CHARLOTTE Christian McCaffrey Jersey Super Bowl , N.C. (AP) —l speed the past few NFL drafts, don’t be surprised if the Carolina Panthers look to add bulk up front this year.The Panthers have needs at left tackle and defensive end following the retirement of Julius Peppers and the release of Matt Kalil. Carolina struggled to protect quarterback Cam Newton last season while the pass rush fell off — two major reasons Carolina finished 7-9.Panthers general manager Marty Hurney predictably didn’t offer many clues to the team’s upcoming draft plans, but said he likes what he sees from both positions in this year’s class.“It’s a strong group up top and it’s a deep group,” Hurney said of the defensive linemen available.Hurney also predicted there will be a handful of offensive linemen who’ll be selected in the first round, and said that the group is strong overall.After Kalil was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury last summer, Carolina brought in journeyman Chris Clark to play left tackle before turning to Marshall Newhouse later in the season. The Panthers re-signed right tackle Daryl Williams this offseason, a move that could potentially mean Taylor Moton will shift to left tackle.But if someone such as Washington State’s Andre Dillard or Florida’s Jawaan Taylor falls to No. 16, the Panthers may head in that direction. Carolina hasn’t drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since Jeff Otah in 2008.On the other side of the ball, the Panthers signed veteran pass rusher Bruce Irvin to a one-year deal, but he’s not viewed as the long-term answer opposite Mario Addison. Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell Christian McCaffrey Jersey For Sale , Michigan’s Rashan Gary and Florida State’s Brian Burns are potential options with the 16th pick that could help fill the void left by Peppers’ departure.“It’s a good class of edge rushers,” coach Ron Rivera said. “We feel really good about the guys we have seen.”Some things to watch for the Panthers in the NFL draft:NEWTON’S SUCCESSORHurney sounded optimistic about Newton’s recovery, saying the 2015 league MVP is gaining more range of motion in his surgically repaired right shoulder. However, Newton hasn’t thrown a football yet.Newton has two years left on his contract, and it’s possible the team could start looking for a long-term replacement.“Our philosophy is you have to develop young quarterbacks,” Hurney said.One potential option outside of the first round is West Virginia’s Will Grier, who grew up in Huntersville, North Carolina, — about 20 miles north of where the Panthers play their home games. The Panthers have met extensively with Grier this offseason.SAFETY DANCEThe Panthers re-signed Eric Reid to a big contract earlier this offseason, but the other safety spot remains up in the air after the team parted ways with veteran Mike Adams earlier this offseason.Rashaan Gaulden Christian McCaffrey Jersey On Sale , a third-round pick in 2018, and Da’Norris Searcy are potential replacements, but if the Panthers can find a safety with a knack for causing turnovers in the second or third rounds there is a real chance they could fill that need.REPLACING OLSENGreg Olsen has been a magnificent player for the Panthers, but the three-time 1,000-yard receiver has struggled to stay on the field the past two seasons because of foot injuries. All signs are Olsen will be back for another season, but at some point the team will need to look to replace the 34-year-old tight end.Carolina drafted Ian Thomas last year with the 101st overall pick and the jury is still out on whether he can develop into Olsen’s heir apparent. But don’t rule out the team grabbing another tight end at some point during the draft.McCAFFREY’S BACKUPNo running back in the NFL was on the field more last season than Christian McCaffrey. And while Rivera still believes McCaffrey has a chance to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a season, he’d like to lessen his role just a little bit.The Panthers have Cameron Artis-Payne coming off the bench, but a back with a similar skillset to McCaffrey — fast Christian McCaffrey Jersey Sale , shifty and multi-talented — would be ideal.TEPPER’S TIMEThis will be new owner David Tepper’s first NFL draft since purchasing the Panthers for $2.2 billion last summer, and he’s been heavily involved in the team’s draft process.“He’s very excited and Ron and I communicate with him every day,” Hurney said. “He’s looking forward to being in the draft room. He’s dropped in on our meetings with scouts and has a good feel” for the draft. Gardner-Johnson would be the modern defensive back the Panthers defense has been craving for years. Should the Panthers take a chance on him in the 2019 NFL Draft?"Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a former four-star recruit from Cocoa High School. Gardner-Johnson was a productive player for the Gators’ defense. His talents were fully on display in 2018 under defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s scheme. He finished with 71 tackles, four interceptions, two pass break-ups, nine tackles-for-loss, and three sacks during his final season in Gainesville. Film reviewGardner-Johnson’s played a nickel role for the Gators in 2018. This is a similar position that Carolina’s 3rd round pick, Rashaan Gaulden, played for his alma mater in 2017. The difference is Gardner-Johnson shows a complete skill set to thrive as a modern safety. The first area that stands out is his tackling.He is composed, but aggressive when he pursues the ball carrier. Gardner-Johnson doesn’t waste any steps. He takes a second to identify the direction before coming down hill to fill. More importantly Replica Christian McCaffrey Jersey , Gardner-Johnson consistently took the right angles when the ball is near him. His technique is still inconsistent, but with better teaching by NFL coaches that can be improved. Due to his primary role lining up in the slot, Gardner-Johnson would see plenty of match-ups in man coverage. He typically lines up off the line of scrimmage, but this plays into his strengths. He stays low while reading the receiver’s routes. His fluidity and explosiveness to push off on his back foot allows little separation. Gardner-Johnson stays physical with the receiver at the top of the routes, which shows he can be an asset if he does line up in press man. There will undoubtedly be questions about Gardner-Johnson’s transition into a deep safety role. He was rarely asked to execute that role for the Gators in 2018. However, that’s not to say he can’t do it. This interception during his final game against Michigan demonstrates his fluidity to quickly change directions. Then he shows the ball skills to pick off the pass. As my friend Betz says, Gardner-Johnson passes off the over route and then once he reads the quarterback he transitions into a deep safety. His ball skills are also going to attract many teams. While this interception should be credited to the defensive lineman for tipping the ball, Gardner-Johnson stays alert in his zone assignment to pick it off. He finished with two pick-sixes in 2018.To further exhibit his versatility, Florida wasn’t shy of having him blitz off the edge. Like his tackling, Gardner-Johnson aggressively pursues the ball carrier while also staying controlled. The question teams will have to reconcile is how to fully implement Gardner-Johnson’s skill set on their defense. He struggled as a deep safety in 2017 Stitched Christian McCaffrey Jersey , but it’s clear that Grantham and the Florida defensive staff found a defined role for him in 2018. As the Patriots showed in the Super Bowl, NFL defenses are becoming more about match-ups and versatile defensive backs taking on multiple roles. Fit with CarolinaDespite playing a similar role to Rashaan Gaulden during his final college season, Gardner-Johnson is the superior prospect in every facet. Gaulden was a poor athlete. He also didn’t show enough in man coverage or as a deep safety to warrant his selection in the third round. The Panthers continuing to play a 37-year-old safety and Colin Jones over him confirms that. Gardner-Johnson would be the modern defensive back the Panthers defense has been craving for years. He has the fluidity, athleticism, ball skills, and physicality to become a difference maker for a defense looking for contributors.