ROUND 6
201st Overall: Derrek Tuszka, EDGE (North Dakota State); 6-5, 251 lbs
The Panthers have a range of interesting edge rushing options, but could do with some added depth at the position, and Tuszka would be good value at this point in the draft. He isn’t in the top tier of athletes for an edge rusher, but he bends well and shows nice quickness, which allows him to generate leverage which he can then exploit with good hand usage and a relentless motor.
ROUND 7
219th Overall: Jared Mayden, S (Alabama); 6-0, 205 lbs
With Colin Jones now gone, the Panthers could do with adding some versatile depth in the secondary with the ability to play special teams. Mayden spent much of his early career at Alabama as a special teamer and can play both big nickel and safety. He’s not going to be a high-level starter at the NFL level, but he can cover multiple positions and is good enough that if he does see the field, it isn’t the end of the world.
221st Overall: Kendall Coleman, DL (Syracuse); 6-3, 257 lbs
Baylor last year used James Lynch to great effect as a hybrid EDGE/DT – and while Coleman would need to add some weight to fulfill that role, if the Panthers are willing to give him a while to quite literally grow into it, his skillset would be an ideal fit. He isn’t the most explosive edge rusher, but plays with a generally good pad level and uses his hands well to work around blocks and with time could be a really useful player who could play the edge on rushing downs and then kick inside as a 3-tech in obvious passing situations.
249th Overall: Charlie Taumoepeau, TE (Portland State); 6-2, 240 lbs
This would be another pick that could take a year or so to flourish, and there is always a chance that such picks don’t work out at all, but Taumoepeau is a good athlete with good hands and who flashes as a route runner, though who will need to improve significantly as a blocker and continue to add nuance to what will likely be a much larger route tree in the NFL.
Having traded up to get their man in Okudah, it’s going to be hard for the Panthers to fill out their roster completely in a single draft class, but with a combination of trades and a bit of luck, they might still be able to add enough talent to give them a foundation to build upon moving forward.
