Three is better than one, or at least that’s what the Carolina Panthers are hoping for when it comes to replacing one of their best players.
After jettisoning All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman in bizarre fashion by rescinding his franchise tag offer, the Panthers committed to replacing their immediate need in the secondary with the selections of three cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL draft.
The Panthers selected James Bradberry in the second round (62nd overall), Daryl Worley in the third (77th overall), and Zack Sanchez in the fifth (141st overall). All three can play in the Panthers zone coverage scheme, but it’s unclear whether any of them will be able to fill Norman’s role on and off the field.
Last year in his fourth NFL season, the former fifth round draft pick established himself as not just the Panthers number one cornerback, but as one of the best corners in the league. Despite starting the year as a relative unknown to fans, he finished the 2015 season with 19 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), and both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. By October he had already ascended to being Pro Football Focus’ number one ranked corner in the NFL.
One might think Norman’s impressive play is the only aspect of his game the Panthers rookies must help replace, but he was more than just his stat line. He was the fiery soul of the team’s dominant defense. Sure, Luke Kuechly may be the leader of the defense, but Norman was the voice. He brings Cam Newton’s confidence, showmanship, and bravado on offense to the defensive side of the ball. Even before Norman was a star player and a household name, he was talking trash like he was one. Hison field disputes with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were widely publicized last season, but that’s far from the only time Norman has gotten under the skin of a great opposing player.
Norman regularly frustrates the NFL’s best receivers like Julio Jones. His own teammates aren’t even safe from his expressive personality. Before his breakout 2015 campaign, Norman actually got into a publicized fight with his counterpart on offense: Cam Newton.
Nothing may prove the similarities of Newton and Norman more than this fight. It’s no surprise their passions for the game could boil over into a fight. They both have a knack to bring that same fury out of their opponents. Angering opponents isn’t the only way they inspire the team though. Both of them also know how to have a good time on and off the field. Newton is obviously a more popular charismatic figure, but Norman has a sense of humor too.
Together Norman and Newton defined the dominant 2015 Carolina Panthers as a team. Now, half of that dynamic is missing, and the Panthers new rookie corners have a bigger void to fill than they know.
James Bradberry, the first corner taken off the board for Carolina, was seen as a reach by many draft pundits, but he’s got a lot of potential. The Sampson University corner has great size at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, and solid speed with a 4.55 40 yard dash time. He did not face much high level competition in college, but then again neither did Norman at Coastal Carolina University. Unfortunately, that is where the comparisons to the new Washington Redskin end.
Their personalities are very different. Bradberry is just not the aggressive trash talker Norman is. He even said in an interview “I’m not a very emotional guy.” It’s hard to expect him to change who is he is to fill the emotional void left in the defense. Bradberry could still turn out to be a great player, but he can’t replace everything Norman brought to the team alone.
The next corner the Panthers drafted in the third round also has great measurables. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, West Virginia corner Daryl Worley also has the speed to run a 4.54 40 yard dash. As an All-Big 12 corner he lead his team with six interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his last season of college football. He’s known for his ability to leap and attack the ball at its highest point, but not for his speed and quickness.
Worley definitely faced tougher competition in college as part of the Big 12 conference, but it’s not his play on field that necessarily caused him to fall to the third round of the draft. Worley has a short history of violence and mistakes. Academic issues once kept him out of a bowl game in college, and in September of 2015 hepled no contest to assaulting a woman outside a nightclub. As a result of the incident he served a six month suspended sentence, and a two game suspension from playing college football. Worley might still develop into a great player, but it’s hard to imagine someone so irresponsible becoming a source of emotional inspiration for the team.
The last corner the Panthers took off the board in the fifth round of the draft might just have the best chance at becoming what Norman meant to the team. Oklahoma corner Zach Sanchez has some convenient similarities to the Panthers’ former number one corner. At 5 foot 11 inches and 185 pounds, Sanchez is slightly undersized just like Norman. They were also both drafted late in the fifth round. As smaller corners, they both have great quickness, and the instincts to make plays. These skills showed in Sanchez’ last two years in college as he racked up 13 interceptions.
The comparisons to Norman don’t stop between the white lines though. Sanchez has a cocky personality of his own to rival even his infamous predecessor. Before the draft he was quoted as saying: “I’m the best defensive playmaker in the draft, hands down. Nobody can create turnovers the way that I can. Nobody gets their hands on more balls than I do. There are obviously things in my technique that I have to fix, but I have something you can’t coach: That’s natural instincts and a gift for making plays. You can’t coach players to make plays.’’ That’s the attitude of a player who has the confidence to make plays, inspire teammates, and frustrate opponents just like Norman.
It would be too much to expect Sanchez, or any of the new Panther corners to replace Norman immediately. Regardless of whether it’s making animpact on the field, or being an outspoken voice in the locker room, the Panthers will need all of these rookie corners to contribute in some way if they hope to continue their defensive dominance. These rookies know that though.
Sanchez can see the comparison to Norman, but he’s got the right attitude when he talks about it in interviews: “I can definitely see a comparison [...] To be compared to a guy like that, it’s an honor. It’s cool. But I’ve still got a lot to prove in this league. I’ve still got to make the roster this season and I’ve still got to be a guy that they can rely on to make plays, something like he was.”
The new Panther corners certainly have a lot to prove, but it may take time. Norman didn’t reach the height of his success until his fourth NFL season. The only problem for the Panthers is that if they want go back to the Super Bowl, they might not have that kind of time to wait.
Follow John King on Twitter @JohnKing8385
