Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2024 NFL Draft selections as general manager Dan Morgan's needs become clearer?
After an eventful free agency period that also saw the Carolina Panthers engage in significant trade activity, attention is now turning towards the 2024 NFL Draft. It might be a quiet first day for those in power with no first-round pick to call upon, but general manager Dan Morgan has seven selections over the remaining rounds to give his rebuild a boost if the correct recruits are acquired.
Morgan is currently navigating a baptism of fire as Carolina's front-office leader. He inherited a complete mess from previous regimes, so the plan is to make the team more competitive now without jeopardizing their hopes of long-term sustainability en route to potential contention.
The former linebacker also made no secret of his desire to build through the draft and supplement any remaining needs with veteran pieces. This is the more traditional method of roster-building success around the league. It was also treated as a foreign concept by both Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer to their detriment.
Hopes are rising about what the team of Morgan and Dave Canales could accomplish in Carolina. There is more purpose and conviction in their words and actions than witnessed previously. But fans are approaching this with cautious optimism after being fooled before.
Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we took a look at how the Panthers might go with their 2024 NFL Draft selections with needs becoming clearer in our latest seven-round mock.
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Carolina Panthers draft Graham Barton
- Center | Duke Blue Devils
- Round No. 2 | No. 33 overall
Austin Corbett looks set to make his transition from the right guard position into the center spot in 2024. The Carolina Panthers spent big bucks in free agency to acquire two new starting guards. They feel like the former second-round selection out of Nevada is the perfect candidate to replace Bradley Bozeman, who was released as part of the team's long-term financial planning.
While Corbett is talented, this comes with an element of risk attached. The player doesn't have much experience as an NFL center. He's also coming off two significant knee injuries in consecutive seasons. Therefore, it would be wise for those in power to get a long-term option in place if things don't go according to plan.
If someone like Graham Barton was available when the Panthers go on the clock at No. 33 overall, it's something that should provoke discussion. The Duke prospect's stock has soared throughout the evaluation process thanks to the immense athleticism at his disposal. Something that cements what we see on the field.
Barton is a fluid mover who's got experience anywhere across the protection. His explosiveness to the contact point is impressive. He's also got the physical traits that would fit into Dave Canales' zone-blocking concepts seamlessly.
Once some technical flaws are worked out, someone is going to have a real player on their hands. Whether the Panthers want to take an offensive lineman so early from a deep class is debatable, but the notion couldn't be dismissed entirely.
Carolina Panthers draft Ladd McConkey
- Wide Receiver | Georgia Bulldogs
- Round No. 2 | No. 39 overall
Surrounding quarterback Bryce Young with everything needed to excel in Year 2 of his professional career has been the biggest priority above all else this offseason. The Carolina Panthers cannot afford to waste his rookie contract with poor roster construction. Their transition of investment in recent weeks suggests they think the same.
Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis were signed to fortify the offensive line interior. The Panthers also picked up wide receiver Diontae Johnson via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who's one of the best route-runners around and represents an immediate upgrade on anything Carolina has currently.
More is needed, but there's growing speculation that the Panthers might not be seeking the big-bodied wideout most fans envisage. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, those in power are looking at guys who can create separation quickly and make things easier for Young during his critical sophomore campaign.
Ladd McConkey ticks those boxes and then some. The Georgia prospect is an electrifying route-runner who knows how to manipulate body movement to his advantage. He's explosive out of his cuts with outstanding ball skills. This is matched by surprising speed to make him a downfield threat and someone who can gain yards after the catch.
Whether McConkey makes it this far into the second round is debatable. There's also a good chance Carolina takes him at No. 33 overall if he's high on their board.
Carolina Panthers draft Ja'Tavion Sanders
- Tight End | Texas Longhorns
- Round No. 3 | No. 65 overall
The Carolina Panthers gave Tommy Tremble a supreme vote of confidence. Hayden Hurst's release coupled with the comments from Dave Canales and Dan Morgan at the NFL owners' meetings mean big things could be in the player's future. However, with such limited production over the first three years, nobody could guarantee a breakout campaign at this juncture.
Finding another dynamic tight end capable of helping in the passing game immediately should be considered at some stage during the 2024 NFL Draft. Ja'Tavion Sanders looks like a tremendous fit as a pass-catching threat at the position who could also make his presence felt in the red zone.
Sanders is not the complete package thanks to his indifferent blocking at the line of scrimmage. That said, the Panthers wouldn't need to task him with many responsibilities in this area of the field. They need a difference-maker across the middle. Someone who can provide quarterback Bryce Young with a security blanket in key situations.
The Texas prospect has the athleticism, route-running, and wide catch radius to be just that.
Sanders is a matchup nightmare in the slot and can even line up on the outside if the situation dictates. Adding this sort of weapon to Dave Canales' offense is a mouth-watering proposition. One that could provide Young with another boost entering his second campaign.
