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5 Teams that won the 2021 NFL Draft

By Michael Hanich

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Rashawn Slater (Northwestern) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Los Angeles Chargers as the number 13 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Rashawn Slater (Northwestern) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Los Angeles Chargers as the number 13 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

No. 5 Carolina Panthers

There were several directions the Carolina Panthers could have gone in the 2021 NFL Draft. They could have reloaded completely which included drafting a top quarterback or they could have built around their young team with elite talent.

In the end, they decided to build their newly acquired quarterback in Sam Darnold. These are moves that could make the Panthers darkhorse candidates for the NFC South Divisional title.

The Panthers used their first-round to fix their main secondary concerns and acquire a top cornerback in South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn with the eighth overall pick.

Carolina got a reliable man coverage corner to fix their defense that allowed a completion percentage of 68%. The next four picks of the Panthers were used to help Darnold in pass protection and establish a reliable offense with weapons.

The Panthers drafted a potential No. 1 wide receiver in the second round with LSU’s Terrance Marshall Jr. (59th overall), a potential starting offensive tackle in BYU’s Brady Christensen (73rd overall pick – third round), a reliable tight end in Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble (83rd overall pick – third round), and another efficient running back in Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (126th overall pick – fourth round).

The Panthers made a great steal in the fifth round for a potential starter in Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon with the 158th overall pick. A few picks later in the fifth round, they acquired another tough contributing cornerback in Washington’s Keith Taylor with the 166th overall pick.

The Panthers used their last four picks in the NFL draft on four players from the SEC, two of them from Alabama. Carolina drafted a reliable guard in Alabama’s Deonte Brown with the 193rd overall pick, another reliable receiver in South Carolina’s Shi Smith with the 204th overall pick, and a surprising pick for a long snapper in Alabama’s Thomas Fletcher with the 222nd overall pick.

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With Carolina’s last and lone pick in the seventh round, the Panthers added more depth in Kentucky defensive tackle Phil Hoskins with the 232nd overall pick.

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