The Panthers’ 2020 NFL Draft position is set. Is it worth trading up to get a QB?
Seventh.
Even with the Panthers’ blowout loss to the Saints at Bank of America Stadium, Sunday still went Carolina’s way to move up a spot and “earn” the No. 7 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.
The highest Carolina could have gotten was sixth, but the Chargers took that spot by losing to the Chiefs. The Jaguars, however, beat Indianapolis to win their sixth game and move behind the 5-11 Panthers.
The order for non-playoffs teams in the NFL draft is as follows:
- Bengals
- Washington
- Lions
- Giants
- Dolphins
- Chargers
- Panthers
- Cardinals
- Jaguars
- Browns
- Jets
- Raiders
- Colts
- Buccaneers
- Broncos
- Falcons
- Cowboys
- Dolphins
- Raiders
- Jaguars
Carolina’s draft needs depend heavily on whether Cam Newton is wearing a Panthers uniform in 2020, as Alaina Getzenberg analyzed Sunday, but among them are quarterback, a run-stuffer and cornerback.
With Cincinnati’s desperately needing a franchise quarterback to replace Andy Dalton, and Washington’s needs on defense, it’s hard to see LSU’s Heisman-winning QB Joe Burrow not ending up a Bengal, which would send send Ohio State defensive end Chase Young (this draft’s best player, according to ESPN) to D.C. It’s feasible Young could go No. 1 to Cincinnati, which would drop Burrow to Detroit at No. 3 or Miami at No. 5 (Washington and the Giants drafted QBs in the first round last year), but he won’t fall to No. 7.
The best available quarterback that could be on the board when the Panthers draft seventh will likely be Oregon’s Justin Herbert. The Chargers also need a quarterback, and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is the likely choice as the second-best in this draft (assuming he recovers from season-ending injury). It’s not out of the realm of possibility Carolina would trade up with Los Angeles to get Tagovailoa.
But again, that’s if the Panthers want a quarterback in the first round. They did just draft Will Grier in the third round a year ago, and could use someone like Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah, LSU safety Grant Delpit or Florida’s CJ Henderson to improve a porous secondary. Carolina gave up 31 rush touchdowns this year, tied for the most in NFL history post-merger, and Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons is an intriguing prospect, but with Luke Kuechly as a staple of the Panthers’ defense and having just signed Shaq Thompson to a contact extension, that won’t happen.
Other options include defensive tackles Derrick Brown (Auburn) or Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina), especially if Gerald McCoy finds a new home next year. Or the Panthers could get some much-needed help on the offensive line.
And that’s the problem at projecting who the Panthers should draft. They have so many weaknesses, it won’t be until free agency hits in March that we’ll get any clarity on what the team needs to do.
If Newton is gone, it’s hard to see a scenario where Carolina doesn’t take a quarterback short of signing a veteran free agent, but based on the likely market (Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston), is that a long-term fix?
Required reading
+ Fowler: Panthers’ season is thankfully over, but what coach can put out this dumpster fire?
+ Embarrassing season ended with a thud, and change can’t come soon enough
+ Christian McCaffrey made NFL history Sunday, but won’t forget this is still a kids game
+ Tua or Justin Herbert? Evaluating how the Panthers can rebuild in the 2020 NFL Draft
+ Saints win, 42-10, as Panthers keep digging for rock bottom in eighth straight loss
This story was originally published December 29, 2019 at 7:50 PM.
