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Panthers mailbag: Carolina seeking pass rush help? Trade up in draft for wide receiver?

The Panthers have attacked some major needs through the first two weeks of free agency, but the squad still has plenty of work to do as April’s NFL Draft approaches.

Naturally, Panthers fans have questions about their favorite teams. And that’s why The Observer opens up the weekly mailbag to give more clarity on the topics the fan base cares about.

Here is a trio of notable questions from the latest mailbag on Twitter:

@JohnPaulTaylo16 asks: Any known Interest in (Yannick) Ngakoue or (Leonard) Floyd?

Mike Kaye: In regards to Floyd, my understanding is that the Panthers had interest in him early on in free agency, but his price range didn’t fit with what the team wanted to pay at the position.

Obviously, the open market is a fluid playground for NFL front offices, and negotiations are typically open until they are closed (see D.J. Chark, as an example). Floyd is still out there looking for a gig, so it’s hard to rule him out until he is officially gone.

The Panthers’ interest — whether still active or not — in Floyd is logical. He played for the Los Angeles Rams during defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s final two seasons with the NFC West squad. He is also a versatile pass rusher who can excel as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end.

In reality, the two EDGE rushers in a 3-4 front are what make the defense work. With the Panthers switching to an odd front, it behooves them to land a competent tag-team partner for Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns. While Marquis Haynes and Amare Barno flashed quite a bit last season, the Panthers should be pushing for an upgrade if possible.

From the way GM Scott Fitterer has described Frankie Luvu’s role within the defense, it would appear that the breakout defender from last year will be used in multiple roles without a true home. If that is the case, the Panthers should pursue a pass rusher like Floyd (or Ngakoue) to improve the pass-rushing rotation.

Floyd collected at least nine sacks in each of his three seasons with the Rams. While he is set to turn 31 in September, he still has plenty of good football left in him. If the Panthers can eventually get Floyd for a worthwhile price later in the offseason (especially before the draft), they should add him.

Ngakoue doesn’t seem to be on the Panthers’ radar as of now. There’s been very little buzz there, despite defensive line coach Todd Wash’s background with the player. Ngakoue has become somewhat of a mercenary pass rusher, traveling from team-to-team despite his successful pass-rushing numbers.

The Panthers are likely looking for an EDGE rush who can drop into coverage, which isn’t something Ngakoue has been asked to do often in his career. Still, like with Floyd, it’s hard to rule out Ngakoue if his price matches the Panthers’ interest down the road.

@ismaeljimenezg asks: Best prospects for pick 39 at positions of need? (WR, Edge, CB, LB, other?)

MK: The Panthers should have some excellent choices at No. 39. That’s a large reason why the Panthers protected that pick when they negotiated the blockbuster trade-up with the Chicago Bears earlier this month.

The Panthers are likely to target prospects at positions like EDGE, wide receiver and cornerback on Day 2. As mentioned in the previous answer, the 3-4 defense is somewhat tied to the EDGE rusher position, and Burns is the only proven starter on the depth chart to this point. Georgia Tech’s Keion White could be a good fit for the Panthers if they don’t plan to land Floyd in free agency.

At wide receiver, UNC’s Josh Downs and Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt make a lot of sense. Downs and Hyatt are two completely different wideouts who can help the Panthers in different ways. Downs would be a bulk-catcher from the slot position, while Hyatt would be a long-term successor for Chark at the Z receiver spot. Hyatt has some wheels on him, and he would add the element of vertical speed that the Panthers have openly coveted this offseason.

At cornerback, two names that make sense are South Carolina’s Cam Smith and Michigan’s DJ Turner. The Panthers need versatility and depth at the position. And while Smith and Turner could be immediate NFL starters, the team still has CJ Henderson and Donte Jackson on the depth chart. That outlook could keep the Panthers from selecting a cornerback early.

At inside linebacker, the position could still use some depth. Even after reworking Shaq Thompson’s deal, the depth chart is pretty light on talent. Arkansas’s Drew Sanders has seemingly been a buzz-worthy name on the way to the draft.

@The_Reid asks: Even after free agency, could Carolina make a small trade up if one of the top WRs like Quentin Johnston or Zay Flowers falls out of the first round?

MK: I would be genuinely surprised to see the Panthers pick twice in the first round — especially with one of those picks being used on a wide receiver. The Panthers have invested in veteran wideouts — Chark and Adam Thielen — to get the most out of their incoming rookie quarterback. That strategy was logical, considering how poorly viewed the rookie class is at the position. Trading up to select a wideout in a poor class is an unwise move, even if there’s a long-term need.

The Panthers only have six draft picks after trading up with the Bears. It’s unlikely that they’d consolidate their pick load even further. The Panthers need young talent, but they also need to make wise choices with their draft capital.

Trading up for a wide receiver doesn’t really seem to fit the team’s current plan or process.