2019 NFL mock draft: Quinnen Williams goes No. 1 overall

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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the LSU Tigers missed a second half field goal at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

16. player. 87. . Safety. Alabama. Deionte Thompson

At the beginning of the 2018 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers were one of the hottest teams in football, getting out to an early lead in the NFC South. Led by former MVP quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers got themselves out to a furious start to the season, before fading late, and missing the playoffs.

In fact, the Panthers lost seven of their last eight games, and had Drew Brees started the season finale for the New Orleans Saints, they likely would’ve finished with an eight game losing streak. Towards the end of the season, Newton ended up being placed on the shelf due to a shoulder injury, and getting him healthy will be the main focus for the 2019 offseason.

When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers need help everywhere, and should look to bolster their secondary in the 2019 NFL draft. One player to keep an eye on is Alabama safety Deionte Thompson, who is not only the best safety in the draft class, but has to talent to start right away.

Carolina does have the talent on both sides of the ball to make a playoff run next season, and they have one of the better head coaches in football in Ron Rivera. The only way this team makes it back to the playoffs is if Newton is healthy, and it will do him well that the team sat him out for the final few weeks of the season.

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