Which way could the Carolina Panthers go with their 2024 NFL Draft selections as needs become clearer following the early stages of free agency?
With the first and most likely the second wave of free agency behind them, the Carolina Panthers are full steam ahead with preparations for the NFL Draft, just over a month away.
College pro days are well underway at this point of the pre-draft process. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan will travel around the country to see potential prospects available once they are officially on the clock to begin Day 2.
Pro days are a crucial part of the evaluation process. It allows teams to find out more about prospects of interest following the interviews from earlier in the month at the NFL Scouting Combine.
It’s important to know that no one knows anything. There are no definitives. The NFL Draft is a complete guessing game and it would be not very smart to make any concrete assumptions about prospects and where they may go in the selection process.
It’s also important to know where the Panthers are with their current needs following free agency. Adding a pass rusher and wide receiver or two is at the top of the priority order. They could also address issues at center, cornerback, tight end, and safety.
They could also examine offensive tackle prospects, running back depth, and a potential linebacker addition as Shaq Thompson is not getting any younger. Using the Pro Football Network simulator, here's how the Panthers could potentially resolve some issues in our latest seven-round mock draft.
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Carolina Panthers draft Keon Coleman
- Wide Receiver | Florida State Seminoles
- Round No. 2 | No. 33 overall
The No. 33 overall selection is essentially a first-round pick and the Carolina Panthers get to pick the tasty leftovers from whoever dropped out of the first 32. Fans will be very anxious before the start of Round No. 2 on April 26.
However, if Keon Coleman were to make it out of the first round, the card should be sprinted to the podium. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dan Morgan chose another wide receiver instead of the Florida State standout.
Let’s get this out of the way, Coleman’s 4.62-second 40-yard dash time should not matter when it comes to his overall evaluation. His play speed and in-game quickness matter much more in his case than anything else. Plus, the tape speaks for itself.
A former transfer from Michigan State, Coleman is currently my No. 5 ranked wideout with an easy first-round grade. While his elite traits are winning at the catch point and overall ball skills, he can win in other areas, too.
There’s a misconception that Coleman can’t separate, but that's not true. He creates natural separation on all three levels due to initial explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, physicality, and fluidity. He isn’t the most decisive route runner and his route tree could be expanded, but he is not limited to winning in one specific area.
The former first-team All-ACC selection can win at the line of scrimmage and his long strides make him a threat after the catch. He is not a one-trick pony. Coleman is the type of receiver who can be one of Bryce Young’s favorite targets and has the ceiling to be a Pro Bowl player at the next level.
Carolina Panthers draft Zach Frazier
- Center | West Virginia Mountaineers
- Round No. 2 | No. 39 overall
Bradley Bozeman is now with the Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh. The Carolina Panthers were likely hoping to land a quality starting center in free agency and still could. However, it seems the plan at the moment is for Austin Corbett - while providing depth at guard - to compete for the starting center gig this offseason.
It's hard to get a fuzzy feeling about the idea of Corbett playing at center. He has very little experience occupying the middle of the offensive line. Fear not, as the team is likely targeting a young center in this year’s draft with quite a few potential starters throughout the class.
A popular prospect among Panthers fans is Zach Frazier. The West Virginia standout is one of the four to five centers in this year’s class who could be a starter in the NFL from the jump. He is the type of player who could fit seamlessly within Dave Canales’ offense.
Frazier does a good job of generating power of the snap while loading his base and setting a firm anchor in pass protection. He takes good angles on down blocks and hits his landmarks working in pass sets. He's smart, having a great understanding of what his blocking assignment is and where pressure is coming from stunts and twists.
A former high school champion in wrestling, Frazier uses those skills to be a complete mauler in the run game while consistently fitting his hands inside his defender’s frame. He can come in and compete for the Panthers' starting center job immediately and has the ceiling to be a multi-time Pro Bowler.
Carolina Panthers draft Caelan Carson
- Cornerback | Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Round No. 3 | No. 65 overall
The Carolina Panthers traded Donte Jackson to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the acquisition of Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson. While he did have his fair share of ups and downs, the veteran cornerback was quite sufficient in coverage this past season.
Those in power must find competition and a potential starter opposite of Jaycee Horn at some stage during the 2024 NFL Draft. Acquiring Dane Jackson and re-signing Troy Hill isn't going to cut it.
Could Wake Forest’s Caelen Carson be the answer? It’s unrealistic to expect a potential third-round cornerback to come in and solve the potential issues alongside Horn. However, the prospect could see more playing time during his rookie campaign than expected due to the changes that have occurred in Carolina’s defense.
Preliminary viewings of the former Demon Deacon show adequate size and functional athleticism. Carson flashes disruption at the catch point while showing the ability to fight through contact in run support. These two things are crucial when playing under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero within his creative 3-4 base scheme.
