Panthers 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft: Major trade brings options

Carolina Panthers select James Cook

Outside of the two major needs at quarterback and the offensive line, finding a player to complement star running back Christian McCaffrey is quite important. In the fourth round of this mock draft, the Carolina Panthers can land that complementary player with one of the stars from this past season’s college football National Championship.

James Cook, the brother of Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook, didn’t see an expanded role until this season when he became a true fixture of Georgia’s offense. During the Bulldogs national championship campaign, he totaled more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns.

As a runner, Cook is patient with good vision, footwork, and discipline. Although he doesn’t have elite contact balance like some top running backs in the league, the prospect does possess a low center of gravity and will fight for the extra yard.

Cook is a very reliable receiver out of the backfield. Some of his most explosive plays have been as a receiver, where he has displayed good route running ability and ball skills. This is matched by eye-catching examples of good ball security and durability.

The Panthers could go in any direction with how to approach the running back position behind McCaffrey, whether that is through free agency or the draft. In this scenario, they select dual-threat from the college ranks that can ease the workload in both the running and passing game for the All-Pro.