This offseason the Carolina Panthers find themselves in need of serious help at more positions a can remember. Credit Marty Hurney for addressing some of them in free agency. Corner is no longer a desperate need and it appears the tight end position will also be shored up via free agency at some point.

However, any way you slice it the Carolina Panthers will need to have rookies starting on Sundays this season. I shall now provide you one clear path to three rookies starting the first week of the 2018 NFL Season.

Round 1 – Left Guard – Will Hernandez

The Carolina Panthers need a starting left guard and Will Hernandez is the best left guard in the draft. This kid is a human bowling ball that will take the Panthers run game to the next level. At 6’2 he is a littler short, but makes up for it with his wide 350ish pound body. Think a shorter Trai Turner on the left, but with a meaner disposition. I like it. I like it a lot.

This move would give the Carolina Panthers a very talented guard tandem for the next several years at a much lower cost than keeping Andrew Norwell would have afforded.

Round 2 – Safety – Justin Reid

Chances are the Panthers can find a starting safety in round two. If Justin Reid is not there, Ronnie Harrison should be. Either player would be able to step in on day 1 of OTA’s and work with the first team defense. Reid seems like the better pure fit for the Panthers defense. Ron Rivera’s scheme loves a safety that can play either strong or free safety at the drop of a dime, sometimes even during the same series. He doesn’t have ideal size for a strong safety, but neither did Kurt Coleman.

Round 3 – Running Back – Nick Chubb

Chubb will likely last until round 3 but I doubt he would make it late into the third round. For this reason, Marty Hurney will need to trade up to draft him. Luckily, the Panthers have two late third round selections that could get them high enough to land the bruising Georgia running back.

Chubb would be the perfect compliment to Christian McCaffrey and could start on this team if needed. We know that Marty Hurney historically loves a multiple running back roster, and Chubb would likely prove to be too tempting a target to pass up. I am sure a split backfield with McCaffrey and Chubb is something that offensive coordinator Norv Turner would salivate over. I know I am.

There you have it, a path for the top three Carolina Panthers selections to start immediately and contribute on day 1.