2020 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers start anew with Jalen Hurts, Cowboys luck into Delpit

Admittedly, Shaun Wade is a player that I was late to come around on, simply because I had not watched enough tape on him to really make a true assessment. I’d heard or seen people talking up the Ohio State defensive back’s performance in 2019 but needed to see it to believe. Well, I’ve seen it and it’s very much clear that this is a player that should go in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which he does here.

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could need a quarterback and have invested valuable draft capital at quarterback in recent drafts, they are still the worst pass defense in the NFL right now. Wade has shown that he can help with that upon arrival in Tampa, showcasing tremendous instincts to go with refined footwork and the proven versatility to play outside or in the slot.

Firing Rivera leads me to believe that the Panthers are eyeing large-scale changes to their organization. We know that Christian McCaffrey is going to be the centerpiece of the offense moving forward but who is getting him the ball is up for debate. However, I say that a new head coach means a big reset at quarterback as the whole. Enter Jalen Hurts off of his one season with Oklahoma.

This might be rich for some people for Hurts but not for my blood. The Oklahoma quarterback is not a perfect prospect but he has proven that he’s improved his accuracy a great deal since we saw him as the Alabama starter and his athletic prowess and/or rushing ability make him a valuable weapon. Pairing him with CMC and, hopefully, a creative offensive mind that will adapt to his personnel would make Carolina a fascinating and potentially dangerous team moving forward.