Carolina Panthers: 7-Round 2020 mock draft replaces Luke Kuechly
player. 829. . DT. Crimson Tide . Raekwon Davis. 2
2016 first-round pick Vernon Butler continued to be a disappointment for the Panthers this past season while Gerald McCoy was fine but very clearly a stopgap option on the defensive front. What this Panthers defense needs in the trenches is to upgrade and get younger. Thus, looking to Tuscaloosa and finding Raekwon Davis might be their best option.
Davis is a player that it feels like many people have forgotten about. He’s a monster on the interior that can come onto an NFL roster right now and be a strong run defender capable of blowing plays up. The reason he falls to the second round, however, is his lack of development as a pass-rusher, which comes down to his technique when trying to penetrate. With the right coaching though, Davis has all the physical tools to be the player Carolina is looking for up front.
IOL. Wolverines . Cesar Ruiz. 3. player. 811.
The depth at guard, or lack thereof, was quite evident for the Panthers in the 2019 season. Offensive tackle Darryl Williams was forced to move inside to left guard, putting sixth-round rookie Dennis Daley at left tackle. Shockingly enough, that worked out poorly for the Panthers. They need interior presences that can move Williams back outside and Cesar Ruiz is a guy that could answer the bell on Day 2.
Ruiz had a ton of experience at Michigan, spending time at center and guard for the Wolverines. While he was inconsistent at times, he has nice athleticism and terrific size (6-4, 319 pounds) to be a really valuable piece on the interior. Putting him into the Carolina front could help new offensive coordinator Joe Brady really be able to put his offense into motion.