Davos' Panthers Plan + Mock Draft

[davos]

I figured to post this somewhere after I had my fun early morning and made a mock.  Feel free to flame away haha.

To get the Panthers out in front, I see two options:

(A) Take our favorite of Icky/Neal/Cross available (preferred)

(B) Trade w/SEA or BAL, gain a second round at minimum.  Maybe gain a 2023 pick.  Just stay near the top, could still land Cross or the first QB.  Ideal: 9-Cross, then if they really want a guy, package 41 with a late rounder for a faller Corral/Howell/Pickett in the mid-30s range.

I know right? Super different lol...anyways here's the mock going off latest Matt Miller, Athletic, and other rumors:

 

2022 Mock Draft

1-JAX: Aiden Hutchinson DE UM
Not buying Walker here.  Aiden has the upside against the pass and run. Walker has potential but too underwhelming of a pass rusher for #1 overall.     

2-DET: Sauce Gardner CB CIN
Early with a surprise but their GM Holmes has hinted that he’s looking for impact and talent over specific positions when drafting this high. They’ve been a hard team to peg down but DBs are ever more important in this day and age.  

3-HOU: Derek Stingley Jr CB LSU 
Word is he’s very high on boards.  Interchangeable use in the secondary, huge upside.  Could HOU really be high on Stingley and Sauce?  We’ll see.  I like the fit to build out their defense w/DG.  

4-NYJ: Jermaine Johnson Jr DE FSU
I feel Johnson is high on boards but just hasn’t gotten a ton of press.  Teams love him, he’s a student of the game and I just like the energy he has about him.  Would really boost that Jets defense for Saleh.  And remember how the 49ers built out that defense for him at his last gig.  Important year for this franchise to take a step forward, get a top guy at a critical position.

5-NYG: Evan Neal OT Bama
Schoen & Daboll need to see what they can do with Jones and the best way for that is to protect him.  Yes, they have Thomas but Neal is a plug and play RT in the pros and would really make a solid line for the G-men.

6-CAR: Ickey Ekwonu OT NC State 

We obviously want to try and trade out if it makes sense, but this scenario makes the pick easy--That alternate here would be a trade w/SEA or BAL who may want Thib or Walker. (Alternate: CAR receives pick 9 & 41, SEA picks Thibodeaux at #6)

7-NYG: Kayvon Thibodeaux DE Oregon
Big decision for the Giants if they want to secure their preferred OL or DL before the Panthers who could either be trading down for a team wanting Kayvon/Walker or taking an OT they may want.  Interesting dilemma.  

8-ATL: Travon Walker DT UGA
Even though he’s been this consensus super riser in this draft, I just don’t see the upside as a pass rusher out of the gate.  Tons of potential, but if the rumors are true how coveted Sauce and Stingley are, this could very well happen.  Walker stays in Georgia.

9-SEA: Kyle Hamilton S NDU
Would be a very good foundation piece to build that defense with.

10-NYJ: Jameson Williams WR Bama
Zach Wilson needs help, they’ve got some promising linemen, but he needs weapons.  Could see Jameson pairing really well in a growing Jets offense.  This is the draft they help shape one around Zach.  My favorite WR is Wilson, but Williams is a good fit here.

11-WAS: Drake London WR USC
Mini-run on WRs.  I want to give them a QB, but they apparently wanted Wentz.  Next best thing is to pair London with McLaurin, Gibson, and Thomas in that offense.  Not huge on London, but I see WAS liking him as a fit in that offense.  They also tend to pick someone ranked high, but not the one you'd expect.

12-MIN: Jordan Davis DT UGA
CB is their big need but McDuffie doesn’t make sense for them considering who’s available.  Interior DL is also needed up there.  Would be a great choice.

13-HOU: Charles Cross OT Miss St
I can’t imagine Cross falling much further than around the mid-teens.  Texans need help everywhere.  If they go D early, I would expect to see something like this.  They don’t seem to really value WRs.

14-BAL: Devin Lloyd LB Utah
Whoever ends up with Lloyd is going to be a very happy team.  And by golly, he seems like a perfect fit on the Ravens and more of what they wanted when they chose Patrick Queen.  This pick would go a long way to re-establishing a great defense there.

15-PHI: Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State
The Eagles finally pick the correct WR in a draft, who in this case, happens to be a lifelong, diehard Eagles fan.  Match made in heaven right here.

16-NO: Demond Ridder QB CIN
Boom.  Nope, not Pickett, not Willis, but Ridder.  NO goes for the higher IQ, football loving kid who really checks nearly all the boxes. May seem inconsistent but if everything we're hearing is right about teams falling for Ridder the most, he'll be the first gone.

17-LAC: Tyler Smith OT Tulsa
A bi of a surprise going before Raimann and Penning, but I love Smith as a plug and play for this line.  Could really round out a solid OL for Herbert and company.  A pick like Smith could go a long way to build them into a contender in a tough division.

18-PHI: Trenton McDuffie CB Washington
He’s been reportedly well tied to the Eagles through the draft process.  Solid add.

19-NO: Chris Olave WR Ohio State
Time to start rebuilding that offense.  With Ridder competing with Winston, think Olave would be a very wise addition to that team.  Wouldn't like it for us but it's a nice fit.

20-PIT: Malik Willis QB Liberty
All the PIT-Willis buzz is true, it’s expected, and it makes sense.  Tomlin deserves to get a high upside mobile QB project for himself.  

21-NE: George Karlaftis DE Purdue
This is the guy that passes the New England smell test for me. Considered Dean, but his limitations may make him drop a bit.  They tend to make somewhat different picks, can see this one happening.

22-GB: Treylon Burks WR AK
They get a WR to replace Adams early.  Rodgers finally gets some WR help high up in the draft.  

