We are officially less than a week away from the 2023 NFL Draft, which means that we have time for one more mock draft before the Carolina Panthers are officially on the clock. We know that the franchise is going to draft a quarterback with the first-overall pick, but who will it be, and what support will they provide for the new face of the franchise?
Note that this exercise was performed using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator. If the player was on the board when the Panthers were on the clock, they were fair game. Also note that this Panthers mock draft does not include trades.
Seven-Round Carolina Panthers Mock Draft
First Round (1st Overall): Bryce Young, QB
Far and away the easiest pick in this Panthers mock draft, Carolina is doing the smart thing and taking the quarterback with the best combination of floor and ceiling. While C.J. Stroud could have a good career, Bryce Young is the better prospect and deserves to be the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Second Round (39th Overall): Dalton Kincaid, TE
The Carolina Panthers have not had a good tight end since Greg Olsen, and that finally changes in this mock draft. Hayden Hurst is a fine stopgap, but he lacks the elite ceiling of Dalton Kincaid. An elite pass-catcher with insane measurables, Kincaid has the potential to be one of the three or four best tight ends in the league when all is said and done. He will probably need a year before he’s ready to be a regular contributor (as all tight ends do), but he could be a star as soon as 2024.
Dalton Kincaid NFL Draft Profile
Utah TE Dalton Kincaid had himself a day against USC.
Here are all 16 catches (on 16 targets) by Kincaid. pic.twitter.com/P5t5TG4bdv
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 22, 2023
Third Round (93rd Overall): Ji’Ayir Brown, S
Versatility is the name of the game in the modern NFL, and Ji’Ayir Brown’s ability to do a little bit of everything could make him a valuable chess piece in this defense. While he is at his best near the line of the scrimmage, he can drop back into coverage and defend against tight ends and slot receivers while reading a quarterback to mitigate his relatively underwhelming speed.
Ji’Ayir Brown NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (114th Overall): Roschon Johnson, RB
Roschon Johnson never won the starting job in college, but who can blame him when he was battling against Bijan Robinson? Johnson might be the same generational talent as his teammate, but he’s still a physical runner that can break tackles and took fewer hits than most in college. This mock draft doesn’t change the fact that Miles Sanders will be the lead back for the Panthers, but Johnson can be a reliable backup that can start in the event injury strikes.
Roschon Johnson NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (132nd Overall): Jonathan Mingo, WR
Opinions on Jonathan Mingo are going to vary dramatically depending on what you value in a prospect. On paper, Mingo is a phenomenal athlete that has the physical potential to do just about anything on the NFL field. However, he hasn’t played up to his potential in college, but late in the fourth round, he’s easily worth a gamble. If the Panthers can unleash his untapped potential, then he could become the steal of this mock draft.
Jonathan Mingo NFL Draft Profile
Don’t sleep on @OleMissFB WR Jonathan Mingo 💤 👀
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft — Starts Thursday, April 27 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/PwyqhGsyrB— NFL (@NFL) April 19, 2023
Fifth Round (145th Overall): Jaquelin Roy, DT
Jaquelin Roy is the definition of a good-but-not-great rotational defensive lineman. Roy is fast off the snap and can squeeze by interior offensive linemen, but he lacks the athleticism and strength to ever develop into anything more than just a rotational player. However, at this point in the mock draft, the Panthers should be thrilled to have a decent contributor readily available.
Jaquelin Roy NFL Draft Profile
Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. – USA Today Sports
