NFL Draft Grades - Carolina Panthers
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Carolina Panthers Upcoming 2023 Draft Picks (6)
Grade: B+
This can't be graded poorly because the Panthers finally have a franchise quarterback for the first time since Cam Newton's first stint with the team. However, it worries me that Carolina selected Bryce Young when the coaches preferred C.J. Stroud instead. Young is a terrific quarterback prospect, but he has some major injury concerns because of his Kyler Murray-type build.
Grade: B+
The Panthers overpaid Adam Thielen and also signed D.J. Chark, but they still needed a No. 1 receiver. Jonathan Mingo could qualify as such. He's a huge receiver and a great route runner. I would have preferred Jalin Hyatt, but I still like this pick.
Grade: B+
If you're wondering why Darnell Washington fell, some teams removed him from their draft boards because of serious injury concerns. However, at some point, he's definitely worth a shot, and the Steelers deemed that to be at the end of the third frame. This pick obviously doesn't fill a need, but it doesn't hurt to give Kenny Pickett another talented weapon. We'll just have to see if Washington can stay healthy.
Grade: B
Protecting Bryce Young is obviously incredibly important, and the Panthers needed to improve their blocking. Chandler Zavala fits the range as a Round 4-5 prospect, so this is fine selection.
Grade: B+
The Steelers were 8-2 with T.J. Watt last year, but really struggled without him. Edge-rushing depth was needed, and Nick Herbig is a very talented player who can get good pressure on the quarterback. The problem is that he's small, so he'll have to be a situational pass rusher to start, but I like this value at the end of the fourth round.
Grade: B
Jammie Robinson is great in run support, but can be lost in coverage. The Panthers have struggled to stop the run in recent years, so this pick makes sense.
Walt's Mock Selections as of 6/6/2023 -View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
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The Panthers need a franchise quarterback, which is obviously why they traded up to No. 1 (check my NFL Trade Grades page for more.) They didn't want to settle for the third or fourth option in this class. Instead, they surrendered D.J. Moore and a package of picks to move up for the signal-caller of their choice. That's likely to be Bryce Young because he canceled all of his future visits, probably because he was told by the Panthers that he would be the No. 1 pick. The coaches actually prefer C.J. Stroud, so you have to wonder about the damage owner Ax Tepper is doing with this meddling.
*** OTHER 2023 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. None - It seems as though Young is locked into the top pick even though the coaches wanted Stroud.
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Round: 2
Carolina Panthers: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark are not viable replacements for D.J. Moore. Bryce Young needs a dynamic No. 1 receiver.
Jalin Hyatt had a great season with lots of big plays for Tennessee.
Round: 3
Carolina Panthers: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
The Panthers want to find an upgrade at cornerback, so perhaps they'll select one in Rounds 2-4.
Darius Rush is a big and fast cornerback who has performed well the past two years.
Round: 4
Carolina Panthers: Byron Young, DE/OLB, Tennessee
Carolina's pass rush wasn't the same last year without Haason Reddick, so that will need to be addressed.
Byron Young is undersized, but has dangerous speed and athleticism.
Round: 4
Carolina Panthers: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
The Panthers don't have quality depth on the offensive line, which doesn't sound good, given that they'll have a rookie under center.
Blake Freeland has potential, but is raw and inconsistent at the moment.
Round: 5
Carolina Panthers: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
The Panthers have a miserable receiving corps, so I have to believe that they'll add multiple wideouts during the draft.
Andrei Iosivas has an impressive combination of size and speed.
Past Grades and Selections
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B+ This can't be graded poorly because the Panthers finally have a franchise quarterback for the first time since Cam Newton's first stint with the team. However, it worries me that Carolina selected Bryce Young when the coaches preferred C.J. Stroud instead. Young is a terrific quarterback prospect, but he has some major injury concerns because of his Kyler Murray-type build.
B+ The Panthers overpaid Adam Thielen and also signed D.J. Chark, but they still needed a No. 1 receiver. Jonathan Mingo could qualify as such. He's a huge receiver and a great route runner. I would have preferred Jalin Hyatt, but I still like this pick.
