Icege's 2020 Mock Draft

[yasuhara2241]

8 hours ago, SOJA said:

here's my favorite unreleastic mock I did the other day 

Tried to do one somewhat realistic. My goal was shore up the lines.  Got 2 DTs that can stop the run and rush the passer. I think Epenesa might drop due to atrocious combine. Also took a fliers on a few guys who drop due to medicals- 4th round with our future Center who was supposed to go earlier and a 7th round nickel CB who was a former 5 star recruit. 

[Icege]

On 4/7/2020 at 6:45 AM, SOJA said:

here's my favorite unreleastic mock I did the other day 

[Icege]

Held off on a February update since the combine and free agency started in March.

 

1. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
I've regularly mocked Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw to the Panthers at #7 as they have a pressing need to reboot the DL. However, I think that Detroit takes Brown in the top 5 as they need help at DT after releasing Snacks (who I would love to see the Panthers go out and sign as a mentor for my 4th round selection...). Isaiah Simmons screams Matt Rhule prospect. An elite athlete with high character, Simmons can come in and literally plug into whatever role he is on the defense. This would allow the team to change packages without having to switch out personnel (ex: Team comes out in a 4-3, but Simmons is also able to play nickel or safety). Having Shaq and Isaiah on the field would give us our LB duo for the next 5 years with INCREDIBLE speed at the position. There is too much versatility to pass up here, and with a deep DT group the Panthers can take a shot at restocking a position group that isn't nearly as deep.

2. Lloyd Cushenberry III, iOL, LSU
Matt Paradis sucked and Trai Turner is now in LA. The team will likely bring back GVR to hold down the LG position if Little or Daley look incapable, which leaves Moton at RT and whoever at RG. Enter Cushenberry III, LSU's starting center. He'll be familiar with how Joe Brady schemes his offense as well as experienced with installing a Brady designed offense. He was manhandling linemen at the senior bowl, and can start at RG alongside Paradis to learn the pro game. The team needs a center of the future, and it appears as if the interior of the OL is going to be addressed first. A year in the booth next to Paradis and Moton (while competing with Little + Daley) could help Lloyd level up exponentially in preparation for his sophomore season as the starting center when he kicks over to replace Paradis (and free up cap space!).

3. James Lynch, DE, Baylor
A big, versatile defensive linemen that has experience all over the DL but has the size + skillset to anchor the LE position in a 4-3 or play DE in a 3-4. Okay, I basically copy/pasted what I had for Nick Coe there, but it doesn't make it any less true. Lynch was also a favorite of Matt Rhule's and has experience with Phil Snow. The team needs help on the OL with only Obada and Chris Smith as traditional 4-3 DEs. Lynch especially could benefit from learning under Obada who has experience playing everywhere on the line as well as dropping back into coverage.

4. Leki Fotu, NT, Utah
If you haven't heard yet, the Panthers are likely to move on from Dontari Poe. While I would like to see the team bring in Damon Harrison as a stop gap and a mentor, I'd also like to see us bring in a young NT again. Leki Fotu is a grown man. Starting out playing rugby in England, Leki has a violent pop with his hands (Lynch too has that violent, sudden strength as well) and can become the anchor on the line that we've been missing since Star went to Buffalo (Poe hasn't exactly been bad, but I really liked Lotulelei). Put Leki behind Snacks and give him a season to learn from him and KK, and then let him eat next season.

5. Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
Rumours are that the Panthers are going to target pass catchers late in the draft, and one high quality target that might drop due to how loaded the WR class is this year (and that he kinda bombed his 40yd dash) is Quintez Cephus. Cephus missed all of 2018 after being accused of sexual assault, but was acquitted in August 2019. A Georgia native that also played basketball, Cephus lost his father to gun violence in April 2017. The young man has faced trauma after trauma, but those around him speak only of his character and high motor (which he thanks his father for instilling him with). While he's more of a WR3 at the time according to scouts, Cephus is a possession WR with an NFL-ready build. The big question here will be whether or not his speed and agility will limit him as a pro.

6. McTelvin Agim, DT, Tennessee
While Lynch is a 3-tech that can move to 5-tech, Agrim is a former base end converting to defensive tackle that could develop into a decent rotational piece for the DL. While I doubt he is able to replace KK, being able to get a rotational defensive lineman with in the 6th is kinda nice. With the addition of Chris Smith, if the team goes out and signs Snacks we are looking at Obada/Smith-Harrison/Fotu-Short/Agrim-Burns/Haynes for the DL rotation. I mean, that isn't exactly pretty with name recognition, but the warnings from the FO as well as Matt Rhule's rebuilidng history tell us that next year is gonna be one of those seasons where "Keep pounding" might be all that we have.

7. Chris Miller, DB, Baylor
He got some targeting calls in college and plays like a LB with a CB's build, but with experience at nickel and free safety we could get ourselves some hard-hitting depth with a player that Rhule & Snow are also familiar with. He was a bit of a wild man at Baylor, taking the role of enforcer in the defensive backfield and hunting for wide receivers that underestimated what going over the middle was going to cost them. Eric Reid's contract runs out soon, and it looks more and more like Tre Boston is going to wait for a payday.

[Icege]

Updated OP w/ picks. Will add missing reasoning later today