6 Senior Bowl standouts that should be on Panthers 2022 draft radar
By Dean Jones
Which standouts from the 2022 Senior Bowl should now be firmly on the Carolina Panthers’ radar for the upcoming NFL Draft?
All eyes were on Mobile, Alabama this week as a large number of 2022 draft prospects got the chance to enhance their respective stocks ahead of the all-important NFL Scouting Combine. The Carolina Panthers had prominent representation at the showcase, with general manager Scott Fitterer and Dan Morgan spotted at practice to see first-hand college recruits who could end up with the team this spring.
Although the Panthers don’t possess a second or third-round pick this year, there might be a chance for Fitterer to work his magic and get some capital back depending on how the board plays out in front of Carolina. This is also a hugely important offseason for head coach Matt Rhule, who can ill-afford his team getting off to a slow start given the ever-increasing pressure on his job status.
There are some clear needs the Panthers must address in the coming weeks. Some others could increase in priority depending on what transpires during free agency.
Without further ado, here are six Senior Bowl standouts that the Panthers should have a close eye on throughout the evaluation process.
Senior Bowl standouts for the Carolina Panthers to watch
Prospect No. 1
Jake Camarda – P (Georgia)
Taking another special team prospect might not be too popular where the Carolina Panthers are concerned after the team passed on Trey Smith to select long-snapper Thomas Fletcher. But Jake Camarda is a prolific punter that didn’t hurt his cause whatsoever during the Senior Bowl.
Camarda’s leg strength is already NFL-ready and he is no stranger to the big-game experience. He accumulated a 45.8 yards-per-punt career average on the Georgia Bulldogs, which rose to 46.7 yards in their outstanding national championship-winning campaign in 2021.
The Panthers didn’t get much consistency from Lachlan Edwards and Joseph Charlton was let go, so using a late-round flyer on Camarda cannot be ruled out entirely.