Carolina Panthers 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Dog hunting edition

Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2024 NFL Draft selections under the new power couple of Dan Morgan and Dave Canales?

A new era dawns for the Carolina Panthers once again. Dan Morgan and Dave Canales have been tasked with getting the league's worst franchise off its knees and back to respectability. It's going to take time and patience, but they can build the right foundations throughout what's sure to be a busy offseason.

Morgan made his intentions clear during a fascinating introductory presser. He wants to return the Panthers to its roots. He wants to find players with the right mentality to buy into the core ethos of the organization. Anyone not with the program will be shipped out with little fanfare attached.

This is going to be tough to do in one offseason. The Panthers aren't blessed with much financial wiggle room once key men are extended. They are also suffering the embarrassment of giving up the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft as part of their trade for quarterback Bryce Young.

Building through the draft is always the preferred method of success. Scott Fitterer sacrificed too many picks without much on-field growth attached. If everyone within the franchise is bought into gradual progress rather than quick fixes, there's a chance this failed approach can change quickly.

Morgan also wants - in his own words - some dogs to help speed the rebuilding process along. Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we took a look at which way the Panthers could go with their upcoming selections adopting this mindset in our latest seven-round mock draft.

Carolina Panthers draft Ladd McConkey

• Wide Receiver | Georgia Bulldogs
• No. 33 overall

The Carolina Panthers might not have a first-round pick, but the No. 33 overall selection is still a valuable asset. Dan Morgan and Dave Canales have an abundance of options. Several with first-round grades will be available at this spot, but the need to hit on this pick cannot be overstated.

Morgan could look to address the offensive line. The Panthers also need an edge rusher capable of slotting opposite Brian Burns if he's extended. They are also fully committed to giving quarterback Bryce Young everything he needs to excel moving forward. That means surrounding him with better weapons.

No player at this year's Senior Bowl helped themselves more than Ladd McConkey. The Georgia wide receiver demonstrated his exceptional ball skills and ability to create separation through slick route-running from start to finish. This backed up his outstanding college tape as a two-time college football national champion.

There isn't a route McConkey cannot run. He's devastating over short-to-intermediate areas. He makes contested catches look easy despite not being the biggest. He also has the sort of mentality Morgan is looking for as part of his grand plans for the future.

While McConkey isn't the quickest, his coordinator and intelligence more than make up for his lack of speed. He's the sort of polished pass-catcher who'd become Young's best friend in no time. Especially if veteran Adam Thielen ends up leaving at some stage this offseason.

Carolina Panthers draft Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

• Linebacker | Clemson Tigers
• No. 65 overall

Dan Morgan was a ferocious linebacker in his prime. His production is still revered by those who saw him play. Although the defensive second level has become devalued around the league in recent years, its importance throughout franchise history cannot be overstated.

Now that Morgan is in the primary front office position of power, he might look to enhance this area of defensive production. There is a growing sense that Ejiro Evero could stick around as defensive coordinator. Something that would keep continuity and give the Carolina Panthers hope his encouraging first year with the team can be built upon.

Shaq Thompson is out of contract in 2025 and coming off a long-term injury. Frankie Luvu should be extended, but there is nobody else worth considering as viable starting options long-term despite the eye-catching contributions of Kamu Grugier-Hill and Deion Jones.

If Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is available by this point, it's worth considering. It would also break the long streak of the Panthers never drafting a prospect from Clemson despite the program's proximity to Bank of America Stadium.

Trotter has the size and athleticism that should transition well from college to the pros. He's got no trouble getting in pursuit of runners with supreme aggression. He's instinctive enough to assist in coverage when required. Asking him to primarily pass-rush wouldn't be wise, but adding him to the Panthers' defense would allow for Luvu to spend more time on the edge in this scenario.

Carolina Panthers draft Cam Hart

• Cornerback | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• No. 101 overall

The Carolina Panthers have some questions to answer at the cornerback position this offseason. Jaycee Horn's fifth-year option is upcoming. While his talent is among the league's best when healthy, staying on the field remains a significant complication entering Year 4 of his professional career.

Donte Jackson might be a cut candidate given the savings involved with a post-June 1 release. C.J. Henderson is out of contract and is unlikely to return. After that, it's slim pickings despite the flashes from others at times during the campaign.

If the Panthers decide more is needed and the draft represents the best chance to find it, then Cam Hart represents a solid value selection at this juncture. The Notre Dame prospect was seen as a sleeper pick by many before the Senior Bowl. That's not the case anymore.