At worst, Carson would bring quality depth to the Panthers' secondary hat looks a little threadbare right now. At best? He develops into a sufficient CB2 option.
Carolina Panthers draft Jermaine Burton
- Wide Receiver | Alabama Crimson Tide
- Round No. 4 | No. 101 overall
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Carolina Panthers could double-dip at wide receiver. As of right now, Jonathan Mingo and Adam Thielen are the only two wideouts with contracts extending past 2024.
Even if Diontae Johnson is re-signed, Thielen’s days as an NFL receiver are numbered. Retirement should be a legitimate possibility next offseason for the Pro Bowl performer.
Having two more receivers on rookie contracts should give the Panthers more comfort. Especially if one of them is a former target of Bryce Young’s from their time together at Alabama.
Jermaine Burton is an underrated receiver prospect in this year’s class. He was one of Young’s top playmakers in 2022, posting more than 600 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Should he be one of Carolina’s selections at the end of next month, his role could grow into starter status by his second or third season.
Burton has grown significantly as a route runner, showing the ability to win with separation on all three levels while being a threat in the vertical passing game and run-after-catch situations. There are concerns in terms of effort and maturity, which is why his stock isn’t higher. However, if the playmaker has shown growth in maturity and overall effort, he could be a potential steal in this upcoming draft.
Carolina Panthers draft Javon Soloman
- Edge Rusher | Troy Trojans
- Round No. 5 | No. 141 overall
The Carolina Panthers need pass-rush help badly. This is what happens when you trade your cornerstone edge rusher because of a sticky contract situation and stalled negotiations. Brian Burns is gone, those in power need to fill the void with urgency before Week 1 of the 2024 season arrives.
D.J. Wonnumn and K’Lavon Chaisson were added in free agency, though the latter isn’t expected to have a significant role this season. Plus, the team is in the waiting game on Jadeveon Clowney as he takes his time to decide his next stop. The New York Jets are reportedly going to make a bold bid, so Dan Morgan must think of contingency plans.
Carolina’s pass rush is not going to be terrific this season, no matter how much help they try to acquire. However, there is one Day 3 prospect who could develop into a contributor down the line with added play strength and overall power.
Javon Soloman has snuck under the radar during the pre-draft process. He offers good first-step explosiveness, fluidity, bend, and active hands in both facets as a pass rusher and run defender.
In preliminary watches, he offers flashes of stacking moves together. However, he will need to continue to add and refine his pass-rushing arsenal at the next level.
Carolina Panthers draft Jared Wiley
- Tight End | TCU Horned Frogs
- Round No. 5 | No. 142 overall
Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas are expected to be the top tight ends on the roster. Carolina Panthers fans are probably cringing as they read the latter’s name. They should expect another option to be added in free agency and even then, that shouldn’t keep those in power from drafting one.
This offseason, there needs to be competition for the No. 2 tight end spot. Thomas is not a safe bet to make the 53-man roster this fall despite agreeing to another pay cut. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a rookie potentially beating a holdover from the last three coaching regimes?
Jared Wiley has the receiving skill set to find some playing time during his rookie season. He offers a big frame and catch radius, allowing him to snag passes away from his frame with consistency. From preliminary viewing, the TCU prospect offers inside-out alignment versatility, a plus for any tight end entering the league.
Wiley does need to improve as a run-blocker but offers the receiving skill set the Panthers could be looking for this offseason. His strong hands and understanding of leverage in the passing game could give him a hand-up in the TE2 competition this summer.
Carolina Panthers draft Ryan Watts
- Defensive Back | Texas Longhorns
- Round No. 7 | No. 240 overall
In the seventh round, you’ll find players that will either provide depth, be on practice squads, or will be out of the league in a few years. There are those rare occasions where you’ll find a Day 1 contributor. If the Carolina Panthers can find someone who contributes, it'll be a nice bonus.
Don’t expect the Panthers selection here to be the next superstar or franchise cornerstone. While that would be great news and a huge find for Dan Morgan’s front office, this pick should be expected to be any position, even a quarterback.
In this mock draft, a defensive back is the play. This not only adds more depth to the safety room, but it could also be a potential contributor on special teams and developmental prospect to possibly stash onto the practice squad.
Ryan Watts is 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds. He brings the size and athleticism that is worth a late Day 3 selection. There are traits worth developing and he already offers some willingness as a tackler in run support.
Morgan and special teams coordinator Tracy Smith could see value in Watts as a potential gunner on punt and kickoff coverages. This could be an asset to the depth chart considering the Panthers have yet to bring back Sam Franklin Jr. in free agency.