It is the dawning of a new age for the Carolina Panthers. However, the clock on the Panthers new era can not start until they choose their quarterback of the future. With the pick of the litter, pun intended, the Panthers have every option at their disposal. In this Carolina Panthers NFL mock draft we show how one selection could shape their draft.
With three realistic options in front of them, and an additional signal caller who eats bananas with their peels still on, the Panthers have to decide which flavor of ice cream they want to eat for the next 10 to 12 years. Fortunately for the Panthers, this is only a mock draft so we will be doing all the grocery shopping for Tepper, Fitterer, and Reich. But this is a glimpse in what the future could hold in Charlotte.
Seven-Round Carolina Panthers Mock Draft: Which Quarterback Will They Take?
Round 1, Pick No. 1: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
In a draft that is chalk full of outliers, C.J. Stroud is about as close as it gets to a sure thing at the quarterback position. Stroud has the highest floor of any quarterback in the draft from a passing game standpoint and offers enough size and athleticism that you will not be limited from a game plan perspective.
Stroud’s calling card is his accuracy. When in structure, Stroud demonstrates the ability to fire the ball accurately to all three levels of the field. Stroud will need some work on his pocket presence at the next level, but his ability to deliver the ball on time will serve him well in Reich’s offense.
Most importantly, Stroud is not a one throw fits all quarterback. The 21-year-old signal caller has the entire bag of throws at his disposal. From dropping it in a bucket down the boundary, tight window out routes, to feathering in wheel routes, Stroud has the touch as well as the velocity and arm strength to make any throw on the field.
Throughout his tenure at Ohio State, Stroud primarily operated from within the pocket and rarely chose to hurt defenses with his legs. As the NFL evolves so will the demand of the quarterback position, and Stroud will need to find pockets to let his athleticism do the heavy lifting in certain instances. Stroud demonstrated the ability to use his legs as a weapon against Georgia in the National Semi-final but needs to implement that ability on a more consistent basis going forward.
If selected by the Panthers in this mock draft, expect Stroud to be your day-one starter. The Panthers have insulated their coaching staff with an excellent support network for a young quarterback. With Reich at the helm, Josh McCown as the quarterbacks coach, and a veteran voice in Andy Dalton as the backup and sounding board in the quarterback room, C.J. Stroud has everything in place to make a seamless transition.
If you’re an offensive coach for the Texans & don’t believe CJ Stroud possesses the skill sets needed at each layer to a degree of what you’re looking for in a QB prospect,
then it’s either A) I’m blind or B) they’re not the right guys for he job 🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/DYcQiTdpLY
— NaronStradomus (@theTNShow) April 16, 2023
Round 2, Pick No. 39: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
The Panthers are transitioning from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 hybrid front, which puts a greater emphasis on pass rushing off the edge. Incoming defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is inheriting an outstanding pass rusher in Brian Burns to man one of the outside linebacker spots. But in Evero’s scheme, you need multiple players that can pin their ears back and get after opposing quarterbacks.
In this mock draft, the Panthers land Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a scheme-diverse edge rusher out of Kansas State that can win in a myriad of ways to get to the quarterback. Anudike-Uzomah measures in at 6’-3” and 255lbs and was a high-level producer while at Kansas State, registering 20 sacks and eight forced fumbles over a three-year span.
The natural pass rushing abilities he consistently demonstrated: great bend, ability to run the outside arc with proper depth, and finishing capabilities once arriving at the target, all lead to Anudike-Uzomah being a playable piece from day one. With Yetur Gross-Matos penciled in as the outside linebacker opposite of Burns, Anudike-Uzomah could be used as a valuable rotational player and be afforded the time to develop into a starting-caliber player.
Three seasons from now when we look back at the 2023 NFL Draft, Anudike-Uzomah is going to look like a steal. Players like Tyree Wilson and Lucas Van Ness, who will both be first-round selections, will not have near the production of Anudike-Uzomah.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah NFL Draft Profile
Round 3, Pick No. 93: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
When the Panthers made their move to attain the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, they had to offer up their most dynamic wide receiver to seal the deal. When they shipped off D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears they lost more than just a playmaker, Carolina also lost game-altering speed. Well, with the 93rd pick in this mock draft, the Panthers regain some of that missing speed by selecting wide receiver Tyler Scott out of the University of Cincinnati.
