Picking the best round 3 draft target for the Carolina Panthers ahead of 2024 NFL free agency

A defense can never have too many versatile players.  With the 2024 NFL Draft set for April 25-27, the Carolina Panthers have an opportunity to get better.  The Panthers won't own a first-round draft pick because of the 2023 trade that netted the Panthers the No. 1 overall pick, but that won't stop the franchise from […]

Ian Kayanja
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Sep 9, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Brandon Dorlus (3) reacts at the end of the game after an interception of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Image via Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

A defense can never have too many versatile players. 

With the 2024 NFL Draft set for April 25-27, the Carolina Panthers have an opportunity to get better. 

The Panthers won't own a first-round draft pick because of the 2023 trade that netted the Panthers the No. 1 overall pick, but that won't stop the franchise from taking a shot at a top talent. The Panthers will start the 2024 NFL Draft with six selections. 

The Panthers need to draft DE Brandon Dorlus in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft

A team can never have too much defensive line help, and in the third round, Dorlus looks like a solid option. 

The Panthers kept the coaches on the defensive side of the ball, meaning Dorlus would be coming into a situation with continuity – something that isn't the norm in Charlotte. 

He would also offer some insurance regarding the uncertainty that is the Brian Burns situation. 

In the third round, Dorlus represents a pick that is rooted in success now and sustainability down the road for the Panthers – making it a win-win situation. 

Why should the Panthers draft Brandon Dorlus?

With Dorlus, the Panthers are taking a bet on versatility. Scouts have described him as a football player with "a good blend of strength and athleticism," which gives him several traits that will transfer over to the NFL and give him a high ceiling.

And it is exactly what the Panthers need right now. 

It's unclear where Dorlus will play in the NFL. At 6-foot-3, 272 pounds, he is stuck in between. He primarily lined up as an edge for Oregon, but he isn't a good enough athlete to play there every down. 

Final word

In the NFL, a team can never have too much versatility. Dorlus represents the Panthers adding that in the thick of the middle rounds. 

With Burns in the unknown, even if he is offered the franchise tag, picking up a versatile pass-rush threat simply makes sense for the direction the Panthers' defense wants to go. 

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