Breaking down Carolina Panthers’ defensive depth chart before rookie minicamp
The Carolina Panthers head into this weekend’s rookie minicamp with seven new draft picks to evaluate. They also need to decipher the talent within their 11-man undrafted rookie pool and the incoming tryout players who are looking to make their marks Friday and Saturday.
With the self-scouting season about to pick up in earnest, the Panthers have to be mindful of their current depth chart as well as their options on the outside. The free-agent market still has some notable names awaiting employment, and the offseason program could go a long way in determining if the Panthers need additional reinforcements on their 91-man roster before training camp in July.
After analyzing the offensive depth chart earlier this week, here is a breakdown of each position group on defense:
(Note: Rookies are noted in italics, while draft picks are additionally identified in bold. All reported undrafted free-agent agreements are subject to physicals before the rookie minicamp.)
Defensive line
Projected starters: Derrick Brown, Lee Hunter, Bobby Brown/Turk Wharton
Projected backups: LaBryan Ray, Cam Jackson
Competition/depth: Jared Harrison-Hunte, Aaron Hall, Parker Peterson
General manager Dan Morgan acknowledged that he doesn’t like to use the term “starters” with the defensive line rotation. Fair enough, but it’s clear there are four guys at the top of the totem pole.
Derrick Brown is the leader of the pack, if not the entire defense. Wharton and Bobby Brown figure to rotate to around him in their shared second season in Carolina. Hunter, the team’s second-round pick, will also be a fixture of unit, as he can play nose tackle and defensive end in Ejiro Evero’s odd front.
Ray, Jackson and Harrison-Hunte were all here last year. At least two of them are likely to stick to the Week 1 roster, but they’ll have to hold off one another and Hall and Peterson, too.
Outside linebackers
Projected starters: Jaelan Phillips, Nic Scourton
Projected backups: Princely Umanmielen, Pat Jones, Thomas Incoom
Competition/depth: Trevis Gipson, Nick Hampton, Isaiah Smith
Phillips was signed to be a game-changer for the Panthers’ defense. He will need to be a do-everything edge defender to make the most of his four-year, $120 million contract. Scourton, a promising second-year pass rusher, will be Phillips’ co-pilot at outside linebacker.
Jones is back to full strength after a back injury limited him to a handful of games last season. He will work with Umanmielen, last year’s third-round pick, in a rotation behind Phillips and Scourton. Jones and Scourton have the versatility to rush from the interior in specific packages, too.
Incoom, the team’s top special teams ace, should be on solid ground entering OTAs. Hampton — a free-agent addition — and Gipson will likely battle for a potential sixth spot at the position.
Inside linebackers
Projected starters: Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace
Projected backups: Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott
Competition/depth: Jackson Kuwatch, Maema Njongmeta, Jacoby Windmon, Jamil Muhammad, Maz Mwansa (IPP), Jared Bartlett
The Panthers signed Lloyd to be the alpha linebacker in the middle of their defense. The hope is that Lloyd’s talent will elevate the play of the inside linebacker next to him as well.
Wallace is the favorite to start opposite Lloyd, but he should see some competition from Cherelus this summer. While Cherelus is known as a special teams mainstay, the fourth-year linebacker has flashed when given opportunities on defense. Wallace needs to stay healthy and productive throughout the summer to fend off Cherelus and potential outside competition.
Kuwatch, the team’s seventh-round pick, will work to upstage Martin-Scott, who is entering his second season in Carolina. Njongmeta, Windmon and the others at the bottom of the roster will hope to carve out role on special teams this summer.
Cornerbacks
Projected starters: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson
Projected backups: Corey Thornton, Chau Smith-Wade, Will Lee, Akayleb Evans
Competition/depth: Robert Rochell, Michael Reid, Tyrek Funderburk, Cam Miller, DeVonta Smith, Jaylon Guilbeau
Horn and Jackson form one of the better cornerback duos in the league. They’ll continue to guide the group as the nickel position appears to be open to competition. Thornton and Smith-Wade will battle — along with Evans, Rochell and Lee — to work the middle of the field.
Lee, the team’s fourth-round pick, is likely to be the first outside cornerback off the bench. Evans is a standout gunner on special teams, so his spot will be less about his role on defense and more about what he can do for Tracy Smith’s unit. Smith-Wade and Thornton are holdovers with versatility, so both could stick around even if they lose out on the nickel job.
The Panthers have brought in some intriguing talent to try to sneak onto the roster. Funderburk — who starred at Metrolina Christian Academy and later Appalachian State — has previous NFL playing experience, and he could be a dark horse to push an incumbent player off the roster. Miller, Smith and Guilbeau are a trio of undrafted rookies with interesting college pedigrees.
Safeties
Projected starters: Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott
Projected backups: Lathan Ransom, Isaiah Simmons, Zakee Wheatley
Competition/depth: Demani Richardson
The Panthers chose not to spend a high pick on a safety in the draft. That decision was good news for Scott, who will likely retain his starting job entering training camp.
Scott will work opposite Tre’von Moehrig in split safety looks this fall. When the Panthers want to take advantage of Moehrig’s versatility on the back end, they’ll use three-safety looks that feature Ransom, too.
Wheatley, a fifth-round pick, is a long-term developmental asset. While he comes in with considerable draft hype, Wheatley would benefit from learning the system and being used a specific role as a rookie. Simmons, a former first-round pick, will also compete for a role on defense. At worst, the former Clemson standout will be a key cog on special teams.
Specialists
Projected starters: Sam Martin (P), JJ Jansen (LS), Ryan Fitzgerald (K)
The Panthers gave Martin a two-year deal to return following a strong first year in Carolina. Fitzgerald had a quality turn during his rookie season, so he is on solid ground as well.
The unsinkable Jansen is back to snap balls through his legs during punts and field-goal attempts.
