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2015 NFL Draft: 5 Players the Carolina Panthers Should Have Drafted

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2015 NFL Draft: 5 Players the Carolina Panthers Should Have Taken

Jaelen Strong Arizona State
Christian Petersen-Getty Images

The Carolina Panthers were a playoff team again last season, and they had some clear needs to address with their five picks in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Coincidentally, here are five players the Panthers should have drafted this year.

5. Xzavier Dickson, OLB/DE, Alabama

Xzavier Dickson Alabama
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

5. Xzavier Dickson, OLB/DE, Alabama

Xzavier Dickson Alabama
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers fairly inexplicably drafted two linebackers, including David Mayo out of Texas State in the fifth round (No. 169 overall). Dickson was an outside linebacker at Alabama, but he has defensive end size (260 lbs.) and could have helped fill Carolina's need at that spot.

4. T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

T.J. Clemmings Pittsburgh
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

4. T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

T.J. Clemmings Pittsburgh
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma offensive lineman Daryl Williams was Carolina's selection in the fourth round (102nd overall), and he has potential versatility that shouldn't be overlooked. But Clemmings was a potential first-round talent, before concerns about a foot injury dropped his stock, and he was not drafted until eight picks later. If the Panthers were going to wait until the fourth round to draft an offensive lineman, Clemmings should have been the pick.

3. Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami of Ohio

Quinten Rollins Miami of Ohio
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami of Ohio

Quinten Rollins Miami of Ohio
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers ignored their need for secondary help during the draft. Rollins was a second-round pick (62nd overall) after only playing one year of college football, but he could have brought versatility and upside to a Carolina secondary that needs both.

2. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

Jake Fisher Oregon
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

Jake Fisher Oregon
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Fisher fell fairly far into the second round (No. 53 overall), and the Panthers missed two opportunities to add a future building block to their offensive line.

1. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Since he lasted until the third round (70th overall), Strong is surely on this type of list for a lot of teams that needed a wide receiver. The Panthers took a much-more limited player in Devin Funchess with the 41st overall pick, after trading up to get him, and they passed on Strong twice.

Brad Berreman is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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