Carolina Panthers: Grades for every 2021 NFL Draft pick

The Carolina Panthers stuck to their plan in the 2021 NFL Draft and made some quality selections that will help the future of the franchise. 

You won’t find a better 2021 NFL Draft class than the Carolina Panthers. They went into the draft knowing what they needed: offensive weapons, help in the secondary, and an offensive tackle.

The Panthers addressed all three of their biggest needs early in the draft and then added strong depth and great value throughout the rest of the weekend. As always, though, the question in the NFL Draft isn’t if the needs were addressed but how well they were addressed.

Here are the grades for every Carolina Panthers 2021 NFL Draft pick.

Carolina Panthers grades for every 2021 NFL Draft pick

Round 1 (No. 8): CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina: A+

The Panthers picked the best cornerback in the draft at No. 8 overall. Jaycee Horn is a physical corner who is great in man coverage and has shown to be natural in defending the deep ball. The former Gamecock will also make receivers earn every catch and every yard.

He’ll lock pass-catchers down, break up passes, and be in their ear about it all game long. The Panthers got a dog on the outside and he has all the potential to be their franchise CB1 for years to come.

Round 2 (No. 59, via CLE): WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU: A

I love the selection of Terrace Marshall Jr. here. Carolina lost Curtis Samuel to Washington in free agency and they knew they would need to give Sam Darnold more weapons. Marshall is a guy who can take the top off a defense from the outside and also terrorize defenses from the slot.

He has great size and height to his advantage along with fantastic hands. He’s big, athletic and technically sound, and his versatility will serve the Panthers offense very well.

Round 3 (No. 70, via PHI): OT Brady Christensen, BYU: B+

The Panthers needed a left tackle to ensure there would be no ghost sightings by Sam Darnold in 2021. Christensen isn’t the most athletic tackle in this draft but he’s shown the ability to hold his own against pass rushers and keep the pocket clean.

He has a high football IQ, as well, which is something that any offensive line will benefit from at the next level. A clean Darnold will help this Carolina offense reach new heights and they are hoping Christensen can be the guy to help them get there.

Round 3 (No. 83 via CHI): TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame: B+

Another offensive weapon selected to add to the arsenal in Carolina. Tremble didn’t have crazy numbers at Notre Dame but look at the offense he played in. He’s an athletic guy who can block well and has solid hands. He’ll be a player in the Panthers offense that will provide solid blocking ability while also getting a few targets per game.

Round 4 (No. 126, via TEN): RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State: A

If you’re waiting for a bad draft pick by Carolina, you’re going to be waiting for a while. What a pick this is for the Panthers. Mike Davis was a very good complement/backup to Christian McCaffrey, and the Panthers needed someone to fill that void after Davis left in free agency.

Chuba Hubbard was regarded as one of the best running backs in the country in 2019. He ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging north of six yards per carry. He took a big step back in 2020 but the talent is still there. Having him in a complementary role to one of the game’s best running backs will serve him well. Matt Rhule can thank his wife for this one.

Round 5 (No. 158, via NE): DT Davion Nixon, Iowa: B

Nixon is a play disruptor from the interior. He had 13.5 tackles for loss in just eight games in 2020, including 5.5 sacks. Aside from Derrick Brown, the Panthers interior line isn’t great. Nixon is explosive out of the gate and could earn a solid role in the rotation next to Brown.

Round 5 (No. 166, via TEN): CB Keith Taylor Jr., Washington: B

Taylor gives the Panthers a really solid outside corner and good depth in their secondary. He is a very lanky player who uses his size and length to his advantage in both pass coverage and making tackles. Taylor can be used in several packages and be a reliable replacement in the case of any injuries.

Looking at the Panthers’ secondary post-draft, it is a very solid unit.

Round 6 (No. 193): OG Deonte Brown, Alabama: B+

Carolina drafted the largest human being in the NFL Draft in the sixth round. Deonte Brown is 6-4, 345 pounds; no, that is not a typo. He looks like someone merged William Perry and Mark Henry into one ginormous, sack-preventing, gap-creating machine.

Brown may start training camps as a backup but, taking his production at Alabama and his size into consideration, you have to think that he has a very good chance of starting Week 1.

Round 6 (No. 204 via CHI): WR Shi Smith, South Carolina: A

Aside from Jaycee Horn, this is my favorite pick by the Panthers. Shi Smith was one of my draft crushes from the Senior Bowl. He was a guy who raised eyebrows from the first practice. He has very good speed, downfield quickness and the ability to make spectacular catches. He will be a high-end slot receiver in this Carolina offense and perhaps contribute in the return game as well.

Round 6 (No. 222): LS Thomas Fletcher, Alabama: C

I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on long snapping, but this gets an average grade simply because of the video of the phone call between Fletcher and Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule where Fletcher found out he was being drafted. One note that several people have made is that the Crimson Tide were perfect on field goals and extra points when Fletcher was the long snapper, so the Panthers will be getting a reliable guy.

 Round 7 (No. 232, via ATL): DT Phil Hoskins, Kentucky: C

Hoskins is another guy that could end up adding depth to the Panthers’ defensive interior. He is light on his feet with a long wingspan and good size. He’ll have to refine his technical skills and get a bit stronger, but no seventh-round prospect is perfect.

He could spend some time on the practice squad and work his way up, perhaps earning a late-season call-up in light of any possible injuries.