The Panthers could go a number of ways with the 24th overall pick, and various mock drafts have a wide range of players at a wide range of positions being selected there: from guard to tackle to defensive end to safety to cornerback to wide receiver; all have been mocked to the Panthers tonight. While Marty Hurney made it very clear earlier this week that the Panthers won’t decide on what to do with this pick until the latter half of the first round, and that trading up and down are both options that are still in play, there is a certain amount of estimation that is possible based on Ron Rivera’s comments about a first round pick being able to contribute immediately and the players likely to be available. So who could the Panthers select at 24 and why would they go those ways?
DJ Moore, WR Maryland
Photo Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports.
The Panthers have made no secret about liking Moore; certainly, there is a lot to like on tape. He has the speed to stretch the field, decent hands, the ability to make plays in the air and the ability to make plays after the catch. Crucially, he also showed the ability to be an electrifying route runner and while his route tree in 2017 was limited by a rash of injuries at the quarterback position, his 2016 tape adds evidence to the argument that he can be an elite route runner at the NFL level. Moore is one of a handful of players in this draft who offer #1 WR potential, and could contribute from day one as a deep threat. The Panthers might have struggled for receiving options late last season after a rash of injuries, but a receiving corps of Funchess, Moore, Samuel, Smith, Byrd and Wright could be one of the best in the NFL going forward; that’s an enticing option for any team, let alone one with a quarterback who can capitalize on that group.
Isaiah Wynn/Frank Ragnow/Will Hernandez/James Daniels/Billy Price
Photo Credit: Associated Press
There is no guarantee that any of these players make it to 24, but interior offensive line is something of a concern with Norwell gone, as Rivera spoke to at the press conference on Tuesday, and these players offer the ability to start at left guard from day one with enough positional versatility to move elsewhere down the road. Wynn is the better player in my opinion; while he isn’t the same athlete as Ragnow, he looks to be an elite guard in both the rushing and passing games and also offer the potential to remain at tackle as well should he need to. Ragnow is more of a natural center than a guard, but with Ryan Kalil retiring after the 2018 season that could well be his eventual fit with the Panthers. The offensive line is the foundation of the offense, and it would make sense to start from there in the 2018 draft; Hernandez, Price & Daniels are all in the conversation as well, but are less likely than Ragnow and Wynn to have their name called.
Marcus Davenport
Photo Credit: Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire/Corbis
This is possibly the ideal situation for the Panthers, as Davenport is likely to be gone by the time the 24th overall pick rolls around. However, should he fall as a couple of mock drafts predict, then he looks to offer superstar potential at defensive end, with the ability to come in and compete for Charles Johnson’s vacated starting spot across from Addison. The Panthers are much thinner at DE than the 2017 sack totals suggest; any time you get a chance to add a potentially dominant pass rusher who is also a contributor against the run, you take it, especially when your top three defensive ends are all either over thirty or in the final year of their contract.
Jaire Alexander/Josh Jackson/Mike Hughes
Photo Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers have been rumored to be interested in a cornerback all offseason, most notably after the trading of Daryl Worley and the botched signing of Bashaud Breeland. While many are likely underestimating the potential impact that Ross Cockrell might make after spending nine games as the Giants’ starting corner last year while adding 11 PDs and 3 INTs, should the Panthers feel that Cockrell isn’t a guaranteed starter, they may wish to add one of the drafts top corners. However, it should be noted that over the past three seasons, the only corners more valuable than Cockrell with fewer than 35 starts (Cockrell has 32) are Jalen Ramsey, Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie, AJ Bouye and Derrelle Revis; that is very good company to be in. Personally, I prefer Jackson out of this trio, but Alexander seems to be highest on many boards.
Justin Reid
Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Free safety is likely the Panthers biggest need as of right now and Reid is likely the top player on the board at that position who stands any chance of making it to 24. He is not perfect on tape and Hurney insisted he’s not going to reach for a safety but some would argue that Reid’s play merits this pick and his celing is certainly that of an elite free safety. If the Panthers fall in love with his upside then this could very well be the pick at 24, and they have certainly done their due diligence on him throughout the pre-draft process. However, I don’t think this will be the pick as the Panthers feel they can get safety production from either later in the draft or those still available in free agency
Trading Down
Hurney didn’t rule out a trade in either direction, and while trading up is also an option, it is trading down that seems more likely to be the case given the limited top-end talent present in the 2018 draft class. While there are some advantages to staying at 24, this draft is strongest on the second day; that is a direct quote from Hurney.
As is always the case with late first rounders, it’s hard to tell which way the Panthers will go at 24, if they go at 24 at all, but if the pick isn’t any of the above then it is likely to either being something wonderful, something unexpected or something disastrous.
