Panthers 2021 Draft: Pre-free agency 7-round mock draft
By Dean Jones
Round No. 3 (Pick No. 73)
Levi Onwuzurike – DT (Washington)
The Carolina Panthers got some solid production from their defensive front over the second half of the campaign. But adding another young talent to put alongside Derrick Brown wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
Levi Onwuzurike is a big body that is extremely difficult to block in one-on-one situations. The Washington standout has nice explosiveness to generate penetration and is stout enough to hold his position to prevent yards gained on running downs.
His drive, determination, and technique are also of a high standard. So this makes a ton of sense for the Panthers and one that could make a real difference from the word go.
Round No. 3 (Pick No. 76)
Chazz Surratt – LB (North Carolina)
Not having Luke Kuechly at the second level was something the Panthers sorely missed in 2020. This was to be expected considering the immense impact made by the All-Pro and future Pro Football Hall of Famer during his eight-stay in Carolina, which left a gaping hole on the field and in the locker room.
Jermaine Carter did perform well on the inside when he was finally installed into the lineup following a rocky start with head coach Matt Rhule. But the organization might look at picking up another potentially dynamic defender in this area and Chazz Surratt comes with a substantial amount of upside.
Surratt is no stranger to the area having played his college football at North Carolina, where he started off as a quarterback before moving to his current position. His transition to defense was seamless and there is scope for further improvement once he gets to the NFL.