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

Panthers’ projected defensive depth chart after 2023 NFL draft

Defense wasn’t the primary focus for the Carolina Panthers during the 2023 NFL draft, as they were quite busy securing the face of their franchise. Nonetheless, they did make a handful of intriguing additions to that side of the ball last weekend.

So, in turn, let’s make some adjustments to our projections for their defensive depth chart.

Defensive line

The Oklahoman
Position 1st string 2nd string 3rd string
DE Derrick Brown Henry Anderson Raequan Williams
NT Shy Tuttle Marquan McCall John Penisini
DE DeShawn Williams Bravvion Roy Jalen Redmond

Last weekend didn’t do much to alter this group. The only addition to the front was Redmond, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Oklahoma.

In the middle

The Register Guard
Position 1st string 2nd string 3rd string 4th string 5th string
OLB Brian Burns Marquis Haynes Sr. Amaré Barno Kobe Jones Travez Moore
ILB Shaq Thompson Kamu Grugier-Hill Chandler Wooten Bumper Pool
ILB Jeremy Chinn Brandon Smith Arron Mosby Austin Ajiake
OLB Frankie Luvu Yetur Gross-Matos DJ Johnson Eku Leota

With Chinn expected to pick up more looks closer to the line of scrimmage, he can slot into the middle at times. The versatile Luvu, who has chops as a pass rusher, should also move around a bit—between the inside and out.

As for their raw third-round pick in Johnson, expect defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his staff to bring the athletic 6-foot-4, 260-pounder along a bit slowly out of the gate.

Secondary

James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Position 1st string 2nd string 3rd string 4th string 5th string
CB Jaycee Horn CJ Henderson Stantley Thomas-Oliver III Rejzohn Wright Mark Milton
CB Donte Jackson Keith Taylor Jr. Herb Miller Colby Richardson
SS Vonn Bell Eric Rowe Jammie Robinson Nico Bolden
FS Xavier Woods Sam Franklin Myles Dorn

There may not have been 144 guys better than Robinson out of the draft, but there are a few he’ll be looking up at here. His experience and hard-nosed attitude, however, may earn him some early snaps from the slot.

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