Panthers 2021 Draft: Pre-Senior Bowl 7-round mock draft
By Dean Jones
Which direction will the Carolina Panthers go in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Some of the top college prospects will look to make their presence felt at the 2021 Senior Bowl in a bid to boost their stock in the near future. The Carolina Panthers coaching staff will get the chance to coach them over a prolonged period of time, giving the decision-makers a superb insight into not only their talent but also just what sort of characteristics they could bring to the locker room.
Head coach Matt Rhule was vocal in his desire to make the trip to Mobile, Alabama despite the ongoing fears surrounding COVID-19. This is another strong indicator as to just how important this offseason is for the Carolina Panthers and if they can nail this draft in a similar way they managed to do in 2020, it could make all the difference in their pursuit of making the playoffs.
Having general manager Scott Fitterer’s input is another huge positive that shouldn’t be overlooked. The new appointment was instrumental in the draft process during his time with the Seattle Seahawks and there is plenty of hope he can achieve the same success in Carolina.
We took a look at which way the Panthers might go with their selections in our latest mock draft, which was done on The Draft Network’s mock simulator.
Carolina Panthers Pick No. 1
Patrick Surtain – CB (Alabama)
With the top three quarterbacks off the board, the Carolina Panthers take the best cornerback prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. Patrick Surtain played a significant role in Alabama’s convincing National Championship triumph this season and putting him opposite Donte Jackson could give Phil Snow’s defense two shutdown corners to call upon for years to come.
Surtain seems to thrive in the big moments. He comes from good stock with his father being an All-Pro during his time in the league and if the incoming college recruit is even half as good, it is going to come with some tremendous production.
Bringing Surtain to Carolina would be a fantastic acquisition. Rookie corners do tend to go through their fair share of growing pains, but that should not detract from just what a high ceiling Surtain possesses at the next level.