Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2022 NFL Draft selections with just one week to go until the all-important first round?
We are now just one week away from the 2022 NFL Draft. For Carolina Panthers fans, it won’t be much longer before all the speculation comes to an end and we finally find out which direction the organization is going to go.
It will be interesting to witness, to put it mildly. Some problems were solved in free agency, but there remain a couple of potential complications that might have a detrimental impact on the team’s chances in Year 3 for Matt Rhule.
The Panthers have a lot at stake next season. Something that piles even more pressure on those in power to get their selections right when the time comes.
Using the Pro Football Focus simulator, we took a look at which way the Panthers might go with their picks in our full seven-round 2022 mock draft.
Round No. 1 (Trade)
Carolina Panthers trade back from No. 6 overall
Trading down from No. 6 overall is something the Carolina Panthers will no doubt contemplate if the right offer comes along. They are currently without a second or third-round pick after deals for Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson, which restricts general manager Scott Fitterer with multiple holes to fill.
In this scenario, a deal is struck with Carolina’s divisional rival, which sees them drop slightly to No. 8 in exchange for the Atlanta Falcons’ second-rounder and a fourth next year. This puts them in a position to select an elite prospect in the top-10 and some Day 2 capital to further sweeten the pot.
Carolina Panthers select Charles Cross
- Offensive Tackle | Mississippi State
If the Carolina Panthers traded down to No. 8 overall and still managed to get Charles Cross, it would be nothing short of phenomenal. The team is in desperate need of a left tackle that can solidify the position long-term, which the Mississippi State product would provide in no uncertain terms.
Cross has been to Bank of America Stadium for a visit earlier this week, so the interest is rightfully there from Carolina’s point of view. Judging by how the blindside protector performed in college and how he’s impressed during the evaluation process, it’s not hard to see why.
There is plenty to like about Cross’ potential to make an instant impact at the next level. His pass protection is nothing short of exceptional, with outstanding footwork and technique making him an extremely difficult proposition to overcome.
Although there are some questioning Cross from a run blocking standpoint, there is plenty of evidence to suggest this shouldn’t be a problem. Late in the top-10 seems to be the lineman’s floor based on most projections, so Carolina would strongly consider taking the player in this situation.
Adding Cross to an offensive line that also consists of Austin Corbett, Taylor Moton, Bradley Bozeman, and Brady Christensen would revolutionize this critical area of play. Something the Panthers haven’t had for an age.
Carolina Panthers select Josh Paschal
- Defensive End | Kentucky
Another trade sees the Carolina Panthers do a deal with the New England Patriots that gets them a third-round pick, which might be worth considering if the team does end up moving out of the No. 6 spot. This gives general manager Scott Fitterer even more options and something that he proved highly capable of in 2021 with some outstanding draft movement up and down the board.
With Haason Reddick allowed to test the free-agent market and sign for the Philadelphia Eagles, it leaves the Panthers short of legitimate pass-rushing options opposite Brian Burns. Expectations have risen for Yetur Gross-Matos and Marquis Haynes, but another exciting option from the college ranks should be sought at some stage.
Josh Paschal is someone who has risen up draft boards after some encouraging progression during his final season at Kentucky. His size, physique, and explosiveness look tailormade for life in the NFL and there is a high chance he can get even better with professional coaching.
Although Paschal lacks truly elite speed, he more than makes up for this by using leverage to his advantage and could prove a useful rotational piece during his rookie season while gaining experience.
Paschal also seems like a good fit in Phil Snow’s system. So this option does make a ton of sense providing Carolina can get their hands on some Day 2 capital.
Carolina Panthers select Channing Tindall
- Linebacker | Georgia
The linebacker spot wasn’t considered a great need for the Carolina Panthers after a busy period of recruitment during free agency. However, the recent arrest of Damien Wilson has thrown a significant spanner in the works and could alter the team’s draft plans as a result.
If charges are confirmed and Wilson is released, then the Panthers have to get another option into the building despite the presence of Cory Littleton. There are a few likely free-agent candidates, but adding through the daft represents the best option to fill the void long-term.
Should Channing Tindall remain on the board by this point, Carolina should think long and hard about bringing the national champion to the organization. His production for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021 was superb and catching the eye within a defense littered with NFL-caliber talent is no mean feat, in all honesty.
Tindall is explosive and plays just as fast. He is a supreme tackler, can rush the passer when required, and also excels from a coverage standpoint to further heighten his overall influence.
Much will depend on how Tindall handles a starting load after being used on a rotational basis with Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. But this shouldn’t be that much of a concern and this could finally give the Panthers a successor to Luke Kuechly at last.
Carolina Panthers select Charlie Kolar
- Tight End | Iowa State
Even though the Carolina Panthers have Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble, there is nothing preventing the organization from selecting a tight-end prospect to develop into a potential starter. Especially at this stage of the draft if other prominent needs are filled first.
