What should the Carolina Panthers do in the upcoming NFL Draft with the scouting combine just around the corner?
The Carolina Panthers are entering the NFL Scouting Combine with arguably one of the best coaching staffs assembled. New head coach Frank Reich has put together a group with many years of experience and knowledge that could help the franchise take the next step in making the postseason for the first time in more than six years.
For several months, the Panthers have been a popular destination for the top quarterback prospects in mock drafts and rightfully so. The experiments of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were colossal failures, leading to Matt Rhule’s firing.
Carolina will likely use the No. 9 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on a quarterback. However, it is not guaranteed that the organization takes a signal-caller with its first pick.
The NFL Draft is a complete guessing game full of protections and potential scenarios as it pertains to mock drafts, scouting reports, and how players do or what they become in the NFL. It is not an exact science and if that were the case, picks would be easy to predict.
This mock draft will present a scenario that features the worst-case scenario for a franchise in need of a quarterback. That is all of the top four prospects at the position going off the board before Carolina goes on the clock.
Using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator, I explore this scenario and what the Panthers may do with the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers draft Myles Murphy
- Defensive End/Outside Linebacker | Clemson Tigers
Had at least one of the top four quarterbacks been available, I believe the Carolina Panthers would pull the trigger. Unfortunately, that is not the case in this scenario.
Despite the close ties with the Clemson Tigers, Carolina has never selected a player from the program in its more than 27-year history. With a need for a No. 2 pass rusher opposite of Pro Bowler Brian Burns, the front office takes the best player available in Tigers star Myles Murphy.
A former five-star high school recruit, Murphy offers an exceptional display of physical traits and athletic ability for the position. He played in multiple alignments for Dabo Swinney’s men, from five-technique to a two-point stance as an outside linebacker.
This already makes him a potential fit in Eijero Evero’s multiple-front defense.
Murphy displays active hands with a nice variety of pass-rush moves and counters. He combines that with ample speed-to-power and a superb get-off that allows him to gain ground within a few steps of his rushes. I do appreciate the prospect’s ability to set the edge at the mesh point along with his sufficient power at the point of attack.
The first-team All-ACC pass rusher still has room for growth. What Murphy offers now would allow him to be an immediate contributor from Day 1 on a young, but talented Panthers defense.
Carolina Panthers draft Luke Musgrave
- Tight End | Oregon State Beavers
Outside of quarterback, the Carolina Panthers’ biggest need on the offensive side of the ball is tight end. They feature a unit of Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble that underwhelmed significantly in 2022, leaving the franchise without a true No. 1 threat at the position that has yet to succeed its predecessor, Greg Olsen.
In this mock draft, that changes for the better with the selection of the raw, yet talented, Luke Musgrave. At the Senior Bowl earlier this month, the Oregon State product showed why he was a projected top prospect at his position.
When you consider a player of Musgrave’s size – 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds — you may not expect him to move as easily and smoothly as he does. He offers an awesome combination of size and athleticism that made teams and football media giddy when watching the prospect move in the open field versus opposing linebackers and running backs.
While Musgrave is inexperienced and needs to improve his functional strength at the point of attack, the talent is obvious to see. I could see him becoming a great security blanket in the near future for whoever becomes the Panthers starting quarterback, even if those in power might have to go down a different path under center without a first-rounder to call upon.
Carolina Panthers draft Calijah Kancey
- Defensive Tackle | Pittsburgh Panthers
With Eijero Evero in as defensive coordinator, gap-penetrating, attack-style defensive linemen will be potential targets in the upcoming NFL Draft for general manager Scott Fitterer. With Murphy shoring up the No. 2 edge rusher spot, finding a future starter at the five-technique should be a priority if they miss on re-signing Matt Ioannidis or bringing in a free agent.
I like the prospect of drafting Calijah Kancey on Day 2 of the draft. There has been little traction on Kancey in the process, but the former Pittsburgh Panther is a potential star at defensive tackle despite being undersized for the position at 6-foot-0 and 275 pounds.
Kancey will be unfairly compared to his predecessor, Aaron Donald, due to being an outlier in the position. They’re completely different players, though he is arguably the top pass-rushing interior defensive lineman in this class outside of Jalen Carter, who could go No. 1 overall if the Chicago Bears don’t trade out of the pick.
