Panthers 7-round mock draft featuring Baker Mayfield blockbuster trade

Carolina Panthers select Leon O’Neal Jr.

• Safety | Texas A&M

The Carolina Panthers already have a cornerstone safety in Jeremy Chinn and recently signed Xavier Woods in free agency to play free safety.

While safety isn’t a big need for the Panthers, having depth at the position is still needed. Juston Burris, Sean Chandler, and Sam Franklin will be fighting for a spot on the roster next season, and Kenny Robinson, one of Matt Rhule’s first draft picks, should remain as a mainstay due to his range and downhill explosiveness.

Leon O’Neal Jr. would be a perfect depth piece for the Panthers’ safety room. If you like a defensive back that plays downhill and is physical near or at the line of scrimmage, he is your guy.

Neal offers great quickness and physicality as a box safety playing at the second level as well as the backend. He also offers good coverage ability in short and intermediate zone drops – something Carolina lacked at times in 2021.

By allowing Neal to have to playing time as a box safety in a rotation role, the Panthers will be able to pack a punch in the run game this coming season. If the player needs time to develop in the pros, then he can be used as a force on special teams while getting other areas of his game up to speed.