Panthers want to improve defense in upcoming draft

At linebacker, the Panthers were able to re-sign Jordan Senn but lost valuable middle linebacker Dan Connor to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. Beason should be back but there's no guarantee Davis will make it through the season or be the same player he was once, so linebacker is an option.

And the Panthers could certainly use a No. 2 cornerback to go along with Chris Gamble. They spent last offseason looking for an answer there before finally settling on what they had at that spot with the undersized Captain Munnerlyn.

"When you look at how this league has started to change," Rivera said, "if you can get immediate pressure on the quarterback, you can help the back end. And if the back end can hold up you help the front end. So you're looking for good players at both.

"You either find a good rusher or a good cover guy, but whichever way you go you help the team."