Follow us:

We'll give the Panthers credit for knowing what they wanted out of the draft and going after it. The Panthers used all seven of their draft picks on defensive players -- two defensive tackles, one edge rusher and four defensive backs. In a division in which they'll have to face Brady, Brees, Ryan and a host of the best wide receivers, it's not a bad strategy.

The draft focused on defense, which will help a bad unit, but they might need to score a lot this season. The offense will be good if Teddy Bridgewater is what they think he can be.

Culture shock is surely coming under new coach Matt Rhule, and players likely have scant idea what to expect is coming from Baylor.

Player who benefited: DE-OLB Brian Burns. Adding first-round pick Derrick Brown at defensive tackle next to Pro Bowler Kawann Short is going to create a lot of inside push and demand a lot of double-teams. That leaves Burns, last year's first-round pick, with more room to get to the quarterback. Look for a lot more Spider-Man celebrations out of Burns, who impersonates his superhero with "Spidey" poses after each sack. He had 7.5 last season as a rookie, despite dealing with a wrist injury that forced him to wear a cast or a brace for much of the season. Quarterbacks beware. -- David Newton

It's been a busy offseason for the Panthers. Matt Rhule was hired, Cam Newton was fired and Christian McCaffrey got paid. Teddy Bridgewater is the new QB in town, and Rhule made a statement in the draft by using all seven of his selections on defensive players. The 2020 Panthers became just the second team to make at least seven picks and use all of them on one side of the ball. (The 1985 Browns did the same thing with seven offensive picks.) Carolina used the seventh overall selection on Derrick Brown, a wickedly talented defensive tackle who should be an ideal partner for Kawann Short in the center of the defensive front. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (38th overall) and safety Jeremy Chinn (64th) could earn immediate starting jobs. The Panthers have a lot of work to do -- this offseason was just the start.