Carolina Panthers Mock Draft Rounds 1 - 3

[Jeremy Igo]

This season with so few holes to fill in creating a Superbowl contending team, Dave Gettleman can concentrate no truly grabbing the best players available for the Panthers scheme. 

Without further ado, my Carolina Panthers mock draft rounds 1 - 3. 

 

Round 1

Hunter Henry

TE - Arkansas - 6'5 250

Henry is by far the best tight end in the draft, and he is projected to be selected from the late first round to the early second round. Henry is a complete tight end. What makes Henry too much of a bargain for Gettleman to pass up is his blocking ability. Henry is a monster when it comes to run blocking, something desperately needed at the tight end position. In two tight end sets playing opposite Greg Olsen, suddenly the Panthers have twice as many play choices at their disposal. 

This is not to say run blocking is his only skill, Henry had 51 catches in 2015 with zero drops. He can run every route on the field, too big for linebackers to cover and too shifty for defensive ends. 

Grabbing this kid now to learn behind Greg Olsen, especially when it comes to work ethic and what it means to be a professional, it is a win - win - win. 

Sign him up, Dave. 

 

Round 2

Shaq Lawson 

DE - Clemson - 6'3 - 269

What? Shaq Lawson in the second round? 

Yep. But not in the late second round. Dave Gettleman will once again trade up, costing the Panthers their third round pick (surprise!). Lawson is the 4th highest rated DE in the draft, and fellow Clemson DE Kevin Dodd will be a first rounder. Lawson will last into the first few selections of round two and Gettleman won't be able to resist. Just like in 2015, he will trade up to grab a player he feels is a first round talent. 

Many places are saying Lawson will go to a 3-4 team to play outside linebacker, but they underestimate the creativity of Ron Rivera in placing "hard to define" players in positions to succeed (see Shaq Thompson). Lawson will allow the Panthers to sneak in and disguise some of those 3-4 looks that they are so fond of doing from time to time. 

Lawson isn't a huge defensive end, but he is bigger than Charles Johnson as a rookie. In fact, if you read some of the scouting reports positives and negatives, it seems like you could be reading Johnson's bio. 

BTW, since Lawson won't be able to be called Shaq on the defense (name is taken), I already have a nice nickname for him. 

Law Dog

 

 

 

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[JawnyBlaze]

I'm not a fan of Lawson but I'd be ok with trading up in the 2nd for him if we miss out on Dodd and Ogbah. Love Henry and well worth a first in my opinion. 

[Khyber53]

I like your reasoning and both picks would make a lot of sense.

I think that in the first round, Gettleman will be looking at picking up a long-term replacement for one of our "elder statesman" players. I just think it is Kalil he'll be looking to find a protege` for.

And there, I think it will be Cody Whitehair out of Kansas St. He's got the skills to play guard and center and he fits the Hog Mollies bill like few other players.

 

[tiger7_88]

I like both picks, but since our 3rd round pick this year is almost (basically) a 4th rounder, I don't see it having enough value to move us up from the second-to-last-pick in the 2nd round to picking in the top four to five picks in the 2nd round.

But if Big Dave can do it, then I'm all for it.

[Jeremy Igo]

5 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

I like both picks, but since our 3rd round pick this year is almost (basically) a 4th rounder, I don't see it having enough value to move us up from the second-to-last-pick in the 2nd round to picking in the top four to five picks in the 2nd round.

But if Big Dave can do it, then I'm all for it.

Didn't say it would cost only our third rounder. Possibly more. 

[Davidson Deac II]

Cant have two guys named shaq on the team.  :)

[SCP]

I don't know much about any of the kids in the draft so you get an A+ grade from me.

[Mage]

Not a fan of Hunter Henry in the 1st round.  He's just eh to me.  I don't think he's the best tight end in the class and even if I did, the gap between him and the next guy isn't high enough to warrant not just waiting until the 2nd to take a tight end if we choose that route.

Just my 2 cents though.

[Moose Hoover]

If Lawson isn't there in the 2nd, I'd like Nassib.

[jdpanther5]

Probably more realistic if you swap the rounds on these guys. Henry is much more likely to be available in the 2nd, I think Lawson goes before our first pick but he could be there at 30.

[Riverboat Ron]

If we were to trade up to get Lawson in the early 2nd, I'd probably go with either Vernon Butler, Sheldon Rankins (if he falls), or a CB like William Jackson III.

In reality if this did happen, I could see a combo of Derrick Henry and Shaq Lawson (or a DE that falls).

[BigBoss]

So this is actually only a mock of rounds 1 and 2....

[juliosantos]

i think were drafting henry . almost every 1st rounder we had outside of star was criticized by fans and haters . people will hate on us that we drafted henry a alabama running back but it will workout in our favor  

[OldNorthPowell]

I am going Derrick Henry and Nassib in the first two rounds but would be happier with your picks. I just think Hunter Henry is gone before pick 30. Same with Lawson.