Panthers 7-round NFL mock draft ahead of 2022 college football season
By Dean Jones
Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2023 NFL Draft selections as the college football season finally begins?
Although the 2023 NFL Draft is pretty far away in most fans’ eyes, the Carolina Panthers and others across the league have already begun scouting prospective talents with the college football season here at long last.
Scouts within the Panthers will already be identifying prospects of interest and watching their progress carefully throughout the upcoming campaign. Every base will be covered, giving those in power supreme confidence before the all-important pre-draft assessment process gets underway.
It’s hard to gauge what the Panthers’ needs will be at this point. Things are hanging in the balance regarding their fortunes in 2022, but there are one or two positions that are craving long-term solutions based on what we’ve seen of late.
Using the Pro Football Network machine – which has Carolina selecting No. 8 overall – we took a look at what the Panthers might do in a full seven-round mock draft.
Round No. 1 (Trade)
Carolina Panthers trade down from No. 8 overall
General manager Scott Fitterer is always looking to make a trade if he feels it can benefit the franchise. The Carolina Panthers don’t have a third-round selection after moving up for Matt Corral, so dropping down into the mid-teens might be something to consider in this instance.
In this scenario, a deal is struck with the Las Vegas Raiders. This provides the Panthers with an extra second-rounder, and two third-rounders in 2023 and 2024.
The more ammunition Carolina has, the better. And if they are picking at No. 8, there will be multiple needs to fill.