2020 NFL Draft: Top team needs for the Carolina Panthers

2. Linebacker

The Carolina Panthers suffered a big-time blow when Luke Kuechly announced his retirement after eight seasons with the team. Carolina now has to replace one of the league’s best middle linebackers and are losing a team leader.

Many people will want to select the freak of nature out of Clemson Isaiah Simmons, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be available for the Carolina Panthers. However, in the slight chance that he is there for them, how well would he fit in their defense?

Simmons would likely be paired with Shaq Thompson, but Simmons isn’t best suited at MIKE in my opinion. He’s someone who will move all over the field. You want him wherever the ball is, so that’s lining up on the weak side rushing the passer, or in coverage opposite a tight end.

Thompson would slide into MIKE where I think he could thrive. When he was coming out of Washington, there were questions whether he was a tweener because he had versatility like Simmons. However, he did not possess the same speed.

He does have the lateral quickness and could hold his own in coverage, but he could see his tackle numbers explode playing inside with Simmons. They did sign Tahir Whitehead who had 108 tackles for the Raiders last year, so there could be a healthy competition. There will be other notable prospects the Carolina Panthers could target on day two.

Linebacker prospects: Malik Harrison, Ohio State (Day two), Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech (Day two), Troy Dye, Oregon (Day two), Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State (Day two)