Trevin Wallace should get development year before inheriting big role with Carolina Panthers

Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Michigan’s Junior Colson were the first two off-ball linebackers to come off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. That was not a surprise. Trevin Wallace becoming LB3 in this draft class was a surprise.

In the third round, the Carolina Panthers spent their third pick in the draft — and first on defense — on the Kentucky linebacker at No. 72 overall. The run-and-hit linebacker with top-level athletic traits appears to have made the right draft decision.

Trevin Wallace will also be stepping into a good situation under new general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in Carolina. The Day 2 pick will not need to play starter’s snaps right away.

Shaq Thompson is returning for year 10 with the franchise in 2024. The former first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has had an outstanding career but might be entering his last run with the Panthers. At the other off-ball linebacker position, Carolina signed free agent Josey Jewell to a three-year contract worth $22.75 million in the offseason. After six seasons with the Denver Broncos, Jewell will spend his age 30 season in the NFC South.

Carolina has built-in answers at linebacker, but they are getting old fast at this position. That is no way to live in the NFL. Trevin Wallace will mark the future at the position under a new regime.

Expect the Kentucky product to get a glorified redshirt year where he adjusts to the NFL and learns from two veterans. The expectation should be for Wallace to step into a starting role in year two and that lines up with his development arc. Wallace is a traits-heavy prospect who is still learning at off-ball linebacker. The Day 2 pick must improve in some of the instinctual parts of the game including play recognition, spatial awareness, and how to move and slip blocks within the box.

Trevin Wallace has an extremely high ceiling as a football player but needs some more time to grow at age 21. Carolina is bringing the rookie in and planning on having him become LB3 while two veterans lead the way in 2024. If things go to plan, Wallace could become a future defensive pillar for the organization starting in 2025.

The exact situation Trevin Wallace needed is occurring in Carolina.