Few teams have more salary cap space and fewer needs than the Carolina Panthers coming into the 2016-17 NFL season. They’re biggest problem is a Super Bowl hangover that sometimes hits teams after losing the big game when they were favored to win it. It happens, but the best way to put it in the rearview is win some games early and the Panthers are set up to do just that.
An opening week match-up with the quarterback-less Denver Broncos is followed by four out of five games against teams that finished with losing records in 2015. And the one team they face that didn’t is the Minnesota Vikings who not even Teddy Bridgewater’s mom would pick to win that game.
The Panthers could use some upgrades and that’s where I’m pointing this Perfect Mock Draft.
To see every team’s Perfect Draft click here.
Round 1, Pick 30 – Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
2015: Three-year starter at guard and tackle, 6-foot-6, 324 pounds
Ifedi is a versitile lineman that can play inside and outside, starting at guard and tackle in his time at Texas A&M. He’s also the best offensive lineman left on my board at 30 and there’s no way the Panthers can’t be looking to upgrade that position after the Broncos defenders literally had their current starters of Michael Oher and Mike Remmers skating into the backfield in the Super Bowl. Ifedi is huge enough to be a road grader, but has the athleticism and finesse to handle pass blocking and has done so against some of the best defensive line talent in the country coming out of the SEC.
Round 2, Pick 62 – C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
2015: 157 carries, 1,029 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns, 26 catches, 308 yards, one touchdown, 6-foot-0, 220 pounds
Twenty years ago Prosise would have been a Top 10 draft pick coming out of Notre Dame with those numbers and a 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day. In the modern NFL his position has been devalued, but Prosise should be worth plenty to the Panthers and their rushing attack at the bottom of the second round. Jonathan Stewart is entering his ninth season and it’s time to start thinking about his successor.
Round 3, Pick 93 – Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers
2015: 39 catches, 809 yards, 10 touchdowns, 6-foot-0, 211 pounds
Off the field issues cost Carroo games and possibly draft position, but his production was incredible. He was a big-play machine, averaging over 20 yards per catch and putting up all those numbers in just eight games. Carroo’s 4.46 is deceptive too. While it’s unquestionably fast, when he combines it with his route-running and hands, he becomes dangerous all over the field. The Panthers can’t afford to have another season short-handed at receiver if a guy goes down.
Round 4, Pick 129 – Tavon Young, CB, Temple
2015: 41 tackles, five for a loss, one sack, seven passes defended, 5-foot-9, 183
Young is one of many speedy and talented corners in this draft that are just missing a couple of inches that would get them taken nearer to the top of this draft. His 4.38 40 and 34.5-inch vertical he put down at his pro day should make turning in this card easy. The Panthers have bolstered their defensive backfield already in free agency. Young helps them build for the future.
Round 5, Pick 168 – David Morgan II, TE, Texas-San Antonio
2015: 45 catches, 566 yards, five touchdowns, 6-foot-4, 262 pounds
Morgan is the perfect player to compliment and learn from the Panthers’ All-World tight end Greg Olsen. He’s got a lot of the same skills and produced on third down and in the red zone for TSA, averaging 12.6 yards per catch.
Round 7, Pick 255 – Davante Harris, OT, Appalachian State
2015: Two-year starters, 6-foot-5, 302 pounds
An offensive tackle in the first and final rounds for the Panthers? Absolutely. While Ifedi is ready to start day one, Harris has some work to do. Luckily for the Panthers he has all the physical tools to become a legitimate NFL starter. He’s athletic, strong and has a mean streak as he was originally recruited as a defensive end.
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