Carolina Panthers 2022 NFL mock draft with major first-round trade

Carolina Panthers pick No. 235: Dorian Thompson-Robinson – QB (UCLA)

As stated previously, this quarterback class doesn’t look the strongest. Certainly not compared to the 2020 recruits – many of whom are starting or will be No. 1 on their respective teams by the time the season ends.

The Carolina Panthers will probably still be in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes providing there is a successful outcome to his legal problems. But Sam Darnold might just have enough in his locker to get another chance in 2022 based on what we’ve seen so far.

What occurs behind Darnold is less certain. The Panthers waived Will Grier and P.J. Walker is heading into the last year of his deal, so acquiring a development project in the later rounds could have some benefits from a depth chart perspective.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson might have struggled at times under center for UCLA, but there is a real belief that everything is finally starting to click into place.

His current passer efficiency rating after two games stands at 174.9, which is far greater than at any stage of his career to date and further proof things are trending in the right direction.

Thompson-Robinson has the arm strength and mobility that always goes down well with NFL scouts. If he continues this encouraging development throughout the 2021 season, then his stock will surge to a far higher round than the seventh.

There’s a player in there somewhere. If Thompson-Robinson improves his decision-making and recognition of pressure, he could be one of those that emerge from nowhere into the media spotlight.