5 players the Carolina Panthers should regret not drafting in 2021
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers should regret not drafting Elijah Mitchell
Chuba Hubbard got more than he perhaps bargained for over his rookie season. The fourth-round pick was given plenty of responsibility after Christian McCaffrey suffered some troubling injury problems for the second straight year and even though he performed well, there are some obvious complications that need eradicating from his game moving forward.
Hubbard cannot seem to absorb contact efficiently enough to stay on his feet, which is something that’s followed the player from Oklahoma State to the pro ranks. As for his pass-catching prowess, let’s just say it leaves a lot to be desired.
Considering how desperate the Carolina Panthers are for a power running back, then Elijah Mitchell could have been more useful in the grand scheme of things. Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have, obviously, but the San Francisco 49ers got an exceptional bargain by landing the explosive prospect on Day 3.
Mitchell benefitted significantly from Kyle Shanahan’s system and came extremely close to the 1,000-yard milestone in Year 1 of his professional career. This will no doubt be a massive confidence boost for the player, so there could be even more to come next season with more familiarity and a rookie year littered with memorable moments.
As for Hubbard, he has much work to do during the preparation period. But he did show enough to suggest a productive career could be in the offing.