Athletic Mock Draft from Joe Person Thought this was interesting enough for own link

[raleigh-panther]

Joe Person   The Athletic 

Disclaimer, right off the jump: This is going to be a weird Panthersmock.

Not weird in the sense that I’m going to draft a long snapper in the sixth round or have every pick come from one side of the ball. I mean, both have already been done. For the sake of simplicity, at least in this initial mock, I’m picking straight-up for the Panthers with no trades, which, if last year is any indication, is about as likely as a buddy flick starring Will Smith and Chris Rock.

General manager “Trader Scott” Fitterer was wheeling and dealing throughout the 2021 NFL Draft, his first with the Panthers. And we’ll try to channel that cellphone-buzzing, deal-making energy in our next mock.

But we’ll play it straight in this one, which — if it happens on draft weekend — would allow time to cut the grass, hit the gym, smoke a Boston butt, wax the minivan and drive to Rock Hill to see the remains of the Panthers’ would-be headquarters in the window between their first pick Thursday night and their next one Saturday afternoon. (Free The Athleticswag for anyone who checks all those off the to-do list on Day 2 of the draft.)

Second disclaimer: I leaned on The Draft Network’s mock draft machine to carry me through that long lull between the first and fourth rounds for the Panthers. All that said, the envelope please, Mr. Rock:

First round (No. 6)

Liberty QB Malik Willis

Also considered: Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett, Mississippi State OT Charles Cross, Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning

If the Panthers could find an interested team, they would be tempted to move back to recoup some of the draft capital they traded away last year in the deals for Sam Darnold, C.J. Henderson and others. Depending on how far back they move, there’s still a good chance they could get Pickett, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral or one of the tackles in the tier just below Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu.

But they might miss out on Willis, who has the biggest arm and highest upside among the highest-rated quarterbacks. It’s not just Willis’ skill set that has impressed the Panthers. Like everyone at Willis’ pro day two weeks ago, Fitterer felt “the excitement in the building” that stemmed from Willis’ energy, enthusiasm and 65-yard rainbows. If you hadn’t noticed — and owner David Tepper certainly has — the energy was missing around the organization during the last month of the 2021 season. Cam Newton brought the juice during those heady days from 2013 to 2015 and again last season when he returned, though it turned out to be short-lived.

There’s only one Newton. But Willis, who went to Newton’s south Atlanta high school and spent two years at Auburn, has the same type of charisma and confidence. It’s time for the Panthers to draft a first-round quarterback, and Pickett certainly merits a long look. The decision to take a QB becomes trickier if Neal or Ekwonu is available, but I like Willis as the pick at No. 6.

Fourth round (No. 137, from LAR via HOU)

Louisiana OT Max Mitchell

Also considered: North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko, Arizona State C/G Dohnovan West

Teams don’t usually find their franchise left tackles on the second or third days of the draft, although the Panthers believe Brady Christensen — last year’s third-round pick from BYU — will start somewhere along the line this season. If the Panthers go quarterback at No. 6 and opt not to bring in a veteran tackle such as Duane Brown or Eric Fisher, Christensen could be the starting left tackle, where he was a consensus All-American at BYU.

But with swing tackle Cam Erving and Dennis Daley in the final year of their deals, the Panthers could stand to add another tackle. And the 6-foot-6, 307-pound Mitchell, who started at both tackle spots for the Ragin’ Cajuns, makes some sense. Mitchell has good length and drew praise from former Louisiana coach Billy Napier and his staff for his toughness and leadership skills. His experience at right and left tackle also is a plus and could allow him to transition into a swing tackle role. Mitchell played in a zone scheme in college, so that could give the Panthers pause as they shift to a power run game. But Mitchell, whose pro day is Monday, had a good week at the Senior Bowl against better competition than he faced in the Sun Belt.

Fifth round (No. 144, via JAC)

Miami (Ohio) edge Dominique Robinson

Also considered: Appalachian State LB D’Marco Jackson, UAB edge Alex Wright

Robinson, who grew up in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. Robinson arrived at Miami as a quarterback, moved to wide receiver and eventually switched to defense during the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020. The RedHawks played only three games that season, but Robinson flashed his playmaking potential last season when he collected 8 1/2 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks and four hurries at defensive end.

Robinson didn’t stand out at the Senior Bowl, according to some observers. But his athleticism was evident at the combine, where the 6-5, 253-pounder finished among the top 10 defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (4.72 seconds), 225-pound bench press (25 reps), vertical leap (41 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 1 inch). Robinson is still far from a finished product, and draft experts are mixed on where he’ll get picked. Some have him listed as a sixth-round prospect or later, while ESPN’s Mel Kiper in February pegged Robinson as a third- or fourth-rounder. Given Robinson’s ceiling and the Panthers’ need for a young edge rusher, getting him with the first pick in the fifth round does not feel like a reach.

