7 rd mock from superbowl nation

[raleigh-panther]

1.8: Shemar Stewart, EDGE — Texas A&M

There are a lot of pass rushers in this class, but only two I believe can become transcendent talents: Abdul Carter and Shemar Stewart. This is a pick that has serious boom-or-bust elements to it, which is why Stewart will almost assuredly be available at No. 8, rather than being a Top 3 pick.

Why Stewart didn’t produce in college is an absolute mystery based on his unicorn physical traits. That’s the biggest red flag here. However, the Panthers are a team that likes to take physical outliers with the belief they can coach them into the players they want them to be.

If Carolina can do this with Stewart there’s a very real chance he could emulate former Aggie Von Miller and have a similar impact in the NFL. Yes, he’s potentially that good, and the Panthers won’t pass on that upside — even if it feels like a reach on draft night.

2.57: Benjamin Morrison, CB — Notre Dame

The possibility of a defensive lineman looms large here, but in my simulated mocks the class didn’t break in a way that allowed it to happen with the 57th pick. Instead the Panthers sure up their secondary with Morrison, who could easily start on the outside across from Jaycee Horn.

Pass defense was a big issue for Carolina a year ago and while their tendency is to work inside-out and use pressure as pseudo pass defense, they can’t afford to go into the season with their secondary depth chart as it currently stands. 

Morrison is a ball hawk who can help the Panthers win the turnover battle, which is a great trait considering that Bryce Young has become a fairly reliable hand under center who doesn’t throw a lot of picks. 

3.74: Jayden Higgins, WR — Iowa State

Much in the vein of the Shemar Stewart pick, this follows the Panthers’ ideal that you can’t teach size. At 6-4, 215 pounds there are shades of a poor man’s Mike Evans here — and that will intrigue Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.

Higgins is far from the perfect prospect, and at this point he will need a focused, limited system that doesn’t ask him to do too much initially. That makes Carolina a solid home where he’ll be the fourth receiver out of the gate behind Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker.

The idea wouldn’t be for Higgins to contribute greatly in year one, but put himself in a position to become the No. 3 option when Thielen presumably retires from the league after the 2025 season. Another “we can coach him up” pick, this is a solid place to get a big-bodied target for Young.

4.111: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB — South Carolina

Making the difficult decision to part ways with team leader Shaq Thompson was a necessary pain point of the offseason. Now the draft affords the Panthers a chance to find his replacement.

Carolina needs a tackling machine to pair with Josey Jewell inside the Panthers’ 3-4 defense — and Knight Jr. is an ideal fit for everything the Panthers like from their inside backers. He’s smart, instinctual, and while he might not have top-tier athleticism, he’s playing a position which doesn’t necessarily require elite measurables. 

When there’s a chance you can land a reliable starter in the fourth round or later, you take it. It’s for this reason I think the former Gamecock would be a great addition to the defense.

4.114: Kevin Winston Jr, S — Penn State

A raw prospect, but the kind of player the Panthers love in the back-end of the draft. Missed the 2024 season due to injury, but that hasn’t scared Carolina in the past. This is another physical tools type guy who has the potential to be coached up.

Filling the secondary with depth should be a major focus for the Panthers in the draft, and Winston Jr. is an upside player who could very easily develop into a starter. 

5.140: Jordan Phillips, DT — Maryland

Projects primarily as a run gap stuffer in the pros, Phillips is a back-end pick designed to add to the DL rotation as the team gets older. Can immediately have a place thanks to his high football IQ, and while he’s not the most athletic player in the class, coaches have praised his work ethic.

5.146: Jamaree Caldwell, DT — Oregon

A big-bodied nose tackle with the potential to develop into Shy Tuttle’s replacement in the 3-4 front with coaching. Caldwell can eat space, but has also shown limited flashes as a pass rusher — which could allow for for scheme flexibility.

5.163: Barryn Sorrell, EDGE — Texas

Sorrell is somewhat technique limited, but ranked in the Top 10 among defensive ends at the combine in athleticism rankings. In the NFL he projects as a 3-4 linebacker with a solid toolbox of pass rushing moves, though his future could be limited as he lacks elite top-end speed. Still, he can find a place as a rotational linebacker.

7.230: O’Donnell Fortune, CB — South Carolina

A long, slender cornerback with some ball hawk traits. Fortune is a depth defensive back with the ability to play zone in obvious pass schemes. At best could develop into a nickel, but this pick is about providing defensive options for Ejiro Evero.

[MHS831]

thanks for sharing-this would send some Huddlers to a bridge....I try to see the logic, and Morgan is still pretty much an unknown--do we know for a fact that Tepper was not lurking last year? 

[jb2288]

Really like this draft if you replace 8 with Graham or a trade down and get Walker or Warren. With our track record of coaching up RAS guys I want nothing to do with Stewart 

[L-TownCat]

I mean… that’s certainly a mock draft.

[MHS831]

15 minutes ago, raleigh-panther said:

1.8: Shemar Stewart, EDGE — Texas A&M

There are a lot of pass rushers in this class, but only two I believe can become transcendent talents: Abdul Carter and Shemar Stewart. This is a pick that has serious boom-or-bust elements to it, which is why Stewart will almost assuredly be available at No. 8, rather than being a Top 3 pick.

Why Stewart didn’t produce in college is an absolute mystery based on his unicorn physical traits. That’s the biggest red flag here. However, the Panthers are a team that likes to take physical outliers with the belief they can coach them into the players they want them to be.

