We are in the throes of mock draft season. Let’s see which analysts’ mocks we love, hate, and everything in between.
Everybody loves a good mock draft. There are a bunch of places where you can create your own mock drafts to make sure the team you like gets the player you want. But it’s still interesting to see what national pundits predict will happen and what direction they think the Carolina Panthers will go in the draft. We’ll revisit some of these as we hit different milestones throughout the process. Things will change after the combine and again after all the pro days wrap up. Even with no football being played, people will start hearing chatter and adjusting their boards to match. It makes for a lot of fluidity on draft boards between now and April 24.
Let’s get to it.
ESPN (Field Yates)
8: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
Walker is going to be a popular pick for the Panthers given the Panthers’ desperate need to improve their pass rush. People seem divided on where Walker best fits on a defense, but his burst and athleticism give him the tools to be a major disruptor within the team’s front seven.
NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)
8: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
Jeremiah follows the same line of thinking as Yates. He notes the Panthers have needs all over the defensive side of the ball, and Walker’s potential as a pass rusher would be an enormous boost for a unit that is sorely lacking in that department.
Bleacher Report
8: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Graham would be a terrifying addition to the Panthers front line alongside Derrick Brown. Both are dominant run stoppers with the pop to be disruptive pass rushers on the interior. A lot of mocks have Graham going higher, so him falling to the Panthers would seemingly be a steal for Carolina.
Sharp Football Analysis (Brendan Donahue)
8: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Donahue notes the Panthers lack of passing prowess, even with the emergence of Bryce Young down the stretch. The team has high hopes for Xavier Legette, but McMillan seems a much more likely bet to be a true number one target for Young.
Tankathon
8: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
57: TJ Sanders, DL, South Carolina
74: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Tankathon has the Panthers double dipping with a lot of last year’s selection. The Panthers used a first round pick on wide receiver Xavier Legette just a year ago, but he had a very disappointing rookie season. On top of that, McMillan has a different profile as a big slot receiver. Carolina also invested a pick in tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, and he had a promising start to his career, so the Arroyo pick seems rather redundant.
The TJ Sanders selection is the most need-based pick. He’s a traditional down lineman that slots more as a run stopper than a pass rusher.