Panthers Mock Draft
Carolina has their quarterback of the (near) future, so now it’s time to take a look at where they need to focus in this month’s draft. The Panthers have put a lot of work into their front seven, building one of the most talented groups in the league potentially, but they still have major issues on both sides of the ball that need to be addressed prior to training camp. Painfully mediocre at nearly everything, the Panthers ranked in the bottom half of the league in points scored, points allowed, yards gained, yards allowed, sacks, field goal %, extra point %, turnovers, 3rd down conversions, penalties… you get the point. The good news is that means Carolina can go just about anywhere with their picks and it should represent an improvement. So today we’re going to use The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator and go over what I think the Panthers should do to get this mess turned around.
Round 1
Slater vs Ohio State 2019. Via Rackcs on YouTube
#8 Rashawn Slater OT NU- Quarterbacks go 1-4, followed by Sewell, Pitts, and Chase. That leaves Carolina with arguably the best OT in the draft and a candidate to finally replace Jordan Gross on the blindside. Rashawn Slater sat out 2020 but enters the draft as arguably the most intelligent and polished lineman available. Athletic enough to play on the outside and strong enough to move inside, Slater gives peace of mind to Scott Fitterer when making his first selection as Panthers GM. If he fails at LT he has all the tools to move to guard or even center and still excel (although that shouldn’t be necessary). This isn’t the franchise-changing pick it could have been had Fields fallen, but this gets Carolina off to a great start beefing up the protection for Darnold or another future signal-caller.
Round 2
Leatherwood at the Senior Bowl Via Scott Kennedy
#39 Alex Leatherwood OL ALA- Versatility is still the name of the game in round 2. Leatherwood has experience at both guard and tackle and, like Slater, is a high IQ player who can come in immediately and help prevent March mistakes Elflein and Erving from seeing the field. He has balance issues and is just adequate in terms of mobility but Leatherwood has the physical frame, strength, and aggressiveness to step in day one and move defenders in the run game while also stopping power rushers cold in pass sets. He’s by no means a perfect prospect but his blend of position versatility, experience, and the fact that the Panthers are desperate for interior line help, make him a solid pickup to start day 2.
Round 3
Nasirildeen highlights from JustBombsProductions
#73 Hamsah Nasirildeen S FSU- A smart, gifted athlete, and sure tackler who can line up in multiple positions. Nasirildeen will give DC Snow plenty of options when paired with playmaker Jeremy Chinn. He’ll need to improve his ball skills and coverage in general but his presence will help Carolina deliver on the promise of an extremely fast, attacking defense that’s always looking to make game-changing plays.
Round 4
Deonte Brown at Senior Bowl via Laurie Fitzpatrick
#113 Deonte Brown G ALA- With this pick, I wanted to add some depth to the defensive line but Deonte is too good to pass up in round 4. He’s massive at 6’3 360+ and will annihilate anything in front of him in the run game. As a pass protector, good luck moving him off his spot or getting around him. He’s got good quickness for a man his size but he’s not a guy that’s going to get out on the edge for you. Again, having invested three early picks in the offensive line, we’re looking to give Sam Darnold the absolute best chance to turn things around, Deonte will do his part keeping the new QB clean.
Round 5
Marlon Williams highlights via JustBombsProductions
#151 Marlon Williams WR UCF- With Robby Anderson and DJ Moore having one and two (1 + option) years left on their deals respectively, the Panthers add a bit more depth to the wide receiver room. Williams is a developing route runner with very good hands and the ability to win contested catches on a regular basis. He’s shown big-play ability, can attack every level of the field and has shown himself to be fairly dangerous with the ball in his hands. Don’t expect much out of Williams in the short term, but if he’s allowed to develop he could wind up being a steal on day 3.
Khyiris Tonga highlights from Highlight Workshop
#170 Khyiris Tonga DT BYU- For the Panthers’ final pick, we trade 3 sixth rounders to move up to 170 to grab the wide-bodied DT from BYU. A huge interior presence, Tonga won’t be winning any 100-yard dashes anytime soon. He will, however, eat up blockers and free up Carolina’s linebackers and safeties to make plays in the run game. He should also provide some relief for fellow interior lineman Derrick Brown and hopefully give him some more one-on-one opportunities. Mainly, he’s a depth addition who will make his mark on early downs stopping the interior run.