passing offenses in the NFC South were prolific to say the least: Tampa Bay was third in the league in passing offense, Atlanta was fifth, and the Saints were in the top 10 with a healthy Drew Brees. Horn will be the ultimate competitor for the Panthers in juggernaut NFC South gauntlet.

Sam Darnold holds similar potential to the 2021 rookie QBs 

Sam Darnold has been playing in the NFL for three years, but he’s only a year older than the likes of Justin Fields/Mac Jones. Darnold was a better prospect than both QBs (Fields/Jones) coming out of college, plus he’s been consistently productive in the past (2019). 

The Panthers may feel confident that there aren’t distinguishable advantages for the rookie QBs in this year’s draft over Darnold. Plus, the potential is still sky high for the former USC signal caller. It was evident that the Panthers felt strongly about Darnold when they sent Bridgewater out the door for a late round draft pick.

If Carolina feels like they don’t have Trevor Lawrence or maybe Trey Lance on the board, it’s very wise to get a talented player at a much bigger need like Jaycee Horn. 

The Panthers were competitive in 2020

The Panthers may have had a top 10 pick in the 2021 draft, but they were more competitive in many games than some fans realize. The Panthers lost a whopping “eight games by eight points or less” in 2020. With a slight upgrade at QB from Darnold to Bridgewater and a healthy Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers will already be in a much better position to close out victories. With that being said, the Panthers were never looking for a home run hit at QB – rather another quality piece to the puzzle.

The post Why Jaycee Horn was a great pick appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Michael Obermuller

Right in the middle of quarterback Zach Wilson’s Pro Day last Friday, the Miami Dolphins decided steal some headlines when they traded the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft to the San Francisco 49ers. Of course, minutes later they made another deal, this time with the Philadelphia Eagles. When the dust settled, the new draft order looked like this:

Philadelphia now sits 12th in round one, as they were able to take advantage of Miami’s urge to trade down, but not too far down. The three-team deal also netted the Eagles an extra 2022 first rounder, something they desperately needed to rebuild their cap-stricken roster.

As for the three anticipated draft picks in question, the Eagles pick is without a doubt the hardest to figure, and not just because it’s further down in the order. The Niners have already stated their intention to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick. The Dolphins are expected to take one of the top wide receivers at No. 6, or possibly receiving tight end Kyle Pitts out of Florida. Philadelphia on the other hand, has the benefit of mystery on their side.

With many holes to fill, here are the top first round draft targets for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.

3. Rashawn Slater, OT/G (Northwestern)

During their Super Bowl run, the Eagles offensive line was their greatest strength. Their rushing attacking plowed through the New England Patriots towards a championship, but it broke down after the 2017-18 season. Players like Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson are aging harshly, and injuries on the O-line have killed Philly in recent years. Rashawn Slater could be the perfect solution to this problem.

The former Northwestern Wildcat tackle is known for his versatility. Many draft scouts are projecting him as a guard in the NFL because of his size, or even a center if need be, but some still have him as a smaller tackle that relies on his athleticism and agility. The point is, Slater is intelligent enough to play pretty much anywhere on an offensive line, a major asset for a team like the Eagles that constantly has blockers miss time.

To start, Slater could help out on the left side, and possibly surpass failed first rounder Andre Dillard at left tackle, or fill-in Isaac Seumalo at left guard. Neither deserve a starting job in 2021.

2. Micah Parsons, LB (Penn State)

The top linebacker in the draft may not fall to No. 12, but if he does the Eagles should jump on the opportunity to grab him. Their linebacker core has been pretty terrible the last couple of seasons, mixing and matching journeymen like Nate Gerry, Alex Singleton, T.J. Edwards and more. No offense to any of these hard-workers who have fought their way up, but none have the talent of Micah Parsons.

The Penn State Nittany Lion is an explosive playmaker with a unique style about him. He’ll likely become a MIKE-backer in the NFL, but he has the speed and awareness to play any linebacking position. With Gerry gone, Philadelphia is projecting a starting LB crew of Edwards, Singleton and Genard Avery. Parsons has the ability to slot in above any of these players on the depth chart, accumulating 109 total tackles in 2019 (14 for a loss) with 5.0 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Honorable Mention: Jaycee Horn, CB (South Carolina)

Roseman could also stand to improve on his secondary. He traded for Darius Slay last offseason, and also signed safety Anthony Harris earlier this month, but this group is not complete. Assuming Patrick Surtain II is gone, Jaycee Horn may be the next best cornerback available (Caleb Farley and Greg Newsome II might also be options). The South Carolina alum is an aggressive press-coverage CB that is not afraid to mix things up with the opposing wide receiver. He would fit right in with Philly fans.

1. DeVonta Smith, WR (Alabama)

This could also be teammate Jaylen Waddle depending on what other teams do (or even Rashod Bateman if there’s a run on the position), but the Eagles still need a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver more than anything else. DeVonta Smith is a pure route runner with sticky hands, a dream draft pick for any NFL quarterback. As a younger passer throwing to a combination of Travis Fulgham, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward Jr. and JJ Arcega-Whiteside ”” Jalen Hurts would be thrilled.

Alshon Jeffery was finally let go this free agency period, and DeSean Jackson has moved on as well. This wide receiving core has a lack of talent and experience. They could at least add one of those two in Smith or Waddle, the Alabama tandem that tore up college defenses. DeVonta had over 1,800 receiving yards in 2020, on 117 receptions. The speedy Waddle only played half the games, but totaled 591 yards off 28 catches.

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