Carolina Panthers draft Brandon Dorlus
- Defensive Line/Edge Rusher | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 4 | No. 101 overall
The Carolina Panthers pulled off a major statement of intent by signing veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a two-year deal. Offering the former No. 1 overall selection some added security and the chance to be closer to home were the tipping points. Something that represents a huge addition to the pass rush that lost Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos this offseason.
Despite Clowney's arrival, this shouldn't stop the Panthers from adding another edge presence via the draft. This is a solid if not spectacular class at the position, but there is value to find if Dan Morgan and his staff's research is thorough.
Brandon Dorlus comes into the league with outstanding college experience and proven production. He's never taken anything by storm, but he's fundamentally sound and brings a unique set of athletic attributes to the table. He's also got the frame to operate as a 3-4 defensive end opposite Derrick Brown if his transition goes well.
Dorlus operates with heavy hands and has no trouble setting the edge on running plays. His compact frame allows the Oregon prospect to shed blocks effectively and there is enough closing speed to cause havoc in opposing backfields or chase runners in pursuit.
He's not the most agile in terms of changing direction and tackling technique needs refinement for improved consistency at the next level. That said, this looks like a prospect who fits the mold of what Ejiro Evero looks for on the defensive line or as a run-stopping outside linebacker.
Carolina Panthers draft Elijah Jones
- Cornerback | Boston College Eagles
- Round No. 5 | No. 141 overall
According to Jadeveon Clowney, he's not the only former South Carolina college star looking to join the Carolina Panthers this offseason. The edge rusher revealed he'd been in discussions with Stephon Gilmore, who also appears receptive to a return despite leaving under a cloud in 2022 free agency.
This would provide the Panthers with the dependable veteran cornerback they desperately need. Gilmore is firmly in his career twilight, but the production remains encouraging. Providing the money works for all parties, those in power would be foolish not to explore the possibility in greater detail.
If the Panthers don't sign Gilmore before the draft, their need for a cornerback becomes greater. Either way, someone like Elijah Jones makes a ton of sense at this stage of the all-important selection process.
Jones is 6-foot-2 with a 4.44-second speed clocked in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. This allows him to get wide receivers off their routes in press coverage and also cope seamlessly tracking quicker pass-catchers downfield.
The Boston College prospect also has the size and physicality to be an asset in contested situations, especially in the red zone. Bulking up slightly to become more impactful against the run would be beneficial, but there is a lot to like about Jones' upside if he's given time to develop.
Carolina Panthers draft Javon Baker
- Wide Receiver | UCF Knights
- Round No. 5 | No. 142 overall
As previously mentioned, quarterback Bryce Young's development is the most important thing above everything else this offseason. Having head coach Dave Canales should assist greatly in this regard. Getting the recruitment right is another important piece of this complex puzzle.
Dan Morgan's made some decent moves up to now, but the job's not finished. The Carolina Panthers must take advantage of one of the deepest wide receiver draft classes in recent memory according to most analysts. Double-dipping at the position wouldn't be the worst idea in the world looking at the plethora of options available.
Javon Baker's frame is NFL-ready. The wideout is coming off a career-best campaign 52 receptions for 1,139 receiving yards and seven touchdowns at UCF in 2023. A strong pre-draft assessment process has many wondering whether this could be a rough diamond that might go higher than many anticipate.
Baker's route-running is first class. He gains speed quickly and stops on a dime. There's also a lot to like about his ability to turn indifferent throws into receptions through quick-changing body angles.
The UCF prospect is a supreme threat with the football in his hands, although he wouldn't be classed as a top-end burner by any stretch. If Baker is available at this stage of the draft, it would be a hard proposition to pass up.
Carolina Panthers draft Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Linebacker | Washington Huskies
- Round No. 7 | No. 240 overall
It took Edefuan Ulofoshio a long time for everything to click in college. His sixth season with the Washington Huskies was his genuine breakout moment, emerging into a core defensive piece as they reached the college football national championship game.
Ulofoshio was a commanding force at the defensive second level, displaying sideline-to-sideline capabilities against the run and enough explosiveness to assist in pass-rushing situations for good measure. His experience and willingness to lead was an overlooked aspect of his contribution - something that will go over well in the pros.
While the positives are glaring, Ulofoshio is a little older than most college prospects. This will see his draft stock fall given his ceiling might have arrived. But it's a decent possibility for the Carolina Panthers to bolster depth with their final selection of the draft.
Shaq Thompson isn't getting younger and Josey Jewell is seen more as a short-term fix rather than anything longer-term. Ejiro Evero's cupboard is relatively bare aside from the projected starting duo in his creative 3-4 base scheme. Therefore, adding another college prospect who could also assist on special teams might be a realistic avenue to pursue.
If the Panthers wait until this stage of the draft for another linebacker, Ulofoshio is a solid option.