Carolina Panthers agree to terms with 7 of 11 NFL draft picks
The Panthers aren’t wasting any time reaching agreements with their draft picks.
Last week, the Panthers signed rookie running back Chuba Hubbard, the first rookie to agree to contract terms in the NFL.
Ahead of the teams’ rookie mini camp from May 14-16, the Panthers agreed to terms with five other players.
Here is a list of the Panthers’ draft picks who have signed so far:
RB Chuba Hubbard, fourth round, No. 126 overall
Hubbard will have a chance to compete for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. He gives the Panthers depth at running back after the departure of backup Mike Davis, who left in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons.
Hubbard, who is 6-foot, 210 pounds, had a successful career at Oklahoma State. He led the FBS with 328 carries and 2,094 rushing yards in 2019, while averaging about 26 carries a game. He earned first-team AP All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Hubbard, a former track athlete, ran a 4.36 at his pro day.
DT Daviyon Nixon, fifth round, No. 158 overall
Nixon, 6-3, 305 pounds, played two full seasons at Iowa and declared for the draft after his junior year. In eight games last season, he had 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception he returned 71 yards for a touchdown.
In 2020, Nixon earned AP All-American honors and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He led the Hawkeyes with 13.5 tackles for loss and had 45 total stops.
CB Keith Taylor Jr., fifth round, No. 166 overall
Taylor, a 6-3, 195-pound corner, developed into the starting role at Washington, starting all 13 games in 2019 and four games in 2020. Throughout his career with the Huskies, he started a total of 19 games and had significant playing time all four seasons.
In 2020, Taylor had 59 tackles, including two for loss, and five pass breakups. After the season, he was given the Husky Excellence award.. He also only has 10 passes defensed and zero interceptions from his college career.
OL Deonte Brown, sixth round, 193 overall
Brown has experience starting at left guard and right guard. At 6-4, 350-pounds, he will certainly add a big presence to the line. He was coached by Carolina at the Senior Bowl, so the Panthers got to know him well.
Brown was suspended by the NCAA for six games over the 2018 and 2019 seasons for undisclosed reasons. He was a first-team All-SEC selection at left guard in 2020 and part of the best offensive line in the country, earning the Joe Moore Award.
Per Pro Football Focus, Brown did not allow a single sack in college.
WR Shi Smith, sixth round, 204 overall
Smith will contribute on special teams as a kick returner and provide much needed depth to the wide receiver room. During his career at South Carolina, he started 35 games and played in 43, finishing with 174 catches, 2,204 yards and 13 touchdowns.
At South Carolina’s pro day, with coach Matt Rhule in attendance, Smith posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.43 seconds, which was slower than he had been expecting.
LS Thomas Fletcher, sixth round, 222 overall
Fletcher finished perfect on all snapping duties across his four seasons at Alabama and started every game. He won the Patrick Mannelly Award in 2020, which is presented annually to the nation’s top long snapper.
J.J. Jansen has been the Panthers’ long snapper since 2009, however, the 35-year-old will have some competition this offseason.
DT Phil Hoskins, seventh round, 232 overall
Hoskins provides additional depth on the defensive line after the offseason departures. He played in 31 career games and started 11. During his senior year, Hoskins had 30 tackles, four for loss and five quarterback hits.
He has a wing span of 84 inches and could provide some solid depth to a line that is still being rebuilt.
This story was originally published May 6, 2021 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Carolina Panthers agree to terms with 7 of 11 NFL draft picks."
