The Carolina Panthers do not have a first-round pick, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely excluded from mock draft season. Thanks to the Brian Burns trade, the team holds two second-round picks and could use either selection to move up – or down – in the 2024 NFL Draft.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr recently released a two-round mock draft, and he believes that the Panthers will be busy with their two selections. According to Kiper, the Panthers will trade the 33rd-overall pick to the New York Giants for the 44th selection. After that, they will use the 39th selection on Georiga wide receiver Ladd McConkey and the 44th-overall pick on Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Panthers Trade Down, Land Two Studs In Latest Mock Draft
Ladd McConkey
This is nothing short of a heist. The Carolina Panthers need a wide receiver, and the great depth at the position is probably why Kiper believes the team would trade down from 33 in this mock draft. If Carolina can pick up an extra pick and still land McConkey, they absolutely should.
Ladd McConkey is a shifty and elusive route runner capable of getting open against just about any coverage and has a natural nose for the red zone. While the Cooper Kupp comparisons are obvious, it’s worth noting the Georgia product is considerably faster than the former All-Pro.
This isn’t to say that Ladd McConkey is going to be better than prime Cooper Kupp. In all likelihood, he probably won’t be. That being said, he should be a reliable starter who can contribute right out of the gate. Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen are fine short-term options, but this mock draft gives the Panthers a legitimate young talent to pair with Bryce Young for the next decade.
Ladd McConkey pro day 😮💨😮💨😮💨 pic.twitter.com/lxRJ7S5UDq
— ZIM (@zimwhodey) April 6, 2024
Jackson Powers-Johnson
Every single general manager in the league needs to be fired if Jackson Powers-Johnson falls to the 44th-overall pick. In terms of talent alone, the Oregon product is one of the top 15 or so players in the class and should play at a Pro Bowl level from Day 1. While most analysts have him falling to the back of the first round due to the relative unimportance of the center position, the Panthers land their second steal in this mock draft.
Bradley Bozeman wasn’t the worst center in the league last year, but he was far from the best. Bryce Young never had a chance to succeed in 2023 thanks to the terrible environment. Now, with the results of free agency and this mock draft, Carolina has successfully created a supporting cast capable of bringing out the best in the young quarterback.
The Ekwonu-Hunt-Powers-Johnson-Lewis-Moton offensive line doesn’t have a weak link and should have no trouble protecting their franchise quarterback. And while nobody would confuse Diontae Johnson, Ladd McConkey, and Adam Thielen with the 2007 Patriots, this is still a solid group of receivers. Hopefully, this Panthers mock draft comes to fruition, as Carolina effectively gets two first-round talents with their second-round picks, and gets another pick from the Giants for good measure.
Main Photo: Joshua L. Jones – USA Today Sports
