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NFL Power Rankings: 2017 Pre-NFL Draft Look at All 32 Teams

By Peter Panacy

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

21. team. 87. . 6-10. . Carolina Panthers

The Panthers’ lackluster 2016 campaign might be due more to a post-Super Bowl hangover than anything else.

Sure, injuries to players like linebacker Luke Kuechly hurt matters a bunch. And one has to think the level of talent Carolina carries over into 2017 should make the Panthers more than capable of bouncing back this season.

Still, this is far from a perfect roster. The Panthers secondary has largely overachieved in recent years, and it’s a reasonable assumption the team still hasn’t gotten over the departure of cornerback Josh Norman.

The Panthers manage to climb in our NFL power rankings because they only need a few key parts in the NFL Draft — an offensive lineman, a cornerback and a running back.

In an ideal world, LSU tailback Leonard Fournette falls to Carolina at No. 8 overall. Fournette would take a lot of pressure off quarterback Cam Newton and would make the Panthers offense just as potent as it was during the team’s Super Bowl run two seasons ago.