The Panthers will look to turn things around after a disappointing 2020 season that saw them finish 5-11. The Panthers’ defense fell short of expectations after the front spent all 7 of their draft picks on that side of the ball. But Brian Burns believes things will turn around in 2021.
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The Panthers 2020 draft class saw them bring only defensive players into the team headlined by 7th overall pick DT Derrick Brown out of Auburn. But the unit wound up finishing 18th in the league in both points and yards allowed while integrating all of those new pieces.
With the 7th overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select…
Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn pic.twitter.com/cvsU2hBccg
— PFF (@PFF) April 24, 2020
Panthers 2020 draft:
No. 7 Derrick Brown, DT
No. 38 Yetur Gross-Matos, edge
No. 64 Jeremy Chinn, S
No. 113 Troy Pride, CB
No. 152 Kenny Robinson, S
No. 184 Bravvion Roy, NT
No. 221 Stantly Thomas-Oliver, CB— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) April 25, 2020
However, after a successful offseason, the Panthers could look threatening in 2021.
Brian Burns believes the team is almost complete in 2021
Carolina Panthers drafted South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn with the 8th overall pick, which made him the 3rd consecutive defensive player that they have drafted in the 1st round. And then brought in free agents like linebackers Haason Reddick and Denzel Perryman and cornerback A.J. Bouye to add experience to the young unit.
With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @Panthers select CB Jaycee Horn!
📺: 2021 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/67XLNzFFsB
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2021
2018 1st round pick Brian Burns is excited for his defensive unit in 2021. “I feel like we’re kind of complete now, to be honest. We had a lot of rookies that needed to step up,” Burns said, via the team’s website. “They came, they got better each and every week, so by the end of the season, they came along. Going into this season, their second year, they should have their feet wet and be fine now. We’re up and running now. I don’t feel like a lot of things can stop us this year.”
The Panthers look to have pretty much reloaded the roster. The front office decided to take a chance and traded for QB Sam Darnold, hoping to sneak into the playoffs in an easier NFC conference. The Panthers 2021 season will be highly anticipated