8 prospects the Carolina Panthers must consider trading up for on Day 2

Carolina Panthers could target Bryan Cook

• Safety | Cincinnati

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow indicated that he would like to add another safety to his options before training camp. The Carolina Panthers did land Xavier Woods from the Minnesota Vikings in free agency and re-sign Juston Burris and Sean Chandler, so it might not be the biggest need compared to others heading into Day 2.

With that being said, Scott Fitterer won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on something that could benefit the franchise. If Bryan Cook fell into the latter portion of the third round, then a potential trade-up could be considered.

Cook was an integral member of the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2021 as they steamrolled their way to an unlikely college football playoff berth. He possesses outstanding instincts on the backend and has no trouble marshaling a defense extremely efficiently – something that won’t have gone unnoticed by NFL scouts.

What Cook lacks in elite speed, he more than makes up for with football intelligence and ruthless attitude that makes him a force to be reckoned with. Agility will need to improve slightly once he gets to the pros, but this represents an intriguing proposition for the Panthers if those in power felt he was a player worth trading up for.

Only time will tell, obviously. But nothing can be ruled out given how unpredictable things appear right now.