Panthers 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft: Post-Senior Bowl edition
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers select Christian Watson – WR (North Dakota State)
Hopefully, for the player and the Carolina Panthers, Robby Anderson can return to the form we saw in 2020. It was a difficult season for the wide receiver in 2021 thanks to individual errors and a clear lack of chemistry with Sam Darnold despite the pair previously working together on the New York Jets.
There also remains some hope that Terrace Marshall Jr. and Shi Smith can make further improvements ahead of their sophomore campaigns. But with Brandon Zylstra out of contract, gaining another dynamic wideout with high upside is an option Carolina could examine further down the draft order.
The clear standout within this positional group at the Senior Bowl was Christian Watson. His intriguing blend of size, speed, and athleticism came with big plays aplenty throughout the week in Mobile, something that’s seen his draft stock increase significantly as a result.
Providing his drop issues at North Dakota State doesn’t follow Watson to the pros, he is well worth a shot at this stage of the draft. He has the physicality to make contested catches at will and if the receiver can build up his route tree, the chances of him shining are high.
Watson is a tremendous talent that had things all his own way against small school opposition in college. It might take him a bit of time to transition effectively given how steep the rise will be standard-wise, but it’s a risk worth taking here.