Mock Draft Rebuild Series: Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers will be one of the more difficult teams to rebuild for the 2024 season and moving forward. Having the worst record in the league in 2023 guaranteed them the #1 overall pick, which would be good, but they traded their first rounder in 2024 to trade up in 2023 to draft Bryce Young. After CJ Stroud won rookie of the year, and Bryce Young looked lost at times in the Panthers offense, people are beginning to question if they made the right selection. The Panthers rank 16th in the NFL in terms of cap space for 2024, with only $32 million. Now, they can get creative, and bring in some big name free agents. Couple that with a solid draft with the picks that they do have, the Panthers can be on the right track to making Bryce Young the franchise guy, and get back to their winning ways.
A gaping hole at Wide Receiver should be the first priority of the Panthers, one that can be addressed in both the NFL draft and free agency. Defensive line issues, as well as Tight End should also be high on David Tepper’s checklist.
As always, we will be using the PFF (Pro Football Focus) Mock Draft Simulator to assist us in this draft, as well as any PFF rankings that come with the upcoming class of rookies. Lets begin:
Round 2, Pick 33
With the first selection of the second round, the Panthers will need to make a splash. There are a handful of tier 2 Wide Receivers who should be available at this selection, so the Panthers will have their pick of the litter. They could also go Defensive Line or Edge rusher if someone were to fall to them, but there is a much bigger need at Wide Receiver.
Pick: Brian Thomas Jr, Wide Receiver, LSU
Brian Thomas Jr. is a guy that can realistically hear his name called towards the back end of the first round, especially with teams like the Chiefs, Bills and Cardinals. If Thomas, or any of the other receivers in this area fall, the Panthers will likely bite. Brian Thomas Jr. exploded in 2023, catching 68 passes for 1177 yards and 17 touchdowns. Thomas isn’t the best in terms of separating against coverage, and doesn’t have the best catching grade against man coverage, but when he stands at 6’2, 205 lbs, and he scored 17 touchdowns last season, the talent is too good to pass up. Names like Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman, and Adonai Mitchell would also be options here if they are available.
Round 3, Pick 65
Tight End, Defensive Line, Offensive Line, and Cornerback could also be areas that are addressed with this pick. There are pending options on the Defensive Line with Brian Burns potentially signing a new deal, but there are more positions that have holes up front than he can fill by himself.
Pick: Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah
Jonah Elliss is much like a lot of players in this draft class that are trying to cash in after a super effective Junior season. Elliss tallied 13 sacks, 2 QB hits and 24 QB hurries. While Elliss is a super efficient pass rusher, his run defense isn’t the best and he may be a bit undersized for the position he is in, standing at 6’2, 246 lbs. Elliss also lines up primarily outside of the Offensive Tackle, but he has shown the capability to line up further inside on occasion. Ellis is a very good pass rusher, and he will bolster any pass rushing squad that he joins. He will need to improve his run defense in order to extend his career, but he can contribute early and often for the Panthers.
Round 4, Pick 102
With the offensive weapons for Bryce Young consisting of Adam Thielin, Johnathan Mingo, Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, and Terrence Marshall, I fully expect the Panthers to go all in on the offensive side of the ball early and often. There are also questions along the Offensive Line, and if someone were to fall to them in this spot, the Panthers would take the best available offensive player.
Pick: Jacob Cowing, Wide Receiver, Arizona
Jacob Cowing is an interesting prospect. His best season for Arizona came in 2021, where he totaled 69 receptions for 1361 yards and 7 touchdown. His yardage total has gone down every year, with 1034 yards in 2022, and 868 yards in 2023. His yards per reception was also the lowest it had been in the last 3 years in 2023, standing at 9.8 yards per reception. Although, he did score 13 touchdowns in 2023. At 5’11, 175 lbs, Cowing would be a perfect fit as a slot Wide Receiver in the right offense. Dave Canales’s first year as the Head Coach in Carolina will likely be one of figuring things out, figuring out where people fit, and how the offense is going to look.
Round 5, Pick 165
Sticking with the theme of the Offensive side of the ball, the Offensive Line and Tight End seem to be the biggest remaining holes on the squad. Hayden Hurst was diagnosed with “Post Traumatic Amnesia” after he suffered a very serious concussion, and there is no time table as to when he will be back. Ian Thomas is a very solid Tight End for the Panthers, but he is an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season, and it remains to be seen if the Panthers will resign him. With all rebuilds, we do not address free agency or future plans, so we have to go with the knowledge that we currently have.
Pick: Theo Johnson, Tight End, Penn State
With the uncertainty of Hayden Hurst, Tight End is a massive need for the Panthers. Theo Johnson stands at 6’6, 264 lbs, which makes him extremely attractive to NFL teams. “Theo Johnson is definitely on the rise,” said ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller. Theo Johnson has the size to be on the end of the line of scrimmage and block, as well as being able to go out and be a dependable pass catcher. Last season, Johnson caught 34 passes for 341 yards and 7 touchdowns. Johnson can become a nice security blanket in the NFL for Bryce Young. If the Panthers do not address the position before here, expect Johnson to be on their short list.
Round 6, Pick 180
Offensive Line can be a need here, though I expect the Panthers to address any immediate concerns there during free agency, or earlier in the draft. The back end of the Secondary can also be a need here if the right player falls to them.
Pick: Jaheim Bell, Tight End, Florida State
It wouldn’t be the most unusual thing for the Panthers to double dip on Tight End late in the 2024 draft, especially with Hurst being out and Thomas being a free agent after 2024. Jaheim Bell is smaller than Theo Johnson, standing at 6’3, 239 lbs. Bell caught 39 passes for 503 yards, more prolific in the receiving game than Theo Johnson, but he only caught 2 touchdowns. The Panthers will likely go simple on offense to assist Bryce Young in his development, which will mean two Tight End sets, simple routes, and nothing too deep. Jaheim Bell and Theo Johnson can become a nice duo at Tight End for the Panthers.
Round 7, Pick 219
Their final selection of the 2024 NFL draft will see the Panthers go back to the defensive side of the ball, and they will take the best available player, even if it may not fill an immediate position of need.
Pick: Daequan Hardy, Cornerback, Penn State
Daequan Hardy is very undersized when it comes to NFL Cornerbacks, standing at only 5’9, 181 lbs. Hardy would likely be forced into the slot Cornerback or Nickel Back role immediately. While Hardy’s size is against him, it doesn’t prevent him from being a decent player, holding opposing Quarterbacks to a rating of 71.4 against him, and forcing 2 interceptions last season. I believe Hardy can become a good special teams player, or a rotational player on the back end for the Panthers. NFL teams will look at him and only see how undersized he is, but should an NFL team take a chance on him, he might surprise a lot of people.
The Carolina Panthers are in a tight spot heading into the 2024 NFL season. Dave Canales will need to do a masterful job building this offense to where it needs to be in order for Bryce Young to be successful. There is room for them to do work in free agency, and there is room for them to be effective in the NFL draft as well. A draft such as this will give them weapons at positions where they are lacking right now, and it would allow them to build more for the future. The Panthers are easily a 3-4 year rebuild, and will not be competitive for at least a few season. That being said, it is not out of the realm of possibilities for it to happen sooner. Next up in the NFC South: The Atlanta Falcons.
