5 draft prospects the Panthers don’t want to see in the NFC South
By Dean Jones
Which 2022 NFL Draft prospects should the Carolina Panthers not want to see end up on their NFC South rivals?
Matt Rhule has a lot on the line in 2022. The Carolina Panthers head coach has achieved just 10 wins over his first two seasons in the NFL and unless the team’s trajectory changes significantly during the upcoming campaign, his position could become untenable as a result.
It’s been an encouraging free agency for the team overall. But it’s vital they fill in other holes during the 2022 NFL Draft or even with another trade before training camp in pursuit of giving their chances another big shot in the arm.
Not only this, but the Panthers will also be keeping a close eye on what’s transpiring within the division. One that looks far different after Sean Payton stepped down as head coach of the New Orleans Saints and Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
With this in mind, here are five draft prospects the Panthers will be hoping don’t end up in the NFC South later this month.
Prospect No. 1
Zion Johnson – OG (Boston College)
There appears little doubt that Zion Johnson is destined for good things at the next level. He is arguably the best guard prospect entering the league this year and considering how inexperienced he is, the sky is the limit once he gets to the NFL and receives the necessary coaching.
Johnson is a brute force that is incredibly difficult to shift off the block. He is a dominant figure against the run and although he can improve from a technical standpoint, the lineman should also prove sufficient in pass protection situations.
If Johnson ended up on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late in the first round, then this would make life extremely difficult for the Carolina Panthers in 2022.