5 first-round prospects the Panthers should avoid after free-agent moves
By Dean Jones
Which first-round prospects should the Carolina Panthers avoid at No. 6 overall based on their moves during a busy free agency period so far?
Things have now become a little clearer for the Carolina Panthers regarding their plans at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The organization has been extremely active in free agency so far, strengthening problem positions and improving depth in key areas that should serve them well during a critical upcoming campaign.
The Panthers still have two major holes to fill if they want to stand any chance of being competitive next time around. Carolina attended various pro days last week regarding the top quarterback prospects as their search for an upgrade on Sam Darnold continues, with a gaping hole also evident at left tackle after Cam Erving failed miserably in 2021.
It would be a surprise if Carolina didn’t go down one of these routes with their first-round selection. There is also a high chance general manager Scott Fitterer looks to trade back for more capital given that their next pick isn’t until midway through Round No. 4.
With that being said, here are five prospects the Panthers will probably avoid at No. 6 based on their free-agent activity so far.
Prospect No. 1
Carolina Panthers should avoid Tyler Linderbaum
Tyler Linderbaum is the consensus best center prospect entering the league this year and might end up being the most gifted in quite some time. However, the Carolina Panthers picked up Bradley Bozeman on a team-friendly deal in free agency and also restructured Pat Elflein rather than completely remove him from the equation.
This makes it difficult to justify Carolina selecting Linderbaum, even with a trade-down situation. The Iowa product is flawless in terms of technique, but there are some who suggest he is a little undersized to become as dominant at the next level.
Linderbaum is going to be a tremendous player. But the Panthers should explore alternative options given the significant upgrade they already acquired in free agency.