The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Carolina Panthers' draft class is complete.
The draft, which had been scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, was successfully completed virtually from the homes of coaches, general managers and other front-office staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a pick-by-pick look at how each player Carolina has selected will fit.
Check out the full NFL draftcast | Updated NFL depth charts
Round 1, No. 7 overall: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Take a look at some highlights of former Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos as he tackles his way to becoming a powerful NFL draft prospect.
My take: The Panthers had a choice between Brown and Clemson LB/S/CB Isaiah Simmons. They went with Brown in part because they have only two defensive tackles on the roster and in part because they believed Simmons to be a better fit for an established team, not one in a rebuild mode. Put Brown beside Pro Bowl lineman Kawann Short, coming off a season on injured reserve, and the Panthers now have one of the stoutest inside duos in the NFL. Brown was so stout at Auburn that teams literally ran away from him. It's a reminder of when the Panthers had Short and Star Lotulelei in the middle a few years ago. Neither general manager Marty Hurney nor coach Matt Rhule expected Brown to be around at No. 7. Rhule was almost emotional talking about the impression Brown left on him. “He kept talking about his D-line coach and what his D-line coach meant to him,’’ he said. “People that are successful in life usually are very grateful people."
And the last time...: The last time the Panthers started a rebuild under a new coach in 2011, they did it with another Auburn player, quarterback Cam Newton. That turned out pretty well. Carolina went to the Super Bowl in 2015 and Newton was the league MVP. Brown in the middle of this defense is a great place to start because of his character, work ethic and everything else first-year coach Matt Rhule is looking for in establishing his culture. Brown has the potential to be a first-team All-Pro, as Carolina's past five top-10 picks have been. “They're getting a world-class guy off the field and they're going to get a dog on the field," Brown said. “I'm going to give everything I got on the field and I'm going to give everything I got to the community as well… being able to get to work and being able to give to my teammates and being able to get to work and just... I don't know... I'm just overwhelmed right now, just work."
Worst to first? The Panthers gave up a league-worst 5.2 yards per rush last season with Short on IR. That opened the floodgates for opponents to do whatever they wanted. Brown and Short have the talent to change that. The Panthers still need to add another tackle in this draft. With Brown joining Short and 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns at end, Carolina has the makings of a special starting group. Look at the past few teams to reach the Super Bowl and a key was the play in the middle of their defense. It certainly was key for San Francisco's run last season.
Round 2, No. 38 overall: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Check out the highlights from former Southern Illinois defensive back Jeremy Chinn's college career.
My take: Gross-Matos could be a starter soon for a Carolina team moving back to a 4-3 base after going with a 3-4 last season, which prompted general manager Marty Hurney to take Florida State edge rusher Brian Burns in the first round a year ago. While Burns can play down in a 4-3, he's better suited as a 3-4 OLB. Teams won't be able to overpower Gross-Matos as easily because of his size (6-foot-5, 266 pounds), but he does need to get more physical at the point of attack. Some rated him as a late-first-round selection, so he is a solid second-day pick for a team rebuilding its defense from the inside out. Perhaps the fact that Gross-Matos played at Penn State gave him an edge for new coach Matt Rhule, a former Nittany Lions walk-on. Gross-Matos is driven to succeed after a tragic childhood. His father drowned while trying to save him in a boating accident, and his older brother died after being struck by lightning.
Round 2, No. 64 overall: Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Look back at some of the highlights for former Notre Dame CB Troy Pride Jr.
My take: The Panthers really needed a versatile safety and they really liked Chinn so much that they traded their third-round pick (69) and one of their two fifth-rounders (148) to get the 6-foot-3, 221-pounder with 4.45 speed. They also need a big corner, and Chinn will get a look at least in the nickel corner spot. He's what Rhule calls a position-less player because he can play nickel, safety and linebacker. He's a lot like Lenoir-Rhyne's Kyle Dugger, who went to New England in the second round. Chinn will be able to do many of the things Eric Reid did for the Panthers last year before they moved on from him. This is a solid pick and continues Carolina's run on defensive players in the draft after the team spent most of free agency focusing on the offense.
Round 4, No. 113 overall: Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame
My take: General manager Marty Hurney found a Pro Bowl cornerback in Josh Norman in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. He hopes Pride, Carolina's fourth-round pick, can be that type of player from this year's draft. The 5-11, 193-pound corner has the size and -- most importantly -- speed that Rhule is looking for in rebuilding his defense. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the NFL combine. He also ran the 200 meters for the Irish track team. He's a playmaker and could develop into a Day 1 starter as Norman initially did. This continues Carolina's defensive trend with each of their first four players on that side of the ball.
Round 5, No. 152 overall: Kenny Robinson, S, West Virginia
My take: Carolina went with its fifth straight defensive player in this draft, but this one has a twist. Robinson also played in the XFL, making him the first XFL player drafted with college eligibility remaining. He'll be the second XFL player to join the Panthers, who signed quarterback P.J. Walker of the Houston Roughnecks. While Robinson is listed as a safety, he is what Carolina coach Matt Rhule calls the position-less player because he can play other spots. Robinson was was a top safety in college in 2017 and 2018, allowing less than 45% of the passes into his coverage to be completed. In the XFL, for the St. Louis BattleHawks, he had two interceptions on eight pass attempts into his coverage area. For a team looking to add depth and potential starting ability at safety, a solid pick.
Round 6, No. 184 overall: Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor
My take: Coach Matt Rhule knows this kid well. Roy helped Rhule turn around the Baylor program and now both are trying to do the same at Carolina. Roy is more of a project, a big body who will back up starting tackles Kawann Short and first-round pick Derrick Brown. He's not much in terms of a pass-rusher, but he eats up blocks inside. And he's pretty fast for a 6-foot-1, 332-pound man. He was clocked at 4.49 seconds in the 40 at a spring workout in 2019. He's part of a complete defensive overhaul in this draft with now all six picks going to that side.
Round 7, No. 221 overall: Stanley Thomas-Oliver III, CB, FIU
My take: It's a record. The Panthers are the first NFL team in the modern era to use all seven draft picks on the defensive side. Thomas-Oliver was the final piece. He's got good size (6-0, 198) and speed (4.48 in the 40). He came to FIU as a wide receiver and made the switch to corner as a sophomore. He's still learning the position, technique-wise, and doesn't always trust what his eyes tell him, but he has the physical attributes to develop with good teaching. That's what coach Matt Rhule's staff is all about, teaching. This may turn out to be a great project or a bust, but in the seventh round he was worth a risk.