Mel Kiper's 3.0 Mock Draft

[Jesse]

Quote

6. Carolina Panthers

Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

The Panthers have struck out in the quarterback trade market so far -- although Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are still available -- but they are clearly trying to upgrade over Sam Darnold. Could they take Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett here? It's possible. Coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat, and this could be his attempt at a big splash for 2022. Still, if he wants to win now, he's probably better off trading for a veteran and staying away from a rookie signal-caller. Carolina could instead take a sizable edge rusher who is still growing into his 6-foot-5 frame.

Walker just keeps rising in the pre-draft process, as he starred at the Senior Bowl and tested extremely well at the combine. He didn't put up "wow" numbers in college -- he had six sacks for the national champs last season -- but that's because of how dominant the entire Georgia defense was around him. He could put up better numbers in the NFL, and he's stout against the run too.

If we're going to sign an offensive tackle in free agency, I actually agree with Kiper. Travon Walker may come out to be the best edge rusher in this draft and he will give us another book end defensive end across from Brian Burns. We're losing a lot of production with Reddick leaving for Philly and I don't think YGM is the long-term answer at DE. With Ickey and Neal potentially gone before pick #6, we need to choose the player that gives us the best potential for our future and it may possibly be Walker out of Georgia.

[Jon Snow]

Mel Kipper doesn't know poo. Panthers could take a DE but it won't be because Mel knows it.

[Daddy_Uncle]

[Jesse]

 

[Lets go get it Canes]

I would rage quit this team for good. LT or QB. The only choices 

[unicar15]

15 minutes ago, Lets go get it Canes said:

I would rage quit this team for good. LT or QB. The only choices 

If you sign Armstead then LT is set. That leaves QB. You really want to put all our eggs in the Kenny Pickett basket? These QBs are probably 3rd-4th round picks in most drafts. 
 

After the draft starts, shakes out….the QBs aren’t going in the top 10. None have shown elite intangibles. 
 

Trading for a vet and unloading Darnold, drafting BPA is looking like what Fitt wants to do. Which is smart. The QBs aren’t special. Live to see another day. 

[Shocker]

Kiper's mocks are what he would do and are a reflection of his big board.  He probably knows we are taking QB but he thinks 6 is too rich...which it probably is.

Edited March 22, 2022 by Shocker

[XClown1986]

Travon Walker would be an amazing get. He is going to be a force. I would love the pick. 

[Peppers90 NC]

If Neal and Ekwonu are gone and we dont love a QB, this would be my top choice.

[amcoolio]

I love Walker. I think he has the highest chance of the top 6 to be an all-pro player, with Ekwonu second.

[KatsAzz]

I won’t go as far as to call Kiper a clown, but that has certainly entered my mind about him before. He said Jim Drunkenmiller was the best QB of his class, that Steve Emtman was a can’t miss and that Tony Mandarich was the best OL ever.

He’s most famous for being absolutely right that Trev Alberts would be an absolute bust, but he wanted Trent Dilfer taken in that spot. He writes a million mock drafts per year and constantly contradicts himself, regardless of the teams’ needs.

The fact that ESPN has been paying him (and paying him well) for over 30 years is just short of astounding.

[firefox1234]

DL is almost as much of a need as LT. Both our lines were soft asf last season….

[XClown1986]

I read somewhere that scouts have been higher on Walker than the media for awhile and that there is a legitimate possibility he could be looked at to go number 1. I guess we will see.

[theinstrumental]

1 hour ago, Jesse said:

 

Neal gets knocked off by the defensive tackle, not by Walker throwing him, but still a good play by Walker.