Carolina Panthers found great value throughout 2021 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers are starting to put together one of the most interesting rosters in the entire NFL. They entered the offseason with exciting talent on both sides of the ball and addressing their need at the quarterback position with the addition of Sam Darnold. While Darnold is far from guaranteed to become a star in Carolina, he at least brings some upside to the position for the team.

After a strong performance in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers have now surrounded Darnold with enough talent to give him a chance. This is undoubtedly a team on the rise and their performance in the 2021 NFL Draft is a major reason why. The Panthers’ draft haul last week was as followed:

Carolina Panthers 2021 NFL Draft haul

Round 1 (8th overall): Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Round 2 (59): Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
Round 3 (70): Brady Christensen, OT, BYU
Round 3 (83): Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
Round 4 (126): Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Round 5 (158): Daviyon Nixon, IDL, Iowa
Round 5 (166): Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
Round 6 (193): Deonte Brown, IOL, Alabama
Round 6 (204): Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Round 6 (222): Thomas Fletcher, LS, Alabama
Round 7 (232): Phil Hoskins, IDL, Kentucky

With 11 overall selections, the Carolina Panthers were able to dig deep into the depth of the 2021 NFL Draft class, finding impressive value throughout the process. The selection of Jaycee Horn at the top was exciting, as he has massive upside as a shutdown cornerback on the outside. As much of an impact as Horn can make, snagging him at No. 8 was only the start.

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The second day of the 2021 NFL Draft is where the Carolina Panthers really shined, finding value with all three of their selections. Their Day 2 haul began with the selection of Terrace Marshall Jr. at No. 59 overall. Marshall is a big and explosive wide receiver who showed the ability to win on the outside and out of the slot at LSU. Expect him to make an immediate impact in the Panthers’ offensive attack.

Left tackle stood out as a major position of need for the Panthers entering the 2021 NFL Draft and while they did not address the position early, it is difficult to argue with the value they found in the third round. Brady Christensen does not have a ton of long-term upside but he is a strong and stable offensive tackle prospect who can provide immediate value at a major position of need for the team.

The tight end position stood out as another major position of need for the Carolina Panthers and the addition of Tommy Tremble will certainly help. Tremble is a tough and physical tight end who should be able to provide immediate value as a blocker and brings a ton of upside in the passing game. Make no mistake about it, Tremble could quickly grow into an impact player for this team.

The Panthers made seven selections on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft and while it is difficult to make predictions on picks made this late, three players in particular really stood out. Daviyon Nixon was once considered a fringe first-round prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. While that was always a bit of a reach, Nixon is undoubtedly a talented interior defensive lineman who was an absolute steal in the fifth round.

Deonte Brown is a massive offensive guard prospect who dominates at the point of attack. His lack of quickness up front may ultimately limit his upside but it is not difficult to see why Brown could have a strong NFL career. If nothing else, he should provide nice depth for the Carolina Panthers up front.

Shi Smith is a quick and tough wide receiver prospect who was a consistent playmaker in college. His ability to create space with his routes and catch balls through traffic are impressive and certainly give him a chance to make a major impact at the next level. Smith may not provide a ton of long-term upside but he undoubtedly brings great value as a sixth-round selection.

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Make no mistake about it, the Carolina Panthers did a fantastic job of finding value throughout the 2021 NFL Draft. They had a lot of bites at the apple and did well at making the most out of nearly every selection. Not all of these players will make a massive impact at the next level, but this kind of well-rounded draft class has a great chance of becoming productive.

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