Fansided

5 players who Panthers need to be great in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Tahir Whitehead, Carolina Panthers
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Oakland Raiders reacts to a defensive stop during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at RingCentral Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

4. Tahir Whitehead

Middle linebacker may be an underappreciated position in the modern NFL, but the Panthers understand they are going to miss the stellar play of Luke Keuchly after his sudden retirement. Whitehead isn’t going to make anyone in Carolina forget about their former franchise leader, but he’s the guy who will take his snaps at middle linebacker in 2020.

Whitehead needs to avoid the temptation of trying to do too much to replace Keuchly. He just needs to be a solid run stopper in the middle of the Panthers defense. Stopping opposing running backs was a massive issue for the defense in 2019.

For Whitehead to prove that he should be counted on as a key member of the team’s future he’ll need to log triple-digit tackles. Again, the key for the former Raider will be to play steady football as opposed to trying to prove he is a star in the making.

Whitehead will also need to play a big role in stabilizing things in the team’s locker room. That’s another area where Keuchly excelled. Given the amount of young talent he’ll be playing with on his side of the ball, Whitehead needs to emerge as a veteran leader to help his team progress.

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