4 ways the Carolina Panthers could acquire more draft capital in 2022
By Luke Gray
How can the Carolina Panthers get their hands on additional capital during the 2022 NFL Draft?
It’s finally here, the biggest three days of the NFL offseason are almost upon us as fans up and down the country get to see the biggest college prospects realize their dreams as they begin their professional journeys.
The Carolina Panthers are in nothing short of a tough spot when it comes to draft capital. A 5-12 record in 2021 saw them secure the No. 6 overall selection, which gives them an opportunity to draft an offensive lineman in the first round for the first time since the ill-fated move to trade up for Jeff Otah in 2008.
After their first-rounder, the Panthers must wait for another 131 selection before they can select again late in the fourth round.
The trades that brought Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson to Carolina are two moves you can argue have had no positive impact on the team. Although the cornerback is viewed as a long term prospect, which means that the Panthers have no second or third-round picks, and in a year where a lot of talent can be found in those rounds it’s a tough spot to be in.
However, general manager Scott Fitterer has already shown he is a man not afraid to make moves. No fewer than four trade backs and one move up in 2021 saw the Panthers select 11 times and it is incredibly hard to imagine Carolina’s war room sitting for the entirety of Day 2 without making a selection.
Fitterer famously said he would be “ in on every deal”. The Panthers still have needs at linebacker, edge rusher, quarterback, and left tackle, so one would imagine they’ll find a way to accumulate more draft wealth.
With this in mind, let’s get into four ways the Panthers can acquire more capital in the 2022 draft.