Panthers 7-round NFL mock draft ahead of 2022 college football season

Carolina Panthers select Jermaine Burton

• Wide Receiver | Alabama

It’s a crowded wide receiver room for the Carolina Panthers right now. Some tough sacrifices were made during the final round of cuts, but it could need a mini-makeover this time next year if the group doesn’t bounce back from a disappointing 2021 campaign.

Robbie Anderson is a cut candidate with $21.71 million coming his way. Terrace Marshall Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., and Rashard Higgins are others who could be on the move for one reason or another.

It’s hard to envisage this unit struggling again with Baker Mayfield under center and Ben McAdoo calling plays. But it’s probably worth getting another prospect from yet another deep class emerging from the college ranks in any case.

Jermaine Burton looked like a prospect of real promise last season. The wideout performed well on a rotational basis for Georgia, helping Kirby Smart’s roster to a memorable college national championship thanks to a convincing win over Alabama in the title game.

In a somewhat surprising move, the deep threat transferred from the Bulldogs to the Crimson Tide this offseason. Perhaps in the hope he can emerge as a focal point and bolster his draft stock for good measure.

Burton is a sight to behold in contested catch situations and has enough straight-line burst to trouble cornerbacks at will. The main problem is recognizing different coverages based on his film, which Nick Saban might be able to iron out next season.