Grow from Within
The Carolina Panthers need a pass rusher. I’m not denying that. I just don’t think it’s as dire as a lot of fans make it out to be.
It’s still hard to believe the organization let Brian Burns go for next to nothing in compensation. Especially when they reportedly could have gotten two first round picks the year before. Or included him in the package with the Chicago Bears for the first overall pick instead of giving up the best option for the new quarterback they were about to draft. That decision will always sting a little. But that’s water under the bridge now.
So where does that leave them?
Do they need a pass rusher? Yes. Are they going to find someone at 19 who is exponentially better than what they drafted last year? Probably not. The elite guys are gone early. Reaching because you feel pressure from the fan base is how you make mistakes.
And the free agent or trade market? Too expensive. This team is not in a position to overpay for one position when there are still holes all over the roster.
What they need is growth.
They need Princely Umanmielen and Nic Scourton to take a real step forward in 2026. That’s the bet. Year two is when you often see it click for edge guys. You have to hope Princely can turn into a six or seven sack player in year two. If that happens, suddenly the room looks a lot different.
I also hope they bring back Pat Jones. Jones and Scourton on first down are a solid duo setting the edge. That matters. You don’t always need a 15 sack guy if you can create long down and distance and collapse the pocket by committee.
More than anything, this team cannot go into the draft locked in on one position. They need to sit still and be willing to move back. I normally don’t advocate for trading back. I usually want impact players. But this roster needs to get better everywhere. Setting your sights on one spot just shrinks the pool and forces your hand.
The Panthers need a pass rusher. They just don’t need to panic about it. They need to draft smart, add picks if the board allows it, and trust that some of the young guys they already invested in are ready to take the next step.