Analysis: The NFL Draft prospects Panthers fans should be watching at the Senior Bowl
The Panthers are still assembling their coaching staff, but their draft scouting has already started.
The draft process begins this week with the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Top senior prospects from colleges around the country practice on two teams (North and South) during the week and then play Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Panthers coaching staff and front office will be in attendance to scout top talents and get a chance to meet one-on-one with players for the first time. They will have an opportunity to see many of them again at the NFL Combine at the end of February and at Pro Days, but this will be the first time to interact with players general manager Marty Hurney and the rest of the scouting department have been watching on tape.
While there will be plenty of surprises and breakout players throughout the week, here are some prospects to keep an eye on.
LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton would have been on this list, but he will no longer attend the Senior Bowl to rest and tend to a family issue, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
One note on the quarterback prospects: The position is obviously a tricky one for the Panthers at this time as Cam Newton is still rehabbing from his surgery in December. But the team will (and should) be taking a look at the quarterbacks in the draft as potential options with the seventh overall pick.
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
While Herbert is coming into the week as the top quarterback participating in Mobile, he has a lot to prove. The Oregon product had a strong senior season, throwing 32 touchdowns to six interceptions and completing 66.8 percent of his passes, a stark improvement from 59.4 percent his junior year.
At 6-foot-6, 237 pounds, he fits what NFL teams are looking for physically and has the ability to make impressive throws, but hasn’t always been the most consistent player through his college career. While he might be a stretch for the Panthers to take at No. 7 overall, this will be a big week for him to show how pro-ready he is.
QB Jordan Love, Utah State
This will be a big week for Love. His draft stock will likely significantly rise or significantly fall with his performance. The fourth-year junior’s decision to forgo another season of college football surprised some given his regression, statistically, in 2019.
Love threw 17 interceptions to 20 touchdowns and completed 61.9 percent of his passes. His decision-making was a major issue. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), 14 of his interceptions came when throwing into a tight window, most in FBS.
Coming from Utah State, Love will be looked at differently because he didn’t often play against top competition. Against the two Top 25 teams he played this year (LSU and Boise State), he threw one touchdown to four interceptions and completed 54.5 percent of his passes.
One of the perks of having three former college coaches leading the Panthers? They’ve seen a lot of these players in person already. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady played against Love this year and will likely be looking to see Love step up with all eyes on him in Mobile.
DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Not only is Kinlaw a locally recognizable name after playing at South Carolina, but the Panthers desperately need help in run support. The Panthers have seven defensive starters hitting free agency and gave up the most rushing touchdowns (31) and yards per carry (5.16) in the NFL this season.
At 6-6, 310 pounds, Kinlaw is graded as a top pass rusher by PFF. His stats aren’t anything flashy, but he has a chance to raise his grade at the Senior Bowl.
He has had success against the run and showed an ability to tackle behind the line of scrimmage and beat double teams. The Panthers should take a good look at Kinlaw. He could pair well with Kawann Short on the line.
OT Josh Jones, Houston
The Panthers have not been able to get any consistency at the left tackle position, which proved to be a major problem in 2019. Carolina tied for the most sacks allowed (Dolphins) with 58 and did not allow the team’s young quarterbacks to get comfortable in the pocket.
Luckily for the Panthers, there are plenty of intriguing tackle prospects in this year’s draft. Jones is just one of many and could be available in the second round.
He was a four-year starter at left tackle, and while he didn’t play against the best competition, he’ll have a chance to show what he can do against top pass-rushers at the Senior Bowl. PFF awarded him the highest overall grade they’ve ever given to a non-Power 5 offensive tackle. Several mock drafts have him out of the first round, but he could change that this week.
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
Do the Panthers desperately need to draft a wide receiver early? No, but it’s definitely a position they should look at addressing later in the draft or through free agency, especially with the type of offense is likely Joe Brady is bringing in.
In his senior season, Mims had 66 receptions for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns. He could possibly be taken Day 2 of the draft after having a down junior year before rebounding this past season. He’s not a top WR prospect, but has shown potential.
Part of the reason Mims has landed on this list is because Matt Rhule knows him well and the Panthers will be looking for weapons late in the draft. Carolina is far more likely to draft him in a late round because of Rhule and he could fit a need. Mims will definitely be worth keeping an eye on throughout the draft process to see if he can improve his stock.
Local players to keep an eye on:
- OT Alex Taylor, South Carolina State (transfer from Appalachian State)
- CB Essang Bassey, Wake Forest
- EDGE Jason Strowbridge, UNC
- OT Justin Herron, Wake Forest
- OT Charlie Heck, UNC
- OLB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
- DS Kyle Dugger, Lenoir Rhyne
- DT Larrell Murchison, NC State