If Carolina can do this with Stewart there’s a very real chance he could emulate former Aggie Von Miller and have a similar impact in the NFL. Yes, he’s potentially that good, and the Panthers won’t pass on that upside — even if it feels like a reach on draft night.

2.57: Benjamin Morrison, CB — Notre Dame

The possibility of a defensive lineman looms large here, but in my simulated mocks the class didn’t break in a way that allowed it to happen with the 57th pick. Instead the Panthers sure up their secondary with Morrison, who could easily start on the outside across from Jaycee Horn.

Pass defense was a big issue for Carolina a year ago and while their tendency is to work inside-out and use pressure as pseudo pass defense, they can’t afford to go into the season with their secondary depth chart as it currently stands. 

Morrison is a ball hawk who can help the Panthers win the turnover battle, which is a great trait considering that Bryce Young has become a fairly reliable hand under center who doesn’t throw a lot of picks. 

3.74: Jayden Higgins, WR — Iowa State

Much in the vein of the Shemar Stewart pick, this follows the Panthers’ ideal that you can’t teach size. At 6-4, 215 pounds there are shades of a poor man’s Mike Evans here — and that will intrigue Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.

Higgins is far from the perfect prospect, and at this point he will need a focused, limited system that doesn’t ask him to do too much initially. That makes Carolina a solid home where he’ll be the fourth receiver out of the gate behind Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker.

The idea wouldn’t be for Higgins to contribute greatly in year one, but put himself in a position to become the No. 3 option when Thielen presumably retires from the league after the 2025 season. Another “we can coach him up” pick, this is a solid place to get a big-bodied target for Young.

4.111: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB — South Carolina

Making the difficult decision to part ways with team leader Shaq Thompson was a necessary pain point of the offseason. Now the draft affords the Panthers a chance to find his replacement.

Carolina needs a tackling machine to pair with Josey Jewell inside the Panthers’ 3-4 defense — and Knight Jr. is an ideal fit for everything the Panthers like from their inside backers. He’s smart, instinctual, and while he might not have top-tier athleticism, he’s playing a position which doesn’t necessarily require elite measurables. 

When there’s a chance you can land a reliable starter in the fourth round or later, you take it. It’s for this reason I think the former Gamecock would be a great addition to the defense.

4.114: Kevin Winston Jr, S — Penn State

A raw prospect, but the kind of player the Panthers love in the back-end of the draft. Missed the 2024 season due to injury, but that hasn’t scared Carolina in the past. This is another physical tools type guy who has the potential to be coached up.

Filling the secondary with depth should be a major focus for the Panthers in the draft, and Winston Jr. is an upside player who could very easily develop into a starter. 

5.140: Jordan Phillips, DT — Maryland

Projects primarily as a run gap stuffer in the pros, Phillips is a back-end pick designed to add to the DL rotation as the team gets older. Can immediately have a place thanks to his high football IQ, and while he’s not the most athletic player in the class, coaches have praised his work ethic.

5.146: Jamaree Caldwell, DT — Oregon

A big-bodied nose tackle with the potential to develop into Shy Tuttle’s replacement in the 3-4 front with coaching. Caldwell can eat space, but has also shown limited flashes as a pass rusher — which could allow for for scheme flexibility.

5.163: Barryn Sorrell, EDGE — Texas

Sorrell is somewhat technique limited, but ranked in the Top 10 among defensive ends at the combine in athleticism rankings. In the NFL he projects as a 3-4 linebacker with a solid toolbox of pass rushing moves, though his future could be limited as he lacks elite top-end speed. Still, he can find a place as a rotational linebacker.

7.230: O’Donnell Fortune, CB — South Carolina

A long, slender cornerback with some ball hawk traits. Fortune is a depth defensive back with the ability to play zone in obvious pass schemes. At best could develop into a nickel, but this pick is about providing defensive options for Ejiro Evero.

After the first pick, I could get on board with this.

[MHS831]

1 minute ago, jb2288 said:

Really like this draft if you replace 8 with Graham or a trade down and get Walker or Warren. With our track record of coaching up RAS guys I want nothing to do with Stewart 

boom or bust--not worth the risk--was he boom or bust at TexAM?  he sorta busted based on his potential.

[Steves89]

first round mock is trash. Not because the Stewart pick is trash (though it is), but because the explanation is basically an admission that they don’t watch tape or know what they are talking about. 

Edited March 31 by Steves89

[ChuckWag78]

Yea, not going to argue the first round, but picks in rounds 2 - 4 would have me LOVING this draft. 

[45catfan]

Meh.

[Ornias]

When was the last time the Panthers coached up anyone?

Edited March 31 by Ornias

[MHS831]

I see 2 CBs and 1 S--I do not see a T, and I think most true fans probably have an OL of some sort in the mix....With Brown Brown Wharton and Robinson, I am not seeing the need for 2 DTs...Have we addressed our Edge concerns? Not based on college production

12 minutes ago, Ornias said:

When was the last time the Panthers coached up anyone?

Young, Zavala, Mays, Luvu, Ekwonu, Hubbard, M. Jackson, Coker

Edited March 31 by MHS831

[TheSpecialJuan]

I'd love it but I get the feeling Panthers currently do not consider Stewart a top 10 pick

[Newbie]

I can’t remember the last time any coaching staff of this organization ever “coached a player up.” If they didn’t produce in college, I guarantee you, they won’t produce here. 

[CPcavedweller]

I don’t see Warren so I quit reading.