2019 NFL Mock Draft: Odell Beckham trade throws first round into chaos

Florida State’s Brian Burns was a big winner at the combine with his measurements, showing he was big enough to play across multiple schemes.

Burns has a vast array of pass rushing moves already, something that is rare for a player his age. He was productive during an awful season for Florida State, never seeming to let the struggles of the rest of his teammates get to him. He’s versatile enough to line up pretty much anywhere, and he can be a terror getting after the quarterback.

The Panthers struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ranking 27th in the NFL in sacks a season ago. And now they move forward without the ageless Julius Peppers. Mario Addison led the team in sacks in 2018, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and is contract is up after next season. Suffice it to say, finding a good, young edge rusher in this class is paramount for the future in Carolina.

This is a strong class for edge rushers and defensive linemen in general, so the Panthers should be able to grab a very good player at this point in the draft, someone who under normal circumstances in a draft far less flush with defensive talent, wouldn’t be available.

While upgrading their pass rush is priority one for the Panthers, they’ve also got to do a better job of protecting Cam Newton going forward. Newton routinely takes hits, but he’s able to absorb them and stay on his feet, greatly reducing the sack numbers for Carolina.

Upgrades up front are rarely the sexiest picks, but they need to protect the investment they have in Newton. Expect guys like Oklahoma’s Cody Ford, Washington State’s Andre Dillard, and NC State’s Garrett Bradbury to be fully vetted and considered.