Carolina Panthers avoid QB temptation in 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft

Smoke Monday – S (Auburn)

Getting a long-term partner for Jeremy Chinn on the backend is something the Carolina Panthers will look to do this offseason. Juston Burris is a serviceable player who was performing well before another injury derailed his progress, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if those in power decided to go in a different direction next spring.

In all honesty, the Panthers might want to address this need higher than this. But their clear frailties on the offensive line mean everything comes second to that.

If they want to wait a little longer and find a diamond in the rough, then Smoke Monday is a name to keep an eye on. The Auburn safety with one of the coolest names on the college scene is a tremendous athlete and seen as a far better prospect coming out than Jamien Sherwood, who was a fifth-round selection by the New York Jets in 2020.

Not only can Monday come down to the second level and assist in run support, but his ability in coverage is another important factor to his game that cannot be overlooked.

Monday needs to brush up areas of his game such as route anticipation and discipline. Once he does this, there’s every chance he can become an NFL starter in no time at all.