Panthers Draft: Matt Miller’s surprising choice for Carolina in 2021 mock
By Dean Jones
Another way-too-early 2021 NFL mock draft has the Carolina Panthers selecting a quarterback with a top-end selection, but it might not be who you think.
Talk has already begun regarding the prospects coming out of college in time for the 2021 NFL Draft. No sooner had the final selection been made in 2020, experts were already going through the next list of professional hopefuls and what franchise they could end up with.
There is still a lot of football to be played between now and then, both in the NFL and in the college ranks. Incoming players could see their draft stock rise or fall given their level of production and will see the Panthers draft accordingly.
Draft expert Matt Miller does not expect the Carolina Panthers to surprise many people next season and has them picking No. 4 overall in the 2021 draft. He predicts they will take a quarterback, but it is not who one might expect.
Miller is high on the ability of North Dakota State standout Trey Lance. With another season under his belt within the college system, the analyst expects the quarterback to be a hot commodity and has the Panthers taking him in the first round.
Speaking about the pick, Miller had this to say on his recent Bleacher Report feature.
"Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence gets all the preseason hype as far as quarterbacks go, but don’t sleep on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. The Panthers are committed to Teddy Bridgewater for 2020, but the future is wide-open. If a dynamic, athletic passer like Lance enters the 2021 draft as a redshirt sophomore, there will be considerable excitement among NFL franchises."
While a disappointing season may call for a change in signal-caller, there are financial implications involved and a significant amount of needs elsewhere next year.