Panthers trade up to select safety Jeremy Chinn

The Carolina Panthers selected safety Jeremy Chinn out of Southern Illinois in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 64th overall.

The Panthers swapped picks with the New York Jets at the end of Round 2 to draft the FCS standout.

Prospect Profile

School: Southern Illinois
Height: 6-3
Weight: 221 lbs

Positives

• Intriguing combination of size and explosiveness
• Athletic versatility for either safety or slot reps
• Great closing speed in pursuit of the ball
• No issue taking on and disengaging from blocks
• Comes to balance and makes strong tackles
• Has fluidity required for man coverage
• Athleticism leads to great coverage range
• Matches up well against athletic tight ends

Negatives

• Must improve processing ability in coverage
• Doesn't possess requisite awareness in zone drops
• Jump in competition will present challenge
• Needs time to develop instincts

Bottom line

Chinn is an athletic-upside prospect with the potential to be a versatile playmaker. His movement ability and explosiveness are rare for his size, and Chinn's fluidity makes him effective in man-to-man coverage. He'll be strong against the run early, and developing his coverage instincts - particularly when dropping into a zone - could make him an impact player. Chinn could then play safety on early downs before taking on a dime linebacker role to shut down tight ends in passing situations.