Panthers’ Draft Review – Cautiously Aggressive

It is fitting that the NFL Draft is held in the middle of spring. Not only because of how well it fits into the league’s calendar, but because spring is the time of renewed hope. Life from dormancy. A team coming off a 2-15 record, worst in the league, is as close to dormant as a franchise still in existence can be. The Carolina Panthers were bad last season. Historically bad. A team that finishes with 13 more losses than victories in a 17 game schedule has holes everywhere. The draft affords General Manager Dan Morgan his second significant opportunity to begin patching those holes.

Morgan could approach the draft aggressively knowing that he was in his first year on the job and any big swings that did not pan out could be chalked up to trying to accelerate the Panthers’ rebuilding efforts. He could make use of assets not just in this draft, but future drafts, calculating that his team will be drafting near the top of each round for the next few years. He entered the beginning of the draft Thursday night with six picks but not a first rounder among them. By the time the draft concluded Sunday evening, he had chosen seven players, including one in the first round.

As the first round unfolded, players previously mocked to go in the middle of the first round began sliding towards round two. This put Morgan in the enviable position of offering the first pick in round two, 33rd overall, to a team closer to contention that might overpay for that one last piece. Instead, Morgan swapped places with Buffalo for pick 32 and selected South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. The move was odd at the time. In the NFL, wide receivers are the most likely to not receive a second contract from their drafting teams. A fifth-year option for a wide receiver is not that coveted. However, as day two unfolded, reports began to surface that the New England Patriots also desired Legette. Morgan knew job #1 was to get weapons for hopeful franchise QB Bryce Young. If Legette was the highest rated WR on his board, he was obligated to bring him into the fold.

Legette is still a little raw in his talents. He did not become a true prospect until his last season for the Gamecocks. In that sense, he is like last year’s draft pick Jonathan Mingo. The comparisons end there. Legette learned to use his size, 6’3”, 227 pounds, to win contested catches. His burst and strength should allow him to gain separation from defenders, easing Young’s need to throw into tight windows. He can also return punts and kicks, having taken a kickoff back for a touchdown. He has accumulated dozens of awards that demonstrate leadership and on- field excellence. His resume is indicative of a building block the Panthers must have if they are to turn things around. Most importantly, he provides Young with a desperately needed bona fide #1 option. The results may not show themselves in year one, but all the physical attributes are there for a threat in the passing attack.

Morgan continued to keep observers off guard with his first pick on day two, when at the 46th overall position, he tabbed Texas RB Jonathon Brooks. He stunned running back needy teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, whom he traded up to get in front of, with this pick. Of all the holes on the Panthers’ roster, running back was not near the top with serviceable veterans Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in house. But the value of the top ranked running back in the draft there for the taking was too much for Morgan to ignore. Carolina’s offensive line is a work in progress, to be generous. Backs are going to get hammered. By giving Head Coach Dave Canales three backs to rotate should keep them all healthy and fresh deep into games and late in the season. Brooks also gives new Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik a legitimate home run threat both rushing and pass receiving. Without an extensive portfolio of production, Brooks is an enigma. The fact that he missed snaps last season undoubtedly lowered his draft stock and raised red flags. Brooks is the type of prospect a rebuilding franchise will take a chance on hoping to hit the jackpot.

Any team with a bad record is usually deficient on both sides of the ball. Failure cannot be laid at the foot of the offense alone. The Panthers surrendered 416 points last season, fourth highest in the NFL. More talent needs to be injected into Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero’s scheme. Morgan’s first step in doing this was to add multiple veteran free agent signings this off-season, led by former Pro Bowl LB Jadeveon Clowney. Primarily, these were short-term contracts for players past their prime. Youth and athleