Panthers full 7-round NFL mock draft if Cam Newton stays in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade down from No. 13
One of the primary objectives for the Carolina Panthers is getting themselves a Day 2 pick that they don’t have currently. General manager Scott Fitterer was involved in plenty of trade activity during his first draft following his appointment, so it would be a surprise if the same thing didn’t occur right out of the gate next spring.
Teams with a realistic shot at contending are always looking to move up and potentially aid their chances. So if the Panthers do end up picking around No. 13 it should put them in a strong position to get back some lost draft capital they gave up to acquire Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson.
If Cam Newton stays beyond this season, then it’s less pressure to find a quarterback of the future. And in all honesty, this crop of signal-callers wouldn’t be classed as stellar and nowhere near the standard of 2021.
In this scenario, Carolina strikes a deal with the Green Bay Packers, who jumped up from lower down the pecking order to acquire North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell. This would give the Panthers second and third-round picks and another second-rounder to utilize next year.
Much will depend on how the draft board plays out. But there are multiple options for Carolina to consider providing Newton shows enough to earn a new deal.