23-AZ: Devonte Wyatt DL UGA
They need interior DL help to compliment good vets on the edge.  

24-DAL: Trevor Penning OT Northern Iowa
A kid with this much upside shouldn’t last much longer.  Would be a really smart decision for the Boys.

25-BUF: Zion Johnson OG Boston College
Bills go after a very smart addition to have on their line.  They’ve got Davis & Knox breaking out paired with Diggs.  They need to protect Allen and stay ahead of the OL game.

26-TEN: Christian Watson WR ND State
I was tempted to go Pickett but just don’t see this front office gambling on him.  Continue to build out that offense.  The defense was much improved, they’re close but need more spark on offense to get past the hump.

27-TB: Kenyon Green G Texas A&M
Fills a need for helping Brady win one more SB.  

28-GB: Daxton Hill S Michigan
One of my first “reaches” but it won’t seem like one come midseason.

29-KC: Skyy Moore WR Western Michigan
Teams love Skyy Moore.  He’s not making it out of R1.  And boy would he love to catch balls from Mahomes.

30-KC: Josh Paschal DE Kentucky
I really like this fit. Paschal is another dude many teams are high on.  The Chiefs would walk away with 2 awesome picks at 29 & 30.

31-CIN Kyler Gordon CB Washington
This next tier of CBs have potential, with Gordon having the highest ceiling.  Bengals are all about those types right now.  Would be a great addition.

32-DET Nakobe Dean LB UGA
Popular spot for a QB but a leader for their defense is just as good for that 5th year option.

 

Notables Omitted:
Kenny Pickett QB
Tyler Linderbaum C
Matt Corral QB
Sam Howell QB
Bernhard Raimann OT/G
David Ojabo DE
Bryan Cook S
Running Backs
 

As mentioned, if we trade down and gain a second, I can see a trade up with new capital to ensure Corral or Howell high round 2.

Cheers, have a solid weekend peeps.

[Wolfcop]

Would love to get Ickey. The OL would be set!

[jb2288]

Don’t get the Ickey love. He’s a distant third imo, but I’d trust the coaches and be happy with any of the 3 OT 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Not bad I can def see this happening 

[davos]

19 minutes ago, jb2288 said:

Don’t get the Ickey love. He’s a distant third imo, but I’d trust the coaches and be happy with any of the 3 OT 

I think Cross could happen and him that low is not indicative of his rank. There may be truth to him at #1 on the Giants board. Both him and Ickey check a lot of boxes. Just depends on what you want out of the gate. Think Ickey will have the best blend of power and technique over time if he stays on his trajectory. Seems really built to handle modern DEs.

[jb2288]

2 minutes ago, davos said:

I think Cross could happen and him that low is not indicative of his rank. There may be truth to him at #1 on the Giants board. Both him and Ickey check a lot of boxes. Just depends on what you want out of the gate. Think Ickey will have the best blend of power and technique over time if he stays on his trajectory. Seems really built to handle modern DEs.

Yeah, cross is my run away #1 I’d love if he fell to us. Feels like he’s also the best pure LT, but I will admit an SEC West LT playing in a pass first offense gives me PTSD

[TheSpecialJuan]

Keep hearing NYG and CAR connected to Mississippi St OT Charles Cross. It’s lying season so take it FWIW. If true, NYG should take Cross at 5, knowing CAR is likely to go OT or QB at 6. Then NYG gets same EDGE at 7 as it would’ve gotten at 5. Only potential flaw = CAR trading 6.

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) April 23, 2022

[davos]

1 minute ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Keep hearing NYG and CAR connected to Mississippi St OT Charles Cross. It’s lying season so take it FWIW. If true, NYG should take Cross at 5, knowing CAR is likely to go OT or QB at 6. Then NYG gets same EDGE at 7 as it would’ve gotten at 5. Only potential flaw = CAR trading 6.

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) April 23, 2022

Haha yep. That’s the scenario I referenced at pick 7 for NYG. Even though we’re sandwiched by them, it actually could help us have them pick a DE if they think we’re trading back.

The CB buzz has me thinking it could easily be the case. It’s a bit of a game NYG and us will be playing.

[Basbear]

good as any others. always a fan of anyone that sports that avatar @davos

 

One part I can pick apart is Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State, he could /should go top 5, but waaaaay before 15th. The league changed this off-season for WR value. WRs have the QB deal of being over-valued now... Move up all WR including the bama Jameson Williams who should go top 10 even with a ACL in the bowl game......

 

[Camp Fodder]

5 hours ago, jb2288 said:

Don’t get the Ickey love. He’s a distant third imo, but I’d trust the coaches and be happy with any of the 3 OT 

You trust the coaches?  I assume you mean Campen but it’s not his call

[Pimpdaddy]

...You know fhule is doubling down on Pickett... All the conjecture of this, that and the other ain't happening.... we know his ass... Not sure I like all those braces on Ekwonu's knees at this juncture of his career...

Edited April 23, 2022 by Pimpdaddy

[Panthers Rhule]

After watching the Camden interview I want Ikey if he's available. I already liked him but ole' Camden lit my LT fire back up again and Ikey plays hard like he enjoys it. I think he would flourish under Camden and our OL will be solid and perhaps even a strength. Regardless of who is playing QB then it will matter less because we will be able to run the ball and with our D that should be good for more than 5 wins. If we have to we can shoot for a QB next year as we won't have any more excuses as it will be the last piece. 

[Wolfcop]

Those closest to the Panthers don't think that Pickett is an option. I hope they are correct. 

[mc52beast]

I really don’t see why Rhule would want any of the qb’s in this draft unless they’re planning on getting Jimmy or Baker and think they can win him enough games to save his job.