NFL Mock: Panthers Spend 19th Pick on Prospect Not Even Considered 1st-Rounder

The Carolina Panthers have had their fair share of draft mistakes, sometimes taking players in the first round that had no business being first-round prospects. Xavier Legette is a recent example, but Vernon Butler is perhaps the best (worst) example of the Panthers doing that.

In the latest mock draft from NFL.com's Nick Shook, the Panthers make a huge mistake. Some of these mock drafts have had curious selections due to positional fit or injury risks. This one just involves spending a first-round pick on a prospect who most agree is a second-round player.

Panthers make foolish Lee Hunter selection in mock draft

Texas Tech's Lee Hunter runs to the sideline after making a tackle against BYU | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Panthers are picking 19th in this month's draft, which means they will miss out on the elite prospects. They can still get very good players, though, but that's not what Nick Shook is predicting.

His first mock draft has them taking Texas Tech IDL Lee Hunter to pair with Derrick Brown. We're as surprised as you are.

"Adding an excellent run defender next to ascending pass rusher Derrick Brown makes the most sense for a Panthers defense that already upgraded at edge rusher and inside linebacker this offseason. The potential of shaping the interior into a dynamic brick wall convinces former linebacker and current Panthers GM Dan Morgan to turn in the card," Shook said.

This is all well and good, but Hunter's not a first-round prospect. In fact, he's not really close to being one. The pre-draft rankings from almost everyone almost universally agree on that fact.

Here are Hunter's Big Board rankings:

PFF: 39
Tankathon: 46
Bleacher Report: 35
CBS Sports: 21
NFL (Daniel Jeremiah): 36
ESPN: 67
FOX Sports: 58
FOX Sports (Joel Klatt): 36
The Ringer: 46
The Athletic: 60

Only one outlet has him as a first-rounder. Every other NFL analyst believes he's a mid-second-round prospect, so the Panthers should not be considering him in the first round whatsoever. In this mock, they passed on:

CB Avieon Terrell
OT Monroe Freeling
WR Omar Cooper Jr.
OT Blake Miller
WR Jordyn Tyson
EDGE Keldric Faulk
TE Kenyon Sadiq

Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) talks to an official | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

It would be stunning if the Panthers passed on a number of those prospects, namely Tyson and Sadiq. But any of them would represent a better pick and more value than taking Hunter with the 19th pick.

The desire to beef up the interior is understandable and commendable, but the Panthers would probably be able to draft any of the above prospects and get Hunter with the 51st pick since that's his actual range.