NFL Mock Draft 2016: Week 14 edition
By Staff
31: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are rolling this season, sitting as the only undefeated team left in the NFL despite the fact that they’re not at all equipped on paper to be in the position they are. They didn’t have Luke Kuechly for most of the start of this season and Kelvin Benjamin has been out with an ACL tear since before the season started.
You’d think that the Panthers would target a receiver in the draft but instead they need to focus on the defensive side of the ball to make sure they don’t miss a step next season. Austin Johnson is a monster at Penn State, and the type of defensive tackle who could greatly compliment the Carolina front.
Cam Newton and the offense for the Panthers has been getting it done, but defensively the unit has run into problems with stopping the run and getting pressure on quarterbacks. They survived a barnburner of a game against a poor Saints team, which was more proof that an upgrade on defense is needed.
Carolina does’t need to tear anything down on defense, rather they’re in a position where if they draft smart — like taking Johnson — then they’ll fortify a foundation for the future on that side of the ball.
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