My favorite targets for the Panthers at the 39th pick

There are a lot of players on the board that should be able to help the Carolina Panthers immediately.

The Carolina Panthers selected Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft in a move that is rather divisive among the fan base. They have a chance to get everyone on the same page with a universally acclaimed pick a few picks later with the 39th selection. The Panthers have needs all up and down the roster, so it’s easy for them to find a player at a position of need. Here are a few of my favorites:

Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

The Panthers have a pretty immediate need at cornerback and a soon-to-be need at safety. DeJean can play in the slot, on the outside, and at safety. He played both strong safety and corner at Iowa. He tested really well at the combine and he’s the scrappy type, if you know what I mean. Most people projected him to go as high as the middle of the first round, so the fact that he could still be in play at 39 is surprising, to say the least. He could be a major steal for the Panthers defense.

Kool-Aid McKinstry, DB, Alabama

Staying on the DB track, McKinstry is a more prototypical cornerback. He comes from DB University in Alabama. He won’t wow you with any part of his physical profile, but he’s sticky in coverage. The Panthers could use more coverage talent in the secondary, though his lack of turnover generation is a bit of knock. But what he lacks in play making, he makes up for with name.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon

The Panthers offensive line looks pretty set for this year on paper, but someone is inevitably going to get injured, and the current center is a converted guard coming off back to back season ending injuries. True to his name, JPJ as we’d affectionately call him is a powerful blocker at the point of attack that plays with some nastiness. His NFL Draft Profile describes him as “carries broad chest, thick hips and meaty hands.” How can you say no to that? He’d be a long term solution at the center spot and immediately bolster the depth of the offensive line.

Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan

Kneeland is one of the best athletic testers at his position in this class and plays with a constant motor. Those traits haven’t manifested themselves into sack production yet, even at a lower level of college football, but his traits are tantalizing. He needs to refine his handle on the nuances of the position, but he he should be able to make some noise early on as a rotational pass rusher just based off his explosiveness and effort. He’s pretty bulky for a standup rusher, but he has the athletic profile to pull it off.

Payton Wilson, ILB, NC State

Wilson has endeared himself to many Panthers fans by expressing his admiration for former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly has returned the praise and spoken highly of the NC State product. There are similarities in their scouting reports coming out of college, though Wilson is understandably vastly less prolific in terms of production. Both tested absurdly well at the combine, with Watson running a 4.43 40 at 233 pounds. He’s thrived in the passing elements of linebacking both in coverage and as a blitzer but needs a to work on his run support. The Panthers current linebacking corps needs an infusion of young talent.