Fifth round (No. 149)

Ohio State OL Thayer Munford

Also considered: Kentucky OT Dare Rosenthal, Arkansas CB Montaric Brown, Clemson WR Justyn Ross

I don’t think it’s a stretch to have the Panthers doubling down at offensive tackle, whether they draft one of the top guys in the first round or not. New offensive line coach James Campen has been impressed with Christensen’s tape from his rookie season. But if the Panthers are still wavering on where Christensen fits best, it’s not a bad idea to keep loading up on tackles.

The benefit of using a fifth-round pick on Munford is that he, like Christensen, could slide inside if needed. The 6-6, 329-pounder started three seasons at left tackle for the Buckeyes before shifting to left guard for much of 2021. Munford has good length and bulk, but his footwork could give him problems with speed rushers at the next level. And anyone who saw Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson steamroll Munford will question his ability to handle the bull rush, as well. Matt Rhule knows Ohio State coach Ryan Day well from their time together at Temple, though, and will get the skinny from Day on whether Munford is worth a fifth-round flier.

Sixth round (No. 199, via LV)

Michigan LB Josh Ross

Also considered: Indiana LB Micah McFadden, Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton

At 200 picks into the draft, the Panthers aren’t looking for their future middle linebacker. But it’s always good to mine the late rounds for backup linebackers who can contribute on special teams. Ross was a two-time captain at Michigan, where he racked up a team-leading 106 tackles in 14 games in 2021 to go along with two pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries. Ross is not particularly big (6-foot, 227 pounds) or fast — he was clocked at 4.79 seconds in the 40 during Michigan’s pro day last month.

But Ross has good quickness playing downhill, makes a ton of plays in the run game and has drawn the attention of the Steelers, who reportedly took him to dinner after his pro day. It was tempting to use a late-round pick on Thornton, the Baylor blazer who ran the fastest 40 (4.28) of anyone at the combine this year.

Seventh round (No. 242, from NE via MIA)

Virginia Tech WR Tré Turner

Also considered: South Carolina TE Nick Muse, Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma

The Panthers sent a big contingent to Liberty’s pro day to see Willis. But they also watched a lot of his throws go to Turner, the Greensboro, Ala., native who participated in Willis’ pro day to showcase his receiving skills for scouts and then drove to Blacksburg for Virginia Tech’s pro day that same afternoon. Turner, who was also a basketball standout in high school, comes from an athletic family. His dad played football at NC State, while his brother P.J. Hairston was a first-round pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2014.

At 6-1, 184 pounds, Turner led the Hokies in receiving in two of the previous three seasons, but he did not test well at the combine, where he ran just a 4.51 in the 40. But he’s developed some chemistry with Willis after catching passes from him at the Senior Bowl, the combine (they were in the same throwing group) and the Liberty pro day.

[CanadianCat]

Im willing to roll the dice with Willis. 

Boom or bust babee!!

[raleigh-panther]

2 hours ago, CanadianCat said:

Im willing to roll the dice with Willis. 

Boom or bust babee!!

Yep.  
Its just funny to me that all the talking heads at ESPN think it’s Pickett 

still others a LT

the local guy who follows the team thinks it’s Willis 

It’s just all very interesting with the NO trade which positions them to move up ahead if the Panthers if they choose.  I can’t see them doing that for Pickett 

[ladypanther]

 Who knew that Joe was so funny??!!!   Go Joe!

 

[ladypanther]

It will be interesting to see what his trading mock is.

[Mr. Scot]

3 hours ago, CanadianCat said:

Im willing to roll the dice with Willis. 

Boom or bust babee!!

Nah.

Take a tackle.

[saX man]

Munford is actually a really solid dude.

[Raleigh PF]

I'd rather trade down and accumulate more picks. And if in so doing, the Panthers could grab an OT and Jordan Davis, well...

[PizzaTheHutt]

This really feels like a Cam (Willis) vs Blane Gabbert (Pickett) decision.

Time is a flat circle. 

[micnificent28]

19 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Nah.

Take a tackle.

Not necessarily if they believe Christensen is that guy. You filled the other spots with the free agency acquisitions. But, All that depends on how they feel about Christensen.

[micnificent28]

8 minutes ago, PizzaTheHutt said:

This really feels like a Cam (Willis) vs Blane Gabbert (Pickett) decision.

Time is a flat circle. 

It is exactly that. 

[rayzor]

14 minutes ago, PizzaTheHutt said:

This really feels like a Cam (Willis) vs Blane Gabbert (Pickett) decision.

Time is a flat circle. 

Cam  > Willis and Pickett > Yo Gabba Gabbertt, but yes.... not far off from that situation.

 

That said ..... Take a tackle.

[top dawg]

19 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Nah.

Take a tackle.

Yeah, as long as they're named Neal or Ekwonu.

[Brooklyn 3.0]

Well we now know for certain OP is on the Willis train. Only reason he posted this.