Welcome to our second 2021 edition of “Player Prowl,” where we straight up just steal any player of our choosing from whoever the Carolina Panthers are playing in that particular week. This time *rubs hands* we get to steal from a division rival.
You’re up, New Orleans, and, boy, do we have a juicy roster to pick from. Let’s take a look-see . . .
Well, we can eliminate a few prominent names right off the bat. Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is not the best option considering the Panthers have their own newly-signed stud at the same position in Taylor Moton.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas and whatever Taysom Hill currently is at the moment are two players perhaps worth mentioning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem Carolina has a pressing need for a slot receiver or a special teams gunner.
Hmm . . . Marshon Lattimore is pretty enticing. The three-time Pro Bowler and his new contract would fit in nicely alongside cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson for years to come, wouldn’t he?
Fellow defenders Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport are certainly contenders as well. Either one could add another overwhelming presence to what’s already a deep Panthers defensive line.
What catches our eye, however, is the man at left tackle. So as we did last week to the New York Jets and Mekhi Becton, we’re snatching an elite blindside protector in Terron Armstead.
Armstead has been at it for a bit now, heading one of the league’s top offensive lines year in and year out. And even at 30 years old, which is still relatively young for the position, he’s still holding up better than about 90 percent of the other starters at the spot.
Since his second NFL season back in 2014, the 6-foot-5, 304-pounder has not graded below a 75.5 in the evaluations by Pro Football Focus. He’s coming into 2021 with his previous three years of work grading out at 90.4 in 2018, 80.4 in 2019 and 86.3 in 2020.
While there are questions regarding his durability, as he’s even currently dealing with a back injury, Armstead is too dominant and could fill out one of Carolina’s greatest needs.
Do you agree?
