Carolina Panthers 7-round 2022 mock draft: Stud OT headlines great haul

Carolina Panthers select Alex Wright

• Defensive End | Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

The Carolina Panthers allowed star pass-rusher Hasson Reddick to test free agency where he received a $45 million contract from the Philadelphia Eagles. With the former first-round pick moving on, this leaves the organization with Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Marquis Haynes as their top edge defenders on the front seven.

Adding another prospect is a serious possibility at No. 6 overall or via trade back in the first round. While left tackle and quarterback are the top needs for the Panthers, this is also a premium position that happens to be one of the best groups in this year’s draft class.

While the Panthers may not need another pass-rusher, having depth and developmental talent is key to continued success in the NFL. That’s why in this mock draft, Scott Fitterer lands a future starter in Alabama-Birmingham’s Alex Wright.

Wright may not be as developed in terms of a full pass rush arsenal. Though, he is a versatile defensive lineman with great athleticism, size, power at the point of attack, and plenty of upside in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense at outside linebacker.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow loves versatile players on his defense. Wright is one that can play in a wide range of alignments and can operate out of a two or three-point stance.

If Carolina were to land him in the middle of Day 3 of the NFL Draft, it would be quite the steal given Wright’s enormous upside.