Panthers land Trey Lance and 12 picks in 7-round 2021 NFL Draft mock
By Dean Jones
Sixth-Round Pick (No. 195)
Ernest Jones – LB (South Carolina)
Although Jermaine Carter did well when he finally patched things up with head coach Matt Rhule, the Carolina Panthers could still use another weapon within their linebacking corps from their 2021 NFL Draft.
Ernest Jones is a physical specimen who has a lot going for him. He is no stranger to fans having played his college football at South Carolina and even though he might be a little rough around the edges, his physical attributes are something that definitely catches the eye on tape.
Sixth-Round Pick (No. 223)
Marquez Stevenson – WR (Houston)
The Panthers are bracing themselves for Curtis Samuel’s departure in free agency. His level of production in 2020 has all-but priced Carolina out of keeping the player with financial resources at a premium, so they’ll need to find a potential replacement from the college ranks and perhaps a veteran piece in free agency.
Marquez Stevenson looks tailormade for this and made a massive impression at the Senior Bowl. He does his best work out of the slot – much like Samuel – and he’s scored 22 touchdowns in his last 30 games at Houston to further highlight how much the wideout could assist the Panthers.
Seventh-Round Pick (No. 239)
Jermar Jefferson – RB (Oregon State)
There appears to be some doubt as to whether Mike Davis will stick around after a standout 2020 season in Christian McCaffrey’s absence. If the veteran does move on for big money and a more prominent role elsewhere, Carolina must find an adequate backup in the event their All-Pro is forced to miss more time.
Jermar Jefferson is a little bolt of lightning that became a highly productive dual-threat back at Oregon State. He represents an enticing prospect in the later rounds that needs no invitation to gain significant yardage when he gets some space in front of him.
If the Panthers learned anything from the recent campaign, it’s that they need a solid running back option that can produce the goods at a moment’s notice.