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

Carolina Panthers select Chris Paul

• Offensive Line | Tulsa

As previously mentioned, offensive line depth is one of the biggest pieces to a team’s success in the NFL. If your favorite franchise has multiple options to compensate for injuries upfront or anywhere on the roster, you have a good chance of longer success as an organization, especially in the front office.

For the Carolina Panthers, adding as much offensive line depth as possible is critical in their rebuild of the wall that protects the most valuable position in sports.

In this mock draft, general manager Scott Fitterer has already secured his left tackle of the future in Ikem Ekwonu, and depth and upside at center with Cameron Jurgen. With their sixth-round pick, the franchise goes in the direction of Tulsa offensive lineman Chris Paul.

Paul can play anywhere along the offensive line except center. He’s had experience at right tackle, left guard, and right guard. The redshirt senior is a technician in the trenches with good balance and football intelligence.

While Paul may never be anything more than a serviceable starting guard in his NFL career, he’ll do his best work as a depth piece on NFL offensive lines. Considering how poorly Carolina’s backups – and starters – performed last season, this could be a shrewd move that comes with some long-term prospects providing his transition goes according to plan.