Josh Klein’s Seven Round Panthers Mock Draft
Round 1 – #24, DJ Moore WR Maryland
There has been a lot of talk since the college football season ended about DJ Moore and how he might relate to the Panthers – first he was a second round pick, then he was a reach in the first round, now we have gone full circle with pundits and fans assuring me that Moore won’t be there at 24 because he’ll be the first receiver taken. I think Moore is there at 24 and I think Marty Hurney, Ron Rivera and Norv Turner are too enamored to pass him up – don’t forget that the team sent an entire army to the Maryland Pro Day to gawk at Moore, and I think the team wants desperately to be able to tell Cam Newton that they’ve added so many weapons for him in the offseason there won’t be enough pass attempts to go around.
Round 2 – #55, Jessie Bates III S Wake Forest
Bates is the reason why I think the Panthers felt like they could pass on Justin Reid in the first – Bates ticks the boxes for the Panthers and can come in and compete for the starting job immediately. A little inconsistent from a tackling standpoint, his coverage skills shine, which the Panthers desperately need in the defensive secondary; Bates had five picks in 2016 and the team has made it clear they want more ball skills out of their safeties. The problem is that Bates may not be there at 55, the same reason I don’t have Frank Ragnow’s name in bold letters above this paragraph; if Bates isn’t there, look for the team to go a different way, perhaps a running back (Hi, Nick Chubb!) or someone that may have slipped further than most teams thought.
Round 3 – #85, Mark Andrews TE Oklahoma
Andrews is essentially a slot receiver with a tight end’s build – when you add in his route running ability and the now-uncertainty surrounding Greg Olsen’s future, and the Panthers need to find a TE2 that has TE1 upside. Andrews has that kind of upside and maybe more – he’s a huge red zone weapon (had 22 touchdowns in three seasons), is an incredibly intelligent player on the field and is willing to do the small things to get better. Give Andrews a year of tutelage under Olsen and see how high his stock can get.
Our top TE in the 2018 class Mark Andrews on whether he’d rather be the #1 guy or go to a team with a veteran TE. pic.twitter.com/d3Q16549RO
— The Riot Report (@RRiotReport) March 2, 2018
Round 3 – #88, Chad Thomas EDGE Miami
With Charles Johnson’s retirement, Julius Peppers advanced age and Wes Horton due for a new contract after 2018, the Panthers have to get younger at the defensive end position. That starts with Daeshon Hall coming back from injury and finishes with Thomas, who plays with a ton of explosiveness and flexibility, a must for someone that stands 6’6 – he has a chance to be a bust, with so much of his draft stock coming from his potential and the flashes he shows, but a third-round pick (and an extra one at that) might be worth the risk.
Round 5 – #161, Shaquem Griffin LB UCF
Listen. He’ll probably be gone by now. I get it. But it’s my mock draft, and I want a guy who is going to work harder than anyone else on the field, be one of the best pass rushers in the draft and can step in next season and take the hybrid role that Shaq Thompson plays. Have him learn from Thompson, play special teams for a year, and when Thomas Davis retires and Shaq Thompson takes his spot, you’ve got a ready-made replacement; Griffin’s draft stock is near impossible to lock down due to the combination of his missing left hand and eye-popping Combine performance; I’ve seen him mocked anywhere from the 81 to 200. If Griffin is there at 161, he’s worth it.
Round 6 – #197, Duke Dawson CB Florida
Another young, fast corner to add to the competition between Bradberry, Cockrell and Seymour – don’t be surprised if the Panthers go with a cornerback in the first round and find a wide receiver later – cornerback is definitely on their list of needs, and Dawson checks a lot of boxes with nine pass breakups and four interceptions in his senior season. The Panthers have worked out a couple of slot corners the past few weeks, which makes me think they may like Corn Elder on the outside and want some additional competition for Captain Munnerlyn; Dawson is only 5’10 and some mocks have him going higher than this. The Panthers brought in Dawson for a private visit in April.
Round 7 – #234, Roc Thomas RB Jacksonville State
Thomas starred in high school and was a big-time recruit, spending the first two years of his college career at Auburn before injuries reduced his role enough to transfer to Jacksonville State where he finished his career with more than 1,300 yards and 13 scores on less than 200 touches.
Round 7 – #242, Sean Welsh G Iowa
Welsh can play center as well as guard (and even spent some time at tackle in college), he’ll probably be earmarked as a center in the pros due to his size (6’2″, 300). He has the technique, but may not necessarily have the size to become a full-time starter; he could provide depth at all five positions a la Tyler Larsen.
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