[The Athletic] Panthers big board: Draft options at No. 8

[Icege]

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Super Bowl is still six days away, but the long run-up to the NFL Draft began in earnest last week with a pair of college all-star games — and the Carolina Panthers were well represented.

General manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales led a big contingent of Panthers’ evaluators at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Texas, followed by the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Their focus was seemingly (hopefully) on defensive players following a season in which the Panthers allowed the most points in NFL history and became just the fourth team (and first since 1980) to yield 3,000 rushing yards in a season.

The Panthers have nine picks, including the eighth overall selection. The Panthers have held the No. 8 pick four times previously — more than any other first-round spot — and used it on Tim Biakabutuka, Jordan Gross, Christian McCaffrey and Jaycee Horn.

That’s a fairly strong lineup — and it’s where we’ll keep our attention in our first of three planned Panthers big boards before the April 24-26 draft. In this iteration, we’ll look at a few positions of need, targets who might be just out of reach if the Panthers stay at 8 — and offer alternatives who could fit nicely.

EDGE

• Pie in the sky: Abdul Carter (Penn State)
• Realistic options at #8: James Pearce Jr (Tennessee), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Jalon Walker (Georgia)
• Trade back options: Mike Green (Marshall), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Nic Scourton (Texas A&M)
• Day 2 options: Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss), JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State), Landon Jackson (Arkansas)

DTs

• Pie in the sky: Mason Graham (Michigan)
• Realistic options at #8: Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
• Trade back options: Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
• Day 2 options: Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Alfred Collins (Texas), Darius Alexander (Toledo)

Safeties

• Pie in the sky: None
• Realistic options at #8: Malaki Starks (Georgia)
• Trade back options: Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)
• Day 2 options: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)

WRs

• Pie in the sky: Travis Hunter (Colorado)
• Realistic options at #8: Tetrairoa McMillan (Arizona)
• Trade back options: Luther Burden (Missouri), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
• Day 2 options: Matthew Golden (Texas), Tre Harris (Ole Miss)

Edited 4 hours ago by Icege
Forgot the subject

[mrcompletely11]

Trade back and still get walker would be a dream scenario

[MHS831]

we could have written this--fluff. That time of year, I suppose

[1989]

Man, really feeling like trading back would be amazing. A lot of depth in our areas of need.

[Candler Cat]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

we could have written this--fluff. That time of year, I suppose

it's all fluff until draft day

[PNW_PantherMan]

My ideal trade back scenario is getting a pass rusher and Emeka Egbuka

[Martin]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

we could have written this--fluff. That time of year, I suppose

I thought it was a nice overview, especially for people not as close to college football or message board draft discussions.

[NAS]

Give me Jalon Walker and Jack Sawyer in first two rounds and I'm happy