Panthers mock draft final update: Projecting every pick Carolina will make
One more day.
The NFL draft begins Thursday, and soon the Panthers will be on the clock with the sixth overall draft pick. Mocking the 2022 draft has been difficult because there’s no consensus as to who the top guys are. Some of the top teams have multiple needs.
In our previous mock drafts, The Charlotte Observer used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator to try to get an accurate picture of what other teams could do and what pool the Panthers have to choose from.
But for our final mock draft, The Observer reached out to beat writers who cover the Jaguars, Lions, Texans, Jets, Giants, Seahawks and Falcons, who all have top-10 picks, and asked them to mock the pick for the teams they cover.
Trades were allowed.
Here is how the top 10 went:
Pick No. 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars
▪ Name: Aidan Hutchinson
▪ Position: DE
▪ School: Michigan
▪ Year: Senior
From John Reid, Jaguars beat writer for the Florida Times-Union:
“Aidan Hutchinson is a safe pick for the Jaguars because he is considered the top prospect in the 2022 draft class. The Jaguars need better pass-rush pressure after finishing with 32 sacks last season, which tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL. Hutchinson has the potential to emerge as a cornerstone on the defense with Josh Allen, and having that type of potential is too good to pass up.
“The Jaguars strongly considered Georgia’s edge rusher Travon Walker and Alabama left tackle Evan Neal with the pick. But Hutchinson rates higher than Walker. With left tackle Cam Robinson signing his franchise tender with a possibility of reaching an agreement on a long-term deal, adding a left tackle like Neal with the No. 1 pick is not as urgent.”
Pick No. 2 - Detroit Lions
▪ Name: Kayvon Thibodeaux
▪ Position: DE
▪ School: Oregon
▪ Year: Junior
From Eric Woodyard, Lions beat writer for ESPN.com:
“Although it remains unclear on who exactly the Lions will take at No. 2, it makes sense to get Kayvon Thibodeaux. If Michigan product Aidan Hutchinson is there, that would be my first choice, but Thibodeaux is also ready to contribute immediately. And after a 3-13-1 finish, the Lions need a game-changer, particularly on defense where they ranked 31st in opponents points per game in 2021 at 27.5 ppg.”
Pick No. 3 - Houston Texans
▪ Name: Ikem Ekwonu
▪ Position: OT
▪ School: N.C. State
▪ Year: Junior
From Brooks Kubena, Texans beat writer for the Houston Chronicle:
“Ekwonu’s prowess as a bull-rushing run blocker makes him a much-needed fit for a Houston offense that must improve after averaging the fewest yards per carry in franchise history last season. He is a versatile tackle who can play guard and would immediately slide into a starting role on a front the Texans have long been trying to fix.”
Pick No. 4 - New York Jets
▪ Name: Jermaine Johnson
▪ Position: DE
▪ School: Florida State
▪ Year: Senior
From DJ Bien-Aime, Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News:
“Jermaine Johnson was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. League scouts believe Johnson could be one of the best defensive ends from this class. He has a plethora of pass rush moves and is stout against the run.”
Pick No. 5 - New York Giants
▪ Name: Evan Neal
▪ Position: OT
▪ School: Alabama
▪ Year: Junior
From Art Stapleton, Giants beat reporter for The Record and Northjersey.com:
“Giants like Charles Cross, but they love Neal, and he’s their guy to slide in at right tackle, forming bookends up front with Andrew Thomas.”
Pick No. 6 - Carolina Panthers
▪ Name: Charles Cross
▪ Position: OT
▪ School: Mississippi State
▪ Year: Junior
From Jonathan M. Alexander and Ellis L. Williams of The Observer:
The pick going into the draft was left tackle Evan Neal. And for a second, it looked like he may fall to six.
But the Giants scooped him up. So we attempted to trade down with the Seahawks at No. 9 in hopes of also recouping a Day 2 pick. However, the beat reporter for the Seahawks, Michael-Shawn Dugar, wasn’t going for it. In that case, we tried to draft the best available while addressing a position of need, which has been the Panthers’ philosophy entering the draft.
It came down between Charles Cross, Travon Walker and Malik Willis.
Cross was the pick because he addresses a major need. The Panthers allowed 52 sacks in 2021 and many of those sacks came from the left side. That needs to be fixed. The Panthers love Neal, but also really like Cross. He’s considered the best pass blocker in this class, having played in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, where they threw on most downs. He must get better with his run blocking, but many scouts and draft experts consider him a Day 1 starter.
The Panthers initially weren’t high on Cross. He didn’t interview particularly well at the combine.
As his testing came back with his pro day and his in-person visit with Carolina, he started to grow on the staff and emerged as a candidate high on their draft board.
Pick No. 7 - New York Giants
▪ Name: Ahmad Gardner
▪ Position: CB
▪ School: Cincinnati
▪ Year: Junior
From Art Stapleton, Giants beat reporter for The Record and Northjersey.com:
“GM Joe Schoen will likely entertain trade offers here, but in this mock, he sticks and goes with a lockdown corner who will fit in new DC Wink Martindale’s system perfectly. (Gardner) has all the tools to be special at the next level.”
