Things are starting to stabilize in Carolina. The Panthers started playing better in the second half of the season, and consensus around the NFL is that they boast a young, up-and-coming defense.

CBS Sports' Rob Rang believes Ohio State DT Johnathan Hankins could be a nice addition to that young defense come April.

Whomever the Carolina Panthers hire to replace fired general manager Marty Hurney could have his work cut out for him. One of the Panthers' few bright spots this season has been the play of defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. Carolina's defensive tackles could use an upgrade and Hankins is viewed by some as a potential top-10 talent.

The 6'3, 322-pound Hankins elected to leave school a year early and declare for the draft last month. He was an All-Big Ten performer, and leaves Ohio State with 138 tackles (50 solo, 80 assists), 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.