B+ If you're wondering why Darnell Washington fell, some teams removed him from their draft boards because of serious injury concerns. However, at some point, he's definitely worth a shot, and the Steelers deemed that to be at the end of the third frame. This pick obviously doesn't fill a need, but it doesn't hurt to give Kenny Pickett another talented weapon. We'll just have to see if Washington can stay healthy.
B Protecting Bryce Young is obviously incredibly important, and the Panthers needed to improve their blocking. Chandler Zavala fits the range as a Round 4-5 prospect, so this is fine selection.
B+ The Steelers were 8-2 with T.J. Watt last year, but really struggled without him. Edge-rushing depth was needed, and Nick Herbig is a very talented player who can get good pressure on the quarterback. The problem is that he's small, so he'll have to be a situational pass rusher to start, but I like this value at the end of the fourth round.
B Jammie Robinson is great in run support, but can be lost in coverage. The Panthers have struggled to stop the run in recent years, so this pick makes sense.
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A- Grade
The Panthers are getting some value with this pick, as many believed that Ickey Ekwonu could have been the third-overall pick. More importantly, Carolina is taking Ekwonu over a mediocre quarterback prospect, which is the correct decision. The Panthers are better off either trading for Baker Mayfield (assuming the Browns take on some of his salary) or waiting until 2023 to land a quarterback. Either way, this quarterback will have quality protection because of Ekwonu.
A+ Grade
I thought the Panthers would trade future picks for Matt Corral, but would do so in the second round! Getting Corral toward the end of the third frame is amazing value. I don't know why Corral slipped outside of possible injury or character concerns, but this was too far of a drop. He's a legitimate second-round quarterback who might be able to beat out Sam Darnold sooner rather than later.
B+ Grade
Brandon Smith has great athleticism and upside, so I like the Panthers taking a shot on him in the fourth round. He's also a versatile player who will be able to help the Panthers' defense in a number of ways, provided he lives up to his potential.
A Grade
I was told that the Panthers wanted to address their edge-rushing depth with one of their "earlier" picks in this draft. They finally addressed the situation with this pick, and they did so with an incredible value. I had Amare Barno in the third round of my mock in some updates!
A+ Grade
What is happening!? How are these talented cornerbacks falling to the seventh round? As with Kalon Barnes, I had Jaylen Watson projected to the fourth round. The tall cornerback is a great value for the Chiefs in the final frame.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B+ Grade
Many considered the elite non-quarterback prospects in this class to be Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase and the Alabama receivers. Some teams actually had Jaycee Horn in that pantheon, despite Patrick Surtain being a bigger name. Charlie and I have had Horn slotted to the Panthers to No. 8 for a long time for that reason. Horn is a great addition to a secondary that has to cover so many talented receivers in the NFC South.
A Grade
I mocked Teven Jenkins to the Bears at No. 20 in one of my final updates, so I obviously love this value with Teven Jenkins. I also love the pick because the Bears absolutely had to protect Justin Fields. Their offensive line has been in severe decline in recent years, so that seems to be changing.
B+ Grade
The Eagles have a new regime, but they're not done addressing the trenches. They lost talent at defensive tackle this offseason, and Milton Williams was a third-round prospect all the way, so selecting him makes sense. Williams has great upside, so I like this choice.
F Grade
The Lions traded up a whole round for a linebacker I had in the seventh round of my final mock draft. Yeah, not good. There were higher-rated linebackers available like Jabril Cox and Dylan Moses, so I don't understand why the Lions were so impatient.
C+ Grade
Larry Borom was announced as a tackle, but I think he'll have to move to guard in the NFL. This is just fine because the Bears drafted Teven Jenkins and have a need at guard. This is a bit of a reach, but now that we've entered the fifth round, that doesn't matter too much.
C+ Grade
Tarron Jackson was highly productive at Coastal Carolina, but level of competition is obviously a concern. Jackson is a medicore athlete, and I didn't have him in any of my mock drafts.
B Grade
Deonte Brown is a big name who was once in the second round of my mock draft. He's a monstrous run blocker, but there are concerns with his pass protection. He's a very poor athlete, but he'll be a mauler in the trenches.