Hart was nothing short of exceptional throughout the week in Mobile, Alabama. His size, length, and physicality to move wideouts off their routes is an impressive transferable skill. There's enough fluidity in his hips and straight-line speed to go downfield with quicker wideouts. The defensive back can also make his presence felt against the run for good measure.

There are some technical flaws to work out, especially when it comes to hand placement. Fortunately, the Panthers have a defensive coordinator who specializes in the secondary. They also have Jonathan Cooley and DeAngelo Hall still on the staff, so this would be a tremendous spot for Hart to end up.

Carolina Panthers draft Javion Cohen

• Offensive Line | Miami Hurricanes
• No. 140 overall

There's a good chance Dan Morgan addresses the offensive line much sooner than this. The Carolina Panthers endured a torrid time across their protection last season. Injuries didn't help, but some prominent starters regressed considerably to further raise concerns.

Ikem Ekwonu's sophomore slump was well-documented and became a constant source of frustration. Bradley Bozeman also didn't look comfortable for large parts of the campaign. Whether this was down to the blocking concepts or the start of something more concerning remains to be seen.

One could argue that keeping the same starting five has merits if Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett return to 100 percent. Joe Gilbert's prowess from a coaching capacity will benefit the offensive line immensely after he opted to join Dave Canales. However, the need to solidify depth is essential after this became exposed in 2023.

Javion Cohen looks like the sort of development project who could become a starter over time. At the very least, he'd be a huge upgrade on Carolina's backup options right out of the gate. What comes after that will be down to the player's work ethic.

Cohen excels in pass protection. He is technically sound with decent footwork. There's also a lot to like about his hand placement once the prospect gets to the point of attack first.

The Miami prospect isn't the biggest, which could see his stock fall. He'll also need to improve his functional strength to become a run-blocking asset at the next level.

Carolina Panthers draft Dallin Holker

• Tight End | Colorado State Rams
• No. 165 overall

It's no secret that the Carolina Panthers have been starved of tight end production in the passing game since Greg Olsen was allowed to leave for the Seattle Seahawks. This is something that has to be resolved this offseason to give Bryce Young a fighting chance of making a better go of things.

Tommy Tremble and Hayden Hurst will be around. The same cannot be said about Stephen Sullivan or Ian Thomas with any guarantee. If both are removed from the equation, the Panthers need to find another high-upside individual from the college ranks.

Dallin Holker ticks all the boxes. The prospect's fortunes were hanging by a thread after becoming frustrated at BYU. As it turned out, his transfer to Colorado State was the best decision he could have made.

Holker came of age with the Rams in 2023. Whatever the coaching staff said worked. He finally started to put his outstanding athletic gifts to better use en route to 64 catches for 767 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The prospect is an imposing figure with a wide catch radius. There seemed to be improved control of his body movements last season. more than at any stage of his college career. This indicates his ability to be coached up and respond positively to adversity.

His yards after the catch numbers are also solid. Holker is not the most explosive, but his potential as a possession receiver and a red-zone threat makes him worthy of consideration at this stage of the draft.

Carolina Panthers draft Marshawn Kneeland

• Defensive Line/Edge Rusher | Western Michigan Broncos
• No. 179 overall

As with the offensive line, the Carolina Panthers could address their edge rushing/defensive line options much earlier in the 2024 NFL Draft. This is almost entirely dependent on the situation with Brian Burns, who is looking for a lucrative extension after having his contract managed terribly by the previous regime.

If Burns signs a new deal, that doesn't detract from the need to get another prolific pass-rusher to put alongside the former first-round pick. Frankie Luvu has some qualities normally associated with edge players. Yetur Gross-Matos' encouraging progress this season also warrants another look if the money is right for all parties.

Getting a veteran with proven credentials via free agency would be wise. It might also be worth exploring the possibility of acquiring a development project from the college level and seeing if Ejiro Evero's staff can mold them into a valuable contributor.

There are bigger and more coveted prospects than Marshawn Kneeland. But this is the sort of versatile prospect Dan Morgan is looking for as he looks to bring more dogs into the building.

Kneeland isn't particularly exceptional at anything, but he does everything well. The Western Michigan prospect can thrive on the edge as a pass-rusher and run-stopper. There is also enough to suggest he could move inside when the situation dictates and play a role.

The incoming college hopeful boasts a nice blend of quickness and fluid movements. He's something of a rough diamond - especially given the concerns about his ability to generate pressure consistently against more imposing offensive linemen. Allowing him to grow into a 3-4 defensive end under Evero could reap long-term rewards.