5 prospects with Matt Rhule links that the Panthers could draft in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could draft Abram Smith – RB
After almost no involvement over the first three years of his college career, Abram Smith burst onto the scene for Baylor in 2021 with performances that are sure to make NFL fans sit up and take notice. The running back was a dominant presence en route to a phenomenal 90.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, which came as a result of 1,601 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns from 14 games.
Smith is someone the Carolina Panthers could target given his familiarity with head coach Matt Rhule and the fact they need to give Christian McCaffrey every ounce of support to avoid any more injury problems for the All-Pro.
He might not have an elite burst. But the prospect is an intelligent runner that is physical enough to gain the hard yards when required.
Even though Smith boosted his stock further with an eye-catching performance at the 2022 Senior Bowl, there are some real concerns when it comes to blocking and assisting in the passing game that cannot be ignored.
Carolina needs a power running back, but it’s unlikely that Smith has the strength to cope with the increased demands that the NFL brings. Rhule used him sparingly at Baylor before joining the Panthers, so just what he perceives the player’s ceiling to be is unclear at this juncture.
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Smith should get an opportunity to win a roster spot somewhere. Whether that will be with his former college coach is another matter.