Panthers dream mock draft: The perfect haul for Carolina in 2022

Carolina Panthers select Leon O’Neal Jr.

• Safety | Texas A&M

Although the Carolina Panthers brought Xavier Woods on board in free agency and re-signed Juston Burris, there could be room for a young prospect from the college ranks to potentially become a long-term option at the safety position.

This might not be the need it once was thanks to Woods’ potential. However, adding another player to this group could give defensive coordinator Phil Snow multiple options when it comes to deploying Jeremy Chinn all over the field.

Leon O’Neal Jr. makes a ton of sense here. His production at Texas A&M was high-caliber and there is plenty to like about his NFL prospects if further improvements can be made.

O’Neal sees the field extremely well and has enough closing speed to react in almost every situation. His physique already looks NFL-ready and should allow the defensive back to make his presence felt at the second level against the run right out of the gate.

If there was one major fault in O’Neal’s game, it’s tackling efficiency, which could become a complication coming up against elite playmakers on a weekly basis. His lack of top-end speed also makes him prone to being burned by speedier pass-catchers.

The Panthers wouldn’t need O’Neal to come in and start right away. So placing him on special teams while he develops could be a wise move in this spot.