Cat Crave
FanSided

Kerryon Johnson: Panthers mock draft pick

By Brandon Scott

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 07: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers rushes for this touchdown past the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 07: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers rushes for this touchdown past the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

At least one NFL Draft projection has the Carolina Panthers selecting Auburn running back, Kerryon Johnson…

Kerryon Johnson elected to not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine but silenced most critics with an unofficial time in the mid-four second range at Auburn’s Pro Day. The Carolina Panthers were in attendance along with a large contingent of personnel from other teams around the league.

Following the release of long time running back Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers will be relegated to deciding if an answer exists on the roster. Carolina drafted Christian McCaffrey in the first-round last offseason and he immediately made an impact in the backfield while sharing the position with Stewart.

General manager Marty Hurney now has to decide if McCaffrey will be the back responsible for a majority of the workload. Options exist for sharing with Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker, as each provides their own unique skill set and the combination of Artis-Payne and McCaffrey could be similar to that of Stewart and the former first-round pick last season.

However, coach Ron Rivera and former offensive coordinator Mike Shula rarely provided Artis-Payne the opportunity to prove himself. The problem remains that although he may be poised for a big season, a contingency plan must be put into place before the games are played.

For this reason, The Charlotte Observer has Carolina selecting Johnson, another Auburn running back, with their third-round pick this year. The former Mr. Football of Alabama and lead back for the Tigers amassed 1,391 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior season.

More from Cat Crave

Currently projected as a first or second round pick, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein offered the following comments on Johnson.

"Has unusual build for the position with a linear frame and thin hips. Johnson proved that he was more than tough enough to carry a heavy workload to help Auburn impose their will on the ground. Johnson runs with good burst and is adept as both an inside and outside runner, but is more likely to become a grinder than a slasher on the next level. Johnson offers three-down value and could become an early starter, but his frame may not be able to hold up over the long haul if he’s forced into high carry totals."

The addition of Johnson would give the backfield similar rushing options as past seasons but his impact may be limited while adjusting to the NFL and faster pace of play. Having been a part of Gus Malzahn’s offense, Johnson should transition quickly.

Next: Offseason Roster Review - Defense

Depending on who Carolina selects with their prior two picks, landing Johnson in the third-round would initially appear to be a solid addition.

Home/Panthers Draft