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Carolina Panthers' 2016 draft class: Analysis, grades, best picks, highlights

With the 2016 NFL draft now complete, every fan wants to review his or her team's draft. Where were the reaches? Was there enough value? Any potential busts?

ESPN Insider's NFL draft experts are here to provide a full recaps of every team.

For all 32 NFL teams, click here.

Carolina Panthers

Scouts Inc. on 2016 class

1 (30) Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech | Highlights

What he brings: Blessed with a rare physical skill set, Butler has one of the highest ceilings of the defensive tackle crop. He brings an excellent combination of size and strength to go along with very good athleticism for a 325-pound defensive tackle. He needs refining as a pass-rusher, particularly using his hands more efficiently, but his ability to win with both quickness and power on the interior provides him with upside in this area. There are flashes of dominance on his tape, however his motor will run hot and cold at times. He must learn to play with more consistency if he wants to reach the Pro Bowl-caliber potential he has as a prospect. -- Kevin Weidl

How he fits: Carolina finished fourth in rushing yards allowed per game last year and defensive tackles Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei form a formidable starting tandem, but both are entering contract years and Butler is a good value at this point in the first round. He improves depth and puts the Panthers in an even better position in terms of defensive line depth. -- Steve Muench


2 (62) James Bradberry, CB, Samford | Highlights

What he brings: Bradberry is a long and physical cornerback who possesses good range with his combination of length and top-end speed. He also shows quality ball awareness to locate and play the ball down the field. While he tested well at the combine, he shows some tightness in off-coverage that will get exposed at times. Bradberry needs to show more discipline as a run defender to maintain outside leverage. He has the tools to add depth, and he could eventually develop into a starter for a heavy press-man or press-zone scheme.

How he fits: After rescinding the franchise tag on Josh Norman and losing him to Washington, the Panthers had a glaring need at the position. Bradberry is a strong fit within defensive coordinator Sean McDermott's zone-heavy scheme due to his instincts, size and ball skills. -- Kevin Weidl


3 (77) Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia | Highlights

What he brings: Worley is a big and physical press cornerback who has above-average fluidity for his size. He shows better speed on tape than timed speed indicates and has very good range to hold up on an island outside the hashes. In addition, he shows quality awareness playing the ball and brings a physical edge as a run defender. Worley comes with some character concerns, but he has a very high ceiling and the potential to develop into an impact starter. -- Kevin Weidl

How he fits: Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has taken two corners with consecutive picks, and that shouldn't come as surprise as corner was considered a need even before the team severed ties with Josh Norman. Worley is a physical player who shows good instincts in zone, making him a good fit for the Panthers' scheme. -- Steve Muench


5 (141) Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma | Highlights

What he brings: Sanchez, who intercepted seven passes last season, is an instinctive cover corner with above-average ball skills and good top-end speed. While he left school early, he's a redshirt junior and three-year starter. He has just adequate size and length, and he doesn't play as fast as his timed top-end speed on tape. He also needs to get stronger and improve his ability to match up with bigger receivers. -- Steve Muench


7 (252) Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State | Highlights

What he brings: Sandland is a double transfer from Miami who lacks ideal experience (11 career starts) but has intriguing size (6-4, 253). He tested well at the combine, and that also transfers to the tape, in which he shows a nice speed-and-agility combination to create separation as a route runner. Sandland also flashes adequate run-after-the-catch ability. While he needs to work on his technique, he has adequate strength and power as an inline blocker. From a physical standpoint, Sandland has a chance to become a quality starting Y tight end if he is developed the right way. -- Kevin Weidl


Mel Kiper's Draft Grade: C+

Kiper: In the 2013 NFL draft, Dave Gettleman kicked off his tenure as the Panthers GM by taking a pair of defensive tackles in consecutive rounds (Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei) who have become a crucial part of the team's success. Gettleman knows you can't have too much of a good thing on the defensive line, and added Vernon Butler at the end of Round 1. Butler is a great athlete on the interior, and with Short and Lotulelei both headed toward contract years, this insures the Panthers against a drop-off. From there, it was all about cornerback after the departure of Josh Norman last week, and it was often with traits on the mind. James Bradberry (Round 2) and Daryl Worley (Round 3) both have impressive length and could be a good fit in Carolina's scheme, I just thought Bradberry was a reach. Zack Sanchez (Round 5) has a chance to be pretty good if he can hold up, because he has instincts and ball skills, but he's really lean. The question marks: No help for the offensive line, and no true pass-rusher, though I think Butler helps in that area. I also would've liked to see a safety here.


Todd McShay's favorite pick

Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (No. 30 pick)

The best teams address needs before they're gaping holes, and that's what the Panthers did here. Instead of reaching for a cornerback at the end of Round 1, GM Dave Gettleman opted for Butler, who can learn from Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei and step in as a starter if either leave in free agency in 2016. Butler is an exceptional run defender, with explosive upper-body power and the ability to play multiple positions along the defensive line.