Grading picks from an incredible draft Day 2 for the Carolina Panthers

How did the Carolina Panthers get on with their Day 2 selections during the 2021 NFL Draft and what can they bring to the franchise moving forward?

Few expected so much frenzied activity where the Carolina Panthers were concerned on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. General manager Scott Fitterer made no secret of his desire to acquire more in the way of capital after locking down a shutdown cornerback in Round 1, but no fewer than four trades were made by the organization that puts them in an incredibly strong position from the outside looking in.

This was nothing short of a draft management masterclass from Fitterer, who put his experience with the Seattle Seahawks to good use with some eye-catching selections and moves down the order that gives the team some flexibility heading into Day 3. They still have a fourth, fifth, and two six-rounders to call upon, with the recent appointment also managing to get his hands on a fourth-round selection in 2022 after striking a deal with the Houston Texans.

Analytics is king in Carolina these days, which is exactly the way team owner David Tepper wanted to approach recruitment under the new regime. Fitterer and head coach Matt Rhule can be pleased with their efforts so far, which could be further boosted by a strong series of picks in the later rounds.

We took an in-depth look at the Day 2 selections made by the Panthers and gave grades for each move.