Way-too-early Carolina Panthers 3-round 2023 NFL mock draft

Carolina Panthers select Noah Sewell

• Linebacker | Oregon

Finding a long-term successor to Luke Kuechly entered its third offseason, with the Carolina Panthers signing Damien Wilson in free agency and trading up to No. 120 overall for Penn State product Brandon Smith, who comes with some outstanding athletic attributes that should transition efficiently to the next level.

However, there is just no telling what Smith’s best position will be given how well his skills might translate to an outside linebacker role. Wilson’s immediate status is also an area of concern following the player’s recent arrest.

Perhaps addressing this need early in the 2023 draft could be a priority next season when it’s all said and done. If this scenario does come to fruition, then Noah Sewell is a player that the Panthers should monitor throughout the upcoming campaign.

The brother of Penei Sewell, who was a target for Carolina in the 2021 draft before going one spot ahead of them to the Detroit Lions, is a phenomenal second-level presence that came of age for Oregon in 2021 en route to 114 tackles, four sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and one interception.

Sewell plays with ruthless aggression on the field and has natural instincts that are sure to be a hot commodity during next year’s evaluation process. Another exciting prospect that Carolina’s scouting department should be keeping a close eye on.