Pick No. 8 - Atlanta Falcons
▪ Name: Garrett Wilson
▪ Position: WR
▪ School: Ohio State
▪ Year: Junior
From D. Orlando Ledbetter, Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“The Falcons will look to add weapons in this draft and will have a shot at Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, who is 6-foot and 183 pounds. Wilson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and has elite run-after-catch ability.”
Pick No. 9 - Seattle Seahawks
▪ Name: Derek Stingley Jr.
▪ Position: CB
▪ School: LSU
▪ Year: Junior
From Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seahawks beat writer for The Athletic:
“The Seahawks for the better part of the last two seasons have been extremely bad at defending the pass. Their No. 1 cornerback just signed with the Jets in free agency. Derek Stingley Jr. is the type of elite coverage prospect Seattle needs.”
Pick No. 10 - New York Jets
▪ Name: Drake London
▪ Position: WR
▪ School: Southern Cal
▪ Year: Junior
From DJ Bien-Aime, Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News:
“Drake London provides a new aspect to the offense that is missing. He’s a big body who can win those 50-50 jump balls that Zach Wilson likes to throw. London moves extremely well for a guy at his size and can produce plays after the catch.”
Panthers on Day 3
Fourth round, Pick No. 137
▪ Name: Eric Johnson
▪ Position: Defensive tackle
▪ School: Missouri State
▪ Year: Senior
Missouri State defensive tackle Eric Johnson did not get a combine invite but his performance at the Senior Bowl in early February left a favorable impression on scouts. He then dominated his pro day, running a 4.86 40-yard dash. Only defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt of Georgia (4.77) and Jordan Davis (4.78) ran faster. At 6-5 and nearly 300 pounds, that’s freakish athleticism.
Carolina still would like to add some bulk upfront. It doesn’t matter if that is an inside rusher or an edge defender. Talent wins on the defensive line and Johnson possesses a lot of it.
Johnson played in every game over his career at Missouri State. His hand size of 10 inches and arm length of nearly 35 inches is ideal for pro defensive linemen. Johnson played at a university that has produced just seven NFL players in its program history. That makes getting noticed difficult.
He’s been generating more buzz as we talk to scouts and draft analysts. Last month, an NFL scout told The Observer they viewed Johnson as a Day 3 pick. Three weeks later he’s already getting mocked in the third round. If that happens, then Carolina will miss him. But if he’s available with the Panthers’ first pick on Day 3 then it’s a great value.
Fifth round, Pick No. 144
▪ Name: Joshua Ross
▪ Position: LB
▪ School: Michigan
▪ Year: Senior
At Michigan, linebacker Josh Ross was voted a team captain in back-to-back seasons. He’s the type of linebacker that will outwork anyone in his position group while providing sound defense against the run. As a pro, Ross projects as an early-down linebacker capable of destroying running lanes and shedding blockers.
Ross would benefit from learning behind starting linebacker Shaq Thompson until he earned legitimate playing time. He may never develop into a coverage linebacker. Professional tight ends or running backs will lose him in space. But his instincts help him a lot in coverage. It’s clear he studies his opponents based on his anticipatory zone drops.
The Panthers are looking for reliable linebacker help behind Thompson. Ross likely won’t be ready Day 1 but with some development, he could grow into a multi-contract pro and a high-value fifth-round pick.
Fifth round, Pick No. 149
▪ Name: Michael Clemons
▪ Position: Edge
▪ School: Texas A&M
▪ Year: Senior
Clemons is raw but ready to help an NFL team. He transferred from junior college and then started the past two seasons at defensive end for the Aggies. In 10 games as a senior, he generated 32 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. His lone forced fumble, he also recovered for a touchdown.
After the combine, Clemons may project as a seventh-round pick. Based on the tape we’ve watched, he’d be worth a Round 5 selection or better.
Sixth round, Pick No. 199
▪ Name: Velvus Jones Jr.
▪ Position: WR
▪ School: Tennessee
▪ Year: Senior
The Panthers brought in Jones for a pre-draft visit earlier this month. He played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and was one of the better return specialists in the country in 2021. He returned one kick for a 96-yard touchdown and averaged 15.1 yards per punt return. After struggling the last few years, the Panthers could use another return man.
Seventh round, Pick No. 242
▪ Name: Sincere McCormick
▪ Position: RB
▪ School: UTSA
▪ Year: Senior
At this point, you’re just filling in the gaps on your roster. McCormick adds depth to the running back room and is a potential special teams player. He rushed for 1,479 rushing yards, which was seventh in the country, and led his team with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Previous mock drafts
▪ Carolina Panthers mock draft 1.0: Gambling on a rookie season like Mac Jones had (March 2)
▪ Panthers mock draft: Who Carolina will pick in the NFL draft’s first four rounds (March 30)
▪ Will the Panthers choose a QB or left tackle? The Observer’s latest 7-round mock draft (April 12)
▪ Panthers 7-round mock draft update: Carolina solves its biggest issue (April 19)
