Panthers 2021 NFL Draft: 7-round all-defense mock draft
By Dean Jones
Could the Carolina Panthers go all-defense again in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The 2021 NFL Draft proved to be a historic one for the Carolina Panthers. Although it wasn’t the plan going in, the decision-makers ended up using every selection on defensive players, which was a league first and something that has clearly benefitted a unit that was full of overpaid veterans past their prime in 2019.
It appears the Carolina Panthers made some tremendous choices. Derrick Brown looks to be the anchor on the defensive line interior they’ve been looking for and in Jeremy Chinn, the organization brought in a sensational prospect who clearly has the world at his feet.
The likes of Yetur Gross-Matos, Bravvion Roy, and Stantley Thomas-Oliver also have some incredible promise. But more will be needed to get the Panthers back to being legitimate playoff contenders in the coming years.
Carolina is currently picking at No. 6 overall on The Draft Network’s mock machine and we took a look at which way they might go if the franchise decided to go all-defense with their picks for a second straight year.
Pick No. 1
Micah Parsons – LB (Penn State)
Patrick Surtain was off the board at this point, which would be another strong possibility for the Panthers. However, Micah Parsons is more than a consolation prize and could be the long-term answer to filling the void left by Luke Kuechly following his shock retirement earlier this year.
Parsons sat out the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. But he has all the skills needed to become a star at the next level.
Putting him in a linebacking group that also consists of Chinn has the scope to improve this area of the field considerably, although Jermaine Carter’s production of late has been encouraging. There are no sure-fire draft picks in this day and age. However, Parsons could be as close as it gets.