Panthers are back on the clock on Day 3. Here are 5 sleepers they could target
We’ve made it through two days of the 2022 NFL draft, but the Panthers still have a lot of work to do.
With five Day 3 selections looming, general manager Scott Fitterer and coach Matt Rhule will be searching for developmental talent Carolina can mold into future contributors.
The Panthers have two fifth-rounders (Nos. 144 and 149), a sixth-round selection (No. 199) and a seventh-round pick (No. 242).
Drafting this late is like throwing darts. Day 3 picks are fliers that teams hope blossom by their second or third seasons. Available players have not heard their names called for a plethora of reasons. Sometimes there are medical concerns. Other players just were not productive enough in college to be recognized.
Regardless, scouting departments identifying key traits is vital in increasing the chances of a Day 3 prospect becoming a “steal” or “sleeper.”
“The biggest thing is identifying translatable traits,” The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler said. “Things that you feel really good about that are going to translate to the next level. And then understanding which players have upside and which players just you know, they are who they are.”
Here are five Day 3 prospects who Carolina could draft. Expect the Panthers to target defensive linemen, linebackers and a punt returner.
Alex Wright
▪ Height: 6-foot-7
▪ Weight: 270 pounds
▪ Position: Edge
▪ School: UAB
▪ Year: Junior
Carolina must find a way to replace Haason Reddick and his team-high 11 sacks and two forced fumbles. The team is confident in Frankie Luvu playing an increased role on the edge but he alone will not fill Reddick’s production. That’s where UAB’s Alex Wright could help.
When scouts are evaluating players from small schools (like three prospects on this list are), they look for consistent dominance against lesser competition and steady production against Power 5 schools. Wright proved that in games against Georgia and BYU.
All the athletic traits are there for Wright. He’s tall, long and moves with quickness and bend for someone his size. His allotment of pass-rush moves is evident on tape. He has polished swim moves, arm chops and speed-to-power rushes that keep offensive linemen guessing.
He sounds like the complete package, but there are reasons for his Day 3 grade. First, he tends to get out-leveraged because he’s so tall. He also did not record double-digit sacks or tackles for loss in any of his three seasons at UAB. Lastly, there are injury concerns.
“He’s been banged up a little this pre-draft process,” Brugler said. “He’s still learning. He’s not a guy that’s gonna come in and necessarily compete for starting reps or anything like that. But we’re talking Day 3, so this is a developmental edge rusher. You know a guy that is going to get better and better with more experience.”
Wright recorded seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits last season, playing in 12 games. Wright was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2021. He doesn’t turn 22 years old until September.
The Draft Network’s Justin Melo said Wright pursues the ball well. Against Liberty this season, Wright was all over the field tracking down quarterback Malik Willis, which caught Melo’s attention.
Eric Johnson
▪ Height: 6-5
▪ Weight: 300
▪ Position: DT
▪ School: Missouri State
▪ Year: Senior
Carolina signed former Washington defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis. The 6-3, 310-pounder played six seasons in Washington and was one of the NFL’s best run defenders last season. Pro Football Focus graded Ioannidis at 65 overall or higher the past five seasons.
But they still need an additional big body or two upfront.
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. Then, he dominated his pro day, running a 4.86-second 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.
“He’s got the experience in terms of on the field but just wasn’t against high-level talent. So there’s gonna be a little bit of a learning curve for him,” Brugler said. “But you see explosiveness and youth. You see the movement skills. And he does a really nice job of breaking down blockers in different ways, whether it’s with power with quickness. He’s one of those fifth- or sixth-round guys.”
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.
But he’s used to being overlooked. Coming out of high school, Johnson was under-recruited out of Plainfield, Illinois. He’s been with the Bears for six years and has been a starter since 2017. Johnson used the NFLPA Bowl to gain clout and then parlayed that success into a great Senior Bowl showing, proving capable of playing either a three or zero technique in the pros.
Dominique Robinson
▪ Height: 6-5
▪ Weight: 255
▪ Position: Edge
▪ School: Miami (Ohio)
▪ Year: Senior
One regional scout told The Charlotte Observer that Dominique Robinson could go as early as Round 3. But he’s still there and provides exactly what Carolina is looking for.
“I thought his combine was pretty electric. He had a 41-inch vertical, which is absolutely ridiculous,” The Draft Network’s Justin Melo said. A broad jump that was just greater than 10 feet. Twenty-five reps on the bench press. This is a really fun Day 3 athlete.”
His vertical jump was the best by a defensive lineman since 2003 and his bench press score was second-highest among his class. In 2021, Robinson had 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks and four hurries. He was named a third-team all-MAC selection.
Robinson played quarterback and tight end growing up. His tape sometimes shows he’s still learning how to play defensive end. But his testing numbers will make him a prospect worth taking a flier on.
Joshua Ross
▪ Height: 6-2
▪ Weight: 225
▪ 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.
Jaquarii Roberson
▪ Height: 6-2
▪ Weight: 180
▪ Position: WR
▪ School: Wake Forest
▪ Year: Senior
Roberson had an outstanding career at Wake Forest. He’s a two-time all-conference selection with more than 2,000 career receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
The Panthers brought Roberson in on a top-30 visit on April 18. He is viewed as a developmental slot receiver with punt-returning potential. Roberson is explosive with the ball in his hand. His basketball background shows up on tape. At 6-2, he can sky up for a jump ball like it’s a rebound.
Carolina is set at receiver, but Roberson could make the team as a punt return.
This story was originally published April 30, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