Bringing in a natural speedy slot receiver like Scott will round out what is an already intriguing wide receiver room. Scott ran a 4.44-yard 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. But Scott’s tape would suggest that he plays closer to the 4.32 unofficial time he ran at Cincinnati’s pro day.
While on the small side, 5’10” and 177lbs, Scott’s athletic testing paints the picture of a player that could evolve into a starter within a few seasons. In addition to Scott’s 40-yard testing, he recorded a 39.5-inch vertical, an 11’1” broad jump, and a 1.51-second 10-yard split.
Scott, a former high school running back and Junior Olympic sprinter, is electric with the ball in his hands. The Bearcats opted not to use Scott much in their kick return game and not at all as a punt returner, but I would expect that he will get some opportunities in both arenas at the next level.
With Adam Thielen in place to receive a significant portion of the slot snaps, Scott will have the opportunity to sharpen his skills while learning from one of the savvier receivers currently in the game. This is an ideal fit for both Scott and Panthers.
Round 4, Pick No. 114: Jartavius Martin, S/slot, Illinois
This is a pick in the mock draft that should excite Panthers fans. Jartavius “Quan” Martin is an ultra-explosive athlete with immense versatility that would help fill a few roles for the Panthers.
Martin’s rise during the draft cycle started when the 5’11”, 195lb prospect blew up the combine testing. Posting a 44-inch vertical and an 11’1” broad jump, bolstered by a ridiculous 1.47 10-yard split, and 4.46 40-yard dash, Martin’s physical exploits sent scouts running back to check his game tape. The only thing keeping Martin from being a day-two player the fact that he will be 23 years old before the draft.
The Panthers made a significant investment in their safety room when they signed free agent Vonn Bell. It was a pivotal move because it allowed for the Panthers most versatile defender, Jeremy Chinn, to relocate to the nickel back role in Evero’s defense. Adding a player like Martin to the mix will be handing Evero an additional chess piece that could further weaponize Chinn and maximize his capabilities.
Martin has a rare combination of traits that make him a plug-and-play starting-caliber slot defender as well as a rotational free safety from Day 1. With a team that has as many talented defensive backs as the Panthers currently do on their roster, adding a player with Martin’s unique skillset gives Evero flexibility that can be molded to be opponent specific.
Jartavius Martin NFL Draft Profile
Round 4, Pick No. 132: DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB
The Panthers running back room underwent a facelift during free agency. While they lost their power back and leading rusher in D’Onta Foreman, the team added Miles Sanders fresh off a career season in Philadelphia that saw the running back top 1,200 rushing yards.
Now Carolina’s running back room is Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. While both backs are more than capable, the team lacks a hammer in the backfield. That is, until the Panthers add DeWayne McBride from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in this mock draft.
McBride is a downhill thumper who does not seek out contact but is not afraid of it either. He is a one-cut and go back that has a knack for finding daylight at the second level. McBride is a power back with excellent contact balance and a nose for the endzone.
If you are looking for a back that is going to be heavily involved in the passing game, then McBride is not your cup of tea. But with the more well-rounded skillsets of Sanders and Hubbard, a back like McBride is an excellent complement, especially in short-yard situations.
In most years drafts, a player like McBride would not still be sitting on the board on day three, but this year’s running back class is as deep as any in recent memory. The Panthers need to take advantage of the value and take McBride off the board.
DeWayne McBride NFL Draft Profile
Round 5, Pick 145: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
With the Panthers final selection of this mock draft, they take Dorian Williams, a linebacker from Tulane. Williams is exactly what you are looking for in a day-three linebacker. He is a 6’-1”, 225lb athlete with a ton of experience and a significant amount of upside.
Williams is not ready to step into a starting role at the next level, but he is ready to be a standout on special teams that can provide playable depth while he works on some of his deficiencies. Williams is a sufficient tackler but not a thumper at the linebacker position. While is he adept at staying clean through the trash, sometimes his pursuit angles leave him in a disadvantageous position.
But all of Williams’ shortcomings as a football player are fixable. After a year or two in an NFL strength and conditioning program, his frame should fill out an additional five to 10 pounds, which would improve his play strength near the line of scrimmage.
Williams possesses all of the explosion metrics that you want in an inside linebacker: a 4.49 40-yard dash, a 1.54 10-yard split, a 33.5-inch vertical, and 10-foot even broad jump. As a linebacker, Williams is a work in progress, but as a special teamer he will be a fan favorite from the preseason on.
