Panthers Projected to Trade Up for Receiver in Expert's Latest Mock Draft
Now that the NFL Combine is finished, mock draft season has started in earnest. Prognosticators across the internet have dropped their predictions for the NFL Draft and even though Carolina doesn't have a first round pick, Dane Brugler of The Athletic thinks the Panthers will trade up to select a new weapon for Bryce Young.
In his first post-Combine mock draft, Brugler has Carolina trading the 33rd overall pick and the 141st overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the 30th overall pick. With the selection they traded up for, Brugler mocks Ladd McConkey to Carolina.
"The Panthers have to get better on the offensive line, but they also have to add weapons who can get open and give Bryce Young a target. McConkey, who can play both inside and outside, is arguably the best in this draft class at creating space with his crisp route running and electric speed/quickness. In this scenario, Carolina doesn’t let the Chiefs snatch up McConkey. First-year general manager Dan Morgan moves up and gets his guy."
The selection of McConkey would be a home run. The Georgia Bulldog wide receiver has been billed as a slot receiver by most media, but he can play all over the field. His size is below-average, but his elite route-running skills and speed wash any size concerns away. McConkey could line up on the outside across from Adam Thielen with Jonathan Mingo in the slot and give Young three weapons to throw the ball to.
Our own Schuyler Callihan wrote earlier this week that trading up for a wide receiver would be a mistake for Carolina. I tend to agree with him. General manager Dan Morgan stated publicly earlier this week that Carolina has no interest in trading up.
For a team with needs that extend way past wide receiver, a trade up would handicap the team's roster-building ability this offseason. Brugler disagrees. Carolina's options at 33 are limitless, and we'll see which direction they choose in just a few weeks.
