The Carolina Panthers are expected to be defense focused in the first round of Thursday's NFL Draft.
With a lot of focus put on restructuring the offensive side of the ball in free agency, Carolina will have a good batch of options with the seventh overall pick.
Of course, the Panthers have the option to trade down if they believe it's worth compiling more assets and picks, but we won't know that until later this week.
Here are five of the best defensive players in the draft in no particular order that Carolina has a chance to draft at pick No. 7:
Simmons has been the frontrunner in most experts' mock drafts as the Panthers' selection at pick No. 7.
Listed as a linebacker, Simmons can also play defensive end, safety and cornerback.
A linebacker isn't the number one pressing need for Carolina with Shaq Thompson and newly-signed Tahir Whitehead filling out the linebacker group, but if Simmons is still available, it will be tough for Marty Hurney and Matt Rhule to pass up on potentially the most diverse player in the draft.
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports A defensive tackle is probably the Panthers' biggest need and Brown is the best defensive tackle in the draft.
The 2019 SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 170 total tackles in four years with Auburn and would give Carolina a strong presence in the middle of their defensive line.
Brown has garnered a lot of comparisons to former Panther Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Kris Jenkins.
© Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports Okudah will be hard to pass up on if he is available at pick No. 7.
However, Okudah has been projected to be selected anywhere from pick No. 3 to No. 10 and may already be selected by the time the Panthers are on the clock.
The Panthers need major help in their secondary and Okudah would almost certainly be a day one starter for Carolina.
A unanimous All-American in 2019, Okudah has the athleticism, speed and discipline that can be very hard to find in a cornerback.
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Drafting Kinlaw at No. 7 might be a stretch with many mock drafts projecting him to go outside of the top 10, but if the Panthers have reservations about Brown, Kinlaw would be the next best defensive tackle available.
Kinlaw has some injury history but proved to be a force at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds on the Gamecocks' defensive line his senior season.
Kinlaw has a lot of power as an interior lineman but also is still raw in having consistent techniques.
He began his college career at a junior college before transferring to South Carolina as a sophomore and he had an emotional upbringing as he was once homeless due to trouble in the classroom.
© Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports Henderson is arguably the second-best cornerback in the draft behind Okudah. If the Panthers decide to go secondary with their first pick, Henderson would bring plenty of athleticism and skill to Carolina's secondary.
Henderson had a 4.39 time in the 40 and was named All-SEC as a junior last season despite being limited to just nine games due to an ankle injury.
There are still a lot of consistency questions with Henderson and whether he can stay healthy but he seems to have the intangibles that can be worked with if the Panthers are willing to take a chance on him.
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