Prior to the Brian Burns trade, there were conversations regarding the fact that the Panthers could stand to draft another edge rusher. After Burns was sent to the Giants in a blockbuster deal, it likely has become a top priority for the franchise. Carolina made a splash by going out and acquiring former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility of drafting another edge rusher. Clowney, 31, is deep into his NFL career, positioning him to be a good contributor as both a mentor and player.
The Panthers hold the 33rd and 39th overall picks, giving them ample opportunities to bring in Clowney’s understudy, who can take over the position in the long run. Scanning the draft board, only two edge rushers are virtual locks to be gone by the time the Panthers are scheduled to make their first selection. Both Dallas Turner and Jared Verse seem like guaranteed first-rounders, but the rest of the edge class could still be available when Carolina selects. While this is clearly a good thing, it could make narrowing down the selection challenging for this new front office.
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu’s name appearing on this list may come as a surprise to some. He’s agreed upon as a first-round talent, with many scouts declaring him the best edge rusher in this class. The primary issue with Latu is entirely health related. In 2021, as a member of the Washington Huskies, he medically retired from football due to a severe neck injury. Latu then entered the transfer portal and relocated to UCLA, where he was cleared to continue his football career.
Once there, he burst onto the scene, notching double-digit sack numbers in each of the last two seasons. During those two seasons he recorded 85 tackles, 23.5 sacks and even grabbed two interceptions. He’s heralded as the most technically skilled edge rusher in the draft, with a wide variety of moves and counter moves to get to the quarterback.
Latu even posted the best pass-rush win rate of any power five player this past season. It’s hard not to fall in love with his potential as a prospect, but his medical evaluations will largely determine where he ends up being drafted. It’s unlikely he’s still on the board after 32 picks, but in this scenario, it might be too sweet of a deal for Carolina to pass on.
Bralen Trice, Washington
Switching gears to one of Latu’s former teammates, Bralen Trice took an alternate path after arriving at Washington. He remained with the Huskies, playing a pivotal role in their run to the national championship game this past season. Similar to his former teammate though, he’s expected to be selected in the top 50 picks of the upcoming draft.
Trice is known for his high motor and consistent impact on the game. During his three years of play at Washington, he totaled 101 tackles, as well as 18 sacks. Contrary to Latu, he isn’t the most technically skilled, but makes up for it with his constant effort. He’s a team leader, and has been noted as well-liked by the players around him. Additionally, he has an incredible pass-rush win rate, making him valuable to any team looking for an upgrade in that category.
Trice has shown he knows how to win, which is always looked at favorably by NFL teams. The question is whether or not these elements can lift him up over some of the more athletically gifted edge rushers in the draft. For Trice, it may come down to whether a team values a higher floor or ceiling for a prospect.
Darius Robinson, Missouri
A player who has skyrocketed up draft boards since his dominant Senior Bowl showing is Missouri’s Darius Robinson. He took advantage of his chance to showcase his talent in front of NFL scouts, and started garnering first-round consideration.
There’s lots to like about the Missouri native, including his 6’5 stature. With his impressive size, he could easily be moved inside to defensive tackle, giving whichever team acquires him increased flexibility. He can hang on the outside as well though, which he proved in college by producing against SEC offensive lines. This past season he tallied up 43 tackles, 8.5 sacks and managed to force a fumble.
Many consider him to be a rare prospect given the movement skills he possesses despite being a bigger edge rusher. This, paired with the power and size advantage he’ll carry into his matchups make him an eye-catching talent. With that being said, he still needs to develop a wider range of moves and a heightened sense of awareness. If Robinson can do just that, he might be a steal for Carolina in the second round.
Chop Robinson, Penn State
Moving from one Robinson to another, Penn State’s latest edge talent could wind up being one of the best in the draft. Nicknamed “Porkchop” at birth because of his startling size, Demeioun “Chop” Robinson is touted to be one of the best athletes in this entire draft class. He backed that up at the combine by posting a 4.48 40-yard dash time, the second-best among all edge rushers.
Robinson has elite explosiveness, and has been described as unbelievably “twitchy” in almost every scouting profile. His speed, both off the line and in pursuit, has the potential to be nightmarish for opponents at the next level. In his two years at Penn State after transferring from Maryland, Robinson totaled 41 tackles, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. These aren’t the most astounding numbers, but the upside is clearly there.
Some have claimed Robinson is a more raw version of another former Nittany Lion, Micah Parsons. While that bar might be a little high, Robinson has the ability to be a difference-maker in the NFL, should he refine his game. He needs to improve on tackling and hand usage should he hope to become a premiere edge rusher at the next level. He’s more of a developmental piece than the prior three prospects, but provides upside that can’t be looked over for very long.
Other Notable Prospects
Chop Robinson won’t be the only Penn State edge rusher selected at the end of April, as his teammate Adisa Isaac also has a solid outlook going into the draft. Isaac statistically outperformed Robinson over the last two years, but doesn’t have the same athletic profile NFL teams love.
Chris Braswell from Alabama could also be a good option for teams looking to improve their pass-rush. His explosiveness off the edge helped him fill the shoes of Will Anderson Jr. this past season, and makes him an alluring target on day two of the draft. Finally, Marshawn Kneeland is a name to watch after his impressive Senior Bowl performance. The Western Michigan product’s bigger frame, powerful rushing ability and high motor could continue to move him up draft boards.
With what is clearly an abundance of talented players, Carolina has no shortage of options once they’re on the clock. If they play it smart, there’s a good chance the Panthers walk away from this year’s draft with a promising new disruptor on the defensive line.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
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