Joe Person final mock

[ladypanther]

Round 1, pick No. 1 (from Chicago)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

I still had Stroud at the top of my March 31 mock, with the caveat that I might have Young jump ahead of him before the draft. That day has come. 

Round 2, pick No. 39
B.J. Ojulari, edge, LSU

The most glaring need for the Panthers is the one Fitterer mentioned first in the above quote from his pre-draft press conference. I’ve been asked a lot whether the Panthers would trade down from 39 to pick up an extra pick. But Fitterer believes there’s a lot of talent between the 20th and 45th selections, so I think he’ll stay here and take an edge rusher to complement Brian Burns. Ojulari racked up 16 1/2 sacks and 25 tackles for loss over three seasons, showing off his explosiveness early in his career with a three-sack game against South Carolina, an LSU freshman record. Ojulari comes from a family of edge rushers: His brother Azeez has 13 1/2 sacks in two seasons since the Giants

Round 3, pick No. 95 (from Kansas City)
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

I drafted Mingo to the Panthers in the fourth round (at 114) in my March 31 mock, but I’m not sure the 6-2, 220-pounder makes it to Day 3. 

Round 4, pick No. 114
Chandler Zavala, G, N.C. State

Zavala has to be near the top of the list of players itching to move on to the NFL. The 24-year-old spent six years in college — four at Fairmont State, a Division II school in West Virginia, and then two with the Wolfpack after the Division II season was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. With starting guards Austin Corbett (ACL) and Brady Christensen (ankle) still both recovering from major injuries, the Panthers could use another interior lineman, and the last one they took from N.C. State worked out pretty well. Like Ikem Ekwonu, the 6-3, 316-pound Zavala is a big, physical mauler whose father is a celebrity chef. One concern: the back surgery that caused him to miss the second half of the 2021 season.

Round 4, pick No. 132 (from San Francisco)
Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota

Fitterer didn’t mention cornerback among the Panthers’ needs. But like at the guard spot, both starting corners are coming off injuries so reinforcements are probably a good call. The Panthers have typically favored bigger corners, owing to Fitterer and Dan Morgan’s time in Seattle. Smith has a tempting blend of size (6-0, 205) and speed (4.41-second 40 at the combine). Plus, he’s not afraid to line up and play physical, press-man coverage — something else the Panthers value (see: Horn, Jaycee).

Round 5, pick No. 145
Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama

I’m a tight-end guy. And this is a great year for the position. I’ve mocked Luke Musgrave (in the second round) and Sam LaPorta (in the third) to the Panthers in previous exercises. But given that Hayden Hurst gave the Panthers five tight ends on the roster, that was admittedly too soon. In fact, Fitterer and Frank Reich might decide not to take a tight end at all. But bringing in Young’s college tight end would give the young quarterback a trusted target who caught 56 passes for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons with Young. Latu’s eight touchdown receptions in 2021 were the most by an Alabama tight end in school history. Something else to consider: Latu matched Young on the S2 test by scoring in the 98th percentile, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

 

Round 5, pick No. 166
DJ Johnson, edge, Oregon

Remember what Fitterer said about best player available? Meet Johnson, who made Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list after playing both ways (plus special teams) for the Ducks in 2021.

 

https://theathletic.com/4443193/2023/04/24/panthers-mock-draft-2/?source=emp_shared_article

[WOW!!]

I love this draft.:

[therealmjl]

Would be a home run

[TheSpecialJuan]

I hate it 

[SmokinwithWilly]

Just now, TheSpecialJuan said:

I hate it 

You would. And only because you didn't post it first

Edited April 25, 2023 by SmokinwithWilly

[ForJimmy]

I would be happy with that draft!

[Varking]

Two starters with the first two picks. But I won’t complain because all that matters to me is we pick one of the top 4 QBs at 1 and this draft is a win. 

[KatsAzz]

5 minutes ago, Varking said:

Two starters with the first two picks. But I won’t complain because all that matters to me is we pick one of the top 4 QBs at 1 and this draft is a win. 

Naturally, selecting the starting right QB at # 1 will be the key to the Panthers draft success obtaining two starters with the first two pick would be icing on the cake.

[Daddy_Uncle]

This would be a hell of a draft 

[Jackie Lee]

BJ and Mingo would be solid picks. CB and OG depth is needed

[LinvilleGorge]

Works for me. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

 

 

 

[Hoenheim]

Surprisingly solid choices  

[jayboogieman]

If the draft fell like this,

 

[Bear Hands]

Before clicking the link, you just know Mingo is the 2nd or 3rd round pick lol.  Repeat for every mock for nearly every team the last month.  Quite interested to see where he falls after all the internet infatuation.