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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Anthony Rizzuti

Panthers OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. tabbed as surprise offseason standout

The Carolina Panthers are being pleasantly surprised out of a position where they need it most.

Each of ESPN’s 32 NFL Nation reporters recently picked a surprise offseason standout—one, of course, for every team. For the Panthers, David Newton went with outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr., who could bring the much-needed heat with their two-time Pro Bowler.

Newton writes:

Nobody stood out more in Carolina’s quest to find an edge rusher opposite Brian Burns than the sixth-year player. He constantly was in the face of rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who said Haynes has “been great.” Carolina still likely will add a veteran edge rusher, but what Haynes has shown coming off a season in which he had a career-high five sacks has to make coach Frank Reich & Co. more comfortable.

That career year—which also saw bests in total tackles (29), quarterback hits (13) and passes defensed (four)—may be short lived, as Haynes Sr. is a prime candidate to break out in the team’s fresh 3-4 base defense. His 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame and array of speed moves should serve him better as a standup rusher than as a traditional hand-in-the-dirt edge defender.

And if the Panthers don’t end up adding that veteran, it’ll be up to Haynes Sr.—as well as Yetur Gross-Matos and rookie DJ Johnson—to stand out as a complement to Burns.

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