The Carolina Panthers don’t have a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Hey, that’s the price of doing business under center.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean they’re excluded from at least some of the fun.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus recently named one upcoming prospect each NFC team should be watching. Given their lack of firepower off the edge, the Panthers get hooked up with University of Washington defensive end Bralen Trice.
Wasserman writes:
The Panthers don’t own a first-round pick in 2024 after sending it to Chicago to secure Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft. While they could surprise their NFC South rivals if Young produces a Rookie of the Year-type season, it’s more likely that they will need to develop their roster for one more year before making a push for playoff contention.
Washington outside linebacker Bralen Trice is someone who could intrigue Carolina as a fit opposite Brian Burns. Like Burns, Trice beats tackles off the edge with speed and length. He broke out in 2022 with a 91.3 pass-rush grade and led the nation with 70 total pressures. Trice would be an excellent fit for a team that desperately needs a second dynamic pass rusher.
Trice stands at an imposing 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds. And as for the imposing numbers in the box score, he registered a team-leading 9.0 sacks over 13 outings in 2022.
Carolina, at this point in the offseason, is unlikely to find a long-term pass-rushing partner for their two-time Pro Bowler in Burns. So we may have to keep Trice in mind for next spring.
