30 college prospects the Carolina Panthers should watch closely in 2022

Carolina Panthers should monitor Siaki Ika

• Defensive Tackle | Baylor

I get it, anyone coming from Baylor given the connection with Matt Rhule has become tiresome with Carolina Panthers fans. But Siaki Ika is not like the others.

Ika is a commanding force at the defensive tackle position. He is almost impossible to move off the block against the run and demonstrates enough athleticism to potentially develop into a sneaky-good pass-rusher with additional refinement.

There is no association between Rhule and Ika, who transferred to the Bears from LSU in 2020. But the head coach can get a good feel for the player from those he trusts within the program.

Carolina Panthers should monitor Kayshon Boutte

• Wide Receiver | LSU

With Robbie Anderson coming with a $21.71 million salary-cap hit in 2023 and players such as Rashard Higgins, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Shi Smith needing to prove themselves, the Panthers might need to prioritize the wide receiver position next spring.

If the Panthers decide to address this via the college ranks, then Kayshon Boutte looks set to be the latest in a very long line of LSU wide receivers to become prolific contributors at the next level. He is a dynamic weapon that can break off big yardage at the drop of a hat, which will have most teams around the league keeping a close eye on developments in 2022.

Providing quarterback Jayden Daniels can successfully get the football into Boutte’s hands, big plays will happen. Something that could see him become the first wideout selected.

Carolina Panthers should monitor Antonio Johnson

• Safety | Texas A&M

Jeremy Chinn and Xavier Woods could be a successful safety tandem for the Panthers in 2022. However, the depth behind the starting duo remains a concern and the franchise might want to get themselves an intriguing project to develop via the draft next time around.

Antonio Johnson has the size, athleticism, and football smarts to become a Day 1 starter. He’ll anchor an underrated Texas A&M defense in 2022 and is coming off a campaign where he attained 79 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five passes defended, one sack, and one interception.

Johnson is a dominant hitter that reads the game extremely well. In truth, his skills already look NFL-ready heading into what promises to be his final college campaign.