Panthers roll with Teddy Bridgewater in full 7-round mock draft
By Dean Jones
Round No. 6 (Pick No. 193)
Aaron Banks – OG (Notre Dame)
The Carolina Panthers could use some young, hungry options on their offensive line. With Penei Sewell taken in the first round, Aaron Banks is the pick here and might end up being a Day 1 starter with a solid adjustment to the pro level.
Carolina sent their offensive line coaching staff to Notre Dame’s pro day to run the rule over prospects like Banks, who is a mauler in the run support and boasts plenty of starting experience with the Fighting Irish. Leaving him alone will bring some problems early on, but there is a lot to like about his chances of progression.
Round No. 6 (Pick No. 219)
Jonathon Cooper – DE/OLB (Ohio State)
Bringing the likes of Haason Reddick and Morgan Fox on board will do wonders for Carolina’s pass rush in 2021. Adding two productive veterans to a unit that also includes Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Yetur Gross-Matos has bags of potential and if they could draft Jonathon Cooper into the mix, it would be another explosive player to call upon.
Cooper may not have generated more than 3.5 sacks in any one season for Ohio State. However, the edge rusher has enough athletic attributes to take a flier on at this juncture.
Round No. 6 (Pick No. 222)
Deommodore Lenoir – CB (Oregon)
With Corn Elder now signed with the Detroit Lions and Rasul Douglas unlikely to be back, the Panthers need a little bit more in the way of depth. They did take Asante Samuel Jr. in the second round and if they could possibly snap up someone like Deommodore Lenoir at this stage of the draft weekend, it would be wise to pursue the opportunity.
Lenoir has already met virtually with the Panthers, so he is definitely a player of interest. He can cover on the outside or from the slot and also possesses more than the required will to get involved on running downs.
Round No. 6 (Pick No. 226)
C.J. Verdell – RB (Oregon)
There will be no Mike Davis backing up Christian McCaffrey after the veteran opted for a move to the Atlanta Falcons. So finding a college prospect who could step in at a moment’s notice should be targeted in the later rounds.
C.J. Verdell accumulated two 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Oregon before his production dipped in 2020. But his aggressive running style and ability to assist in the passing game two welcome traits from the Carolina Panthers’ perspective.
Verdell plays a lot bigger than his size, although this does bring some complications in pass protection. If the back can work this out, he’d be a prospect worth considering.