There is no guarantee Thomas can turn his career around after getting a surprising three-year extension. Although the presence of new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo will help enormously.
Tremble is obviously the contingency plan. However, there are also some question marks about his pass-catching prowess with a heavy workload despite flashing at times during the 2021 campaign.
Someone like Charlie Kolar might be worth taking a shot at in this situation. The Iowa State product is a soft-handed player at the position with a big enough frame to make a substantial difference either across the middle or in the red zone.
This was reflected with 23 touchdowns over his college career. And there is absolutely no denying Kolar is one of the most reliable pass-catchers in this tight-end draft class.
His overall speed and pass blocking need some coaching up. But there is plenty to work with and no pressure to contribute immediately in Carolina if this becomes a reality.
Carolina Panthers select Verone McKinley III
- Safety | Oregon
The addition of Xavier Woods from the Minnesota Vikings in free agency should be a tremendous help to the Carolina Panthers. His partnership with Jeremy Chinn promises to be a productive one on the backend and the presence of new defensive backs coach Steve Wilks is another positive element to this that shouldn’t be overlooked.
With that being said, the Panthers could use some assistance on the depth chart. Juston Burris and Sean Chandler did re-sign, but neither could be classed as dependable and the regression of Sam Franklin in 2021 has thrown his future with the franchise into doubt.
Finding another prospect with tremendous athletic traits could be worth its weight in gold. Verone McKinley III might be a work in progress, but he has instincts that cannot be taught and there is nobody better than Wilks to bring out the best in him.
McKinley has an outstanding closing burst and matches this by being extremely physical against the run. He is also effective in specific blitz packages should the opportunity arise.
The Oregon product plays with intelligence and emerged as a respected leader on the Ducks. There are some concerns about his size and speed once he gets to the next level, so expecting miracles right away would be pushing things.
Carolina Panthers trade for Baker Mayfield
One of the biggest needs for the Carolina Panthers is finding an upgrade on Sam Darnold. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo might have claimed the former first-round pick is their starter, but that means absolutely nothing and might not even be the case once the 2022 NFL Draft comes to a conclusion.
This year’s quarterback class has come in for some significant criticism. Many believe that no prospect entering the league this year is ready to become productive straight away and this only complicates things for the Panthers, who have a big-time urgency to win next season.
There is a chance Carolina goes back into the trade market. Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are the likeliest candidates and in this situation, a deal is struck for the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma to replace Darnold under center.
Mayfield’s time with the Cleveland Browns is drawing to a close after the team traded for Deshaun Watson. With potential suitors dwindling and questions about the player’s ability to lead, the Panthers could get him for a bargain price and even get his current employers to take on part of his fully guaranteed $18.85 million.
Some fans might not like it. But this arguably represents the best way for Carolina to get this steering in the right direction.
If Mayfield fails to deliver then the team can remove him and Darnold from the equation in 2023 and take a quarterback from what is set to be an exceptional class next year.
Carolina Panthers select Alex Wright
- Defensive End | Alabama in Birmingham
The Carolina Panthers did pick up a potentially dominant pass-rusher earlier in this draft. But no team can ever have enough players capable of getting after the quarterback and Alex Wright is a high-upside individual that represents incredible value in the sixth round.
Wright is a physically-imposing brute at 6-foot-7 who creates mismatches thanks to his explosiveness and strength. He might be a little rough around the edges, but his skill set should develop significantly with a little more in the way of experience.
Any coach would love to get their hands on someone like Wright. His footwork and balance are good, his work ethic is top-notch and the player also is a willing contributor against the run to further enhance his stock.
Prolonged quickness could be a complication in the NFL. Wright also needs some refinement in terms of technique – something that could take his game to even greater eights moving forward.
This would be a smart development project for the Panthers to sit behind the ikes of Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos. One that could bear fruit later in the campaign or in the coming years.
Carolina Panthers select Blaise Andries
- Interior Offensive Line | Minnesota
Finding productive players at this stage of the draft is a complex proposition. The Carolina Panthers selected solid rotational guys over the last two years and general manager Scott Fitterer does have a knack for identifying prospects that are less-heralded and turning them into contributors.
Blaise Andries fits the mold and could prove to be a depth chart piece on the offensive line interior. His production at Minnesota was indifferent on occasions, but his Relative Athletic Score was extremely high and indicates there is a player that can be coached up in the pros.
The presence of James Campen as the team’s new offensive line coach should not be underestimated. The experienced figure has turned plenty of low-end draft picks into Pro Bowl-caliber individuals and although Andries has some big flaws, it’s not exactly the biggest risk at No. 242 overall.
One area that needs to improve is football smarts. Andries can get lost in the wilderness at times, but there is a nasty steak and high motor that often compensated for this at the college level.
If Andries can progress his footwork and technique, then the Panthers might be onto something if they went with this as their final selection of the draft.