Carolina Panthers top breakout player candidates for 2018

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks fumbles the ball on the hit by Daeshon Hall #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Daeshon Hall, Defensive End

The Panthers have a very good defensive line, but their defensive end position is not getting any younger.

That is unless someone like Daeshon Hall steps up.

The Panthers got a combined 22 sacks (11 each) from Julius Peppers (37) and Mario Addison (30) in 2017, with departed Kawann Short right behind those guys at 7.5 and Wes Horton behind him at 5.5.

Hall has a long way to go but in terms of size and athleticism, he’s pretty much exactly how you would draw up an ideal NFL defensive end.

At 6-foot-5, 266 pounds, Hall has incredibly 35-inch arms and showed off his explosiveness with a 36-inch vertical jump at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.

He was placed on IR in October after appearing in just one game.

The Panthers traded up in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft to get Hall, so there are some pretty high expectations here.

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