2020 NFL Mock Draft: First round projections after Week 1

Carolina has been trying to invest in the cornerback position since losing Josh Norman a few years ago and it hasn’t gone well. The position is thin and lacking playmakers, and the Panthers defense as a whole is getting older. Brian Burns has looked awesome in the preseason so far and is there to stay. Getting another prospect from the state of Florida should help even more.

CJ Henderson is a terrific athlete with great ball skills. Through his first two years in Gainesville, he already has six interceptions to his name. He isn’t a perfect cornerback but he is definitely worth this pick. Especially with it being such a need for the Panthers. His size and speed can help him in many ways at his position.

Carolina is in a division with the Saints, Falcons, and Buccaneers who all are looking to move the ball down the field through the air. It’s about time Carolina finds itself a corner who can hold his own in that kind of game.

Henderson is coming from another school with a great reputation for developing defensive backs. If you’re wondering why I keep bringing this up with certain schools and positions, it’s because it matters. Florida churns out defensive talent because defensive talent seeks Florida based on that previous talent being churned out. It’s a cycle that may never stop and Henderson is the latest piece of evidence.