Final 7-round Panthers 2021 mock draft after Teddy Bridgewater trade
By Dean Jones
Round No. 2 (Pick No. 39)
Jalen Mayfield – OT (Michigan)
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Carolina Panthers need to get themselves a franchise left tackle during the 2021 NFL Draft. If they decide to go with Justin Fields in the first round if he is available, then there should be a few productive edge protectors sitting there at No. 39 when it’s time for the team to pick in the second.
One such player might be Jalen Mayfield. The Michigan standout has everything one looks for in a prolific tackle at the next level and there is a chance he might even go in the first round if a particular team late on takes a shine to him.
Mayfield is strong as an ox and has the athleticism to cope with speedy edge rusher well, although there could be some room for growth in this category. He got all he could handle in college against Chase Young, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Julian Okwara among others throughout his time with the Wolverines, so there is some solid tape for NFL teams to go off when assessing the prospect.
Should the Panthers get Mayfield falling into their laps, a serious discussion needs to be had. This is arguably their biggest hole remaining at one of the most important positions on the field. So taking someone with plug-and-play potential would be a shrewd selection at this juncture.