No. 189: Tyreke Smith – EDGE (Ohio State)
Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been a real problem for the Carolina Panthers this season. Brian Burns is getting into the backfield consistently, but others don’t seem to be following his lead enough.
Tyreke Smith might be a little raw in terms of technique, but he has the right size and scope to be coached up and provide the Panthers with some nice pass-rushing depth behind Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos.
No. 216: Trey Sermon – RB (Ohio State)
If Christian McCaffrey‘s injury problems this season have taught us anything, it’s that the Panthers need a good backup who can slot in right away. Mike Davis might not be around once free agency begins, but they’ll need a long-term plan in place that can complement the All-Pro regardless.
Trey Sermon is an aggressive runner that is hard not to love. He averaged 7.1 yards-per-carry for the Buckeyes last season and the running back seems to love nothing more than gaining hard yards between the tackles.
No. 230: Sam Ehlinger – QB (Texas)
Sam Ehlinger has been inconsistent for the Longhorns this season, but he is well-worth a flyer with the Panthers final pick of the 2021 NFL Draft if available. The quarterback needs to improve in areas such as pocket awareness and accuracy to make a real go of things in the NFL and there would be no immediate pressure on him making an immediate impact on the field in Carolina.
Carolina Panthers: Why the NFL might have to wait for Trevor Lawrence
The Carolina Panthers might not be in a position to select Trevor Lawrence in 2021, but the quarterback should consider making the NFL wait.
Taking Ehloinger would give the Panthers an intriguing development prospect that could eventually fill a starting role. Learning from someone an approachable figure such as Teddy Bridgewater is another strong element to this scenario that shouldn’t be overlooked.