The Carolina Panthers selected defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon out of Iowa in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 158th overall.
The selection of Nixon ends a run of four straight offensive picks for the Panthers. Carolina used its first-round pick on cornerback Jaycee Horn.
The NFC South club severely lacked depth on the defensive line behind Derrick Brown after releasing Kawann Short and Zach Kerr and opting not to tender restricted free agent Efe Obada.
Nixon will join a defensive line rotation that includes Brown, Bravvion Roy, and free-agent signing Morgan Fox.
Draft profile
Key stats: 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble
In a class of interior defenders ripe with question marks, Nixon provides stability that most of his peers lack. The Iowa product has excellent burst and movement skills for his size, and it showed up in the backfield a number of times on tape. His hand usage features plenty of power, though the number of snaps he was driven laterally in run defense is cause for some concern. Still, Nixon offers plenty of size, length, and pass-rush potential to get excited about as a long-term, above-average starter in most schemes. He just may never eclipse that.