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year is the type of attacking-style defensive lineman that the Carolina Panthers would enjoy having on their front seven. Kancey could be a part of a defense that could turn into one of the better units in football in 2023 with Evero leading the charge.
Carolina Panthers draft Nathaniel “Tank” Dell
- Wide Receiver | Houston Cougars
If you look at the current top three wide receivers on the Carolina Panthers roster, you may view it as a decent group already. D.J. Moore is the easy No. 1 with alignment versatility, while Terrace Marshall Jr. possesses talent as the “Z” receiver, and Laviska Sheanult Jr. could thrive further in his gadget/slot role with Frank Reich calling plays.
However, the team is missing crucial depth and a potential true starter in the slot. It might be a risky move considering he is another outlier at his position, but I like the idea of Nathaniel “Tank” Dell as that No. 4 wideout who can be a potential threat in space from the slot.
Dell’s frame is not ideal at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds. Yet, he makes up for it with great short-area quickness, twitch, and a second and third gear to accelerate for big gains.
“Tank” was Houston’s top player this past season with 17 receiving touchdowns while averaging nearly 13 yards per catch. So he’s gaining impressive momentum at just the right time.
While a rookie quarterback is off the table for at least another season in this scenario, having more playmakers on the offensive side of the ball will help the current signal-caller in place succeed under head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Whether that’s Matt Corral or a veteran is up for debate.
Carolina Panthers draft Tyjae Spears
- Running Back | Tulane Green Wave
Speaking of running backs, Carolina Panthers fans must be prepared for the possibility that D’Onta Foreman does not return to the Queen City in 2023. I think he will be asking for a lot more money than the team would be willing to pay for the position considering Scott Fitterer just moved away from Christian McCaffrey’s contract.
The NFL Draft and free agency offer an exceptional amount of talent at running back. Carolina could go in either direction and I would not fault them.
In this mock draft scenario, the organization finds its potential RB1 in Tulane’s Tyjae Spears.
As it currently stands, Spears is my third highest-rated running back in the upcoming draft. He offers ample burst once he accelerates to the second and third levels of the field.
How he wins the edge with explosiveness reminds me of Dalvin Cook when he came out of Florida State. I have a similar vibe here with AAC Offensive Player of the Year.
While I expect the Panthers to be a running-back-by-committee team, the idea of Spears in a room with Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear while being coached by Duce Staley makes me quite giddy. Something that could cause endless complications for opposing defenses.
Carolina Panthers draft Nick Broeker
- Offensive Line | Ole Miss Rebels
If you remember around this time last year, I was consistently mocking multiple offensive linemen to the Carolina Panthers in the later rounds. The position group was a serious area of need heading into the offseason and needed to be reinforced. One year later, I am once again preaching for depth up front.
I will maintain until the end of time that having good depth along the front five helps with continuity and success in both the short term and long term. It is something that will be very helpful for the Panthers down the line, especially with injuries to Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen.
While I haven’t done a full evaluation on him, Nick Broeker has stood out to me at times when watching Ole Miss in the preliminary viewings. His short-area foot quickness and lateral movement skills allow him to be a versatile interior piece.
Broeker isn’t the strongest at the point of attack by any means. But the prospect would be a potential spot starter in the interim while Christensen and, or, Corbett work their way back from significant injuries.
Carolina Panthers draft Riley Moss
- Cornerback | Iowa Hawkeyes
This is a position I see the Carolina Panthers addressing in free agency. The cornerback room is in need of a veteran presence and having that will help a young group grow while giving time for Donte Jackson to recover from a torn Achilles.
However, adding more talent at the position through the 2023 NFL Draft is certainly an option.
There needs to be improved depth behind the likes of C.J. Henderson and Keith Taylor. Is Riley Moss an upgrade? I don’t think so, as there is still room for growth for the senior from Iowa.
Even so, a game like Week 17 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cannot occur again if the Panthers want to legitimately contend for the NFC South next season.
Moss is another prospect I have yet to watch in-depth and have only seen in passing either by watching other Iowa Hawkeyes on film or the Senior Bowl where he was a participant. However, in the little I have seen, I was impressed with the prospect’s competitive play, ball skills, and straight-line speed.
Simply put, there is value here with Moss.
While he may never start a game in his career, the defensive back will certainly offer depth as a potential No. 4 or No. 5 cornerback who can be a valuable asset on special teams. Something I believe special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will appreciate.