Carolina Panthers avoid QB temptation in 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade out of No. 15
The Carolina Panthers don’t have a Day 2 pick currently. Their second-rounder belongs to the New York Jets as part of the Sam Darnold deal, with the Jacksonville Jaguars acquiring the organization’s third-rounder in the package for cornerback C.J. Henderson.
Judging by how active general manager Scott Fitterer has been in the trade market since his arrival and where the Panthers are currently situated in the pecking order, trading down to acquire more selections seems like a real possibility depending on how the board plays out.
There is an obvious need to pick up an elite offensive lineman early in the draft, but if Carolina can strike a deal that gives them more selections in the top-100, it’s only going to help.
In this simulation, the Kansas City Chiefs offer up their second and third-rounder to move up from No. 29 to No. 15. If this was ever offered in reality, the Panthers would be wise to take it.
They won’t admit it, but the notion this team is in win-now mode might be a stretch. Especially considering how the same problems are preventing them from making real progress.
Fitterer will be working the phones to get the best deal if trading down is the consensus agreement. And make no mistake, the top negotiator will get the best deal possible for the franchise.