The Carolina Panthers are certainly geeked up over their 2023 NFL draft class. But how would they feel about their 2023 “win-now” draft class?
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter recently (and hypothetically, of course) threw all the league’s active players in a pool and conducted a seven-round mock. The exercise focuses on shaking up the landscape of the sport and building a competitive foundation for each of its teams.
So, with the order based off 2022’s records while working in a snake format, here’s who Reuter had the Panthers coming away with:
Round 1 (Pick No. 9): QB Dak Prescott
Prescott is still a top-10 quarterback when healthy, so the Panthers make him the next passer off the board.
Lawrence has become one of the top interior defenders in the league because of his nimble feet and low center of gravity.
Barkley looked more like himself in 2022, amassing 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 295 carries. Carolina might offset his rushing workload a bit to use his open-field speed as a receiver.
The former second-round pick came into his own in 2022, so Carolina selects him up to slow down opposing No. 1 receivers.
Round 5 (Pick No. 137): TE Kyle Pitts
After posting 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie, the offensive chess piece struggled a bit in Year 2 before getting injured last November. He is expected to be healthy for camp this summer.
Round 6 (Pick No. 184): LB Khalil Mack
Mack is getting older but still has enough quickness and strength on the edge to be an effective defender.
Round 7 (Pick No. 201): OT Braden Smith
A projected guard coming into the league, Smith has been as solid as they come at right tackle for five seasons.
Panthers selected in mock draft
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Story originally appeared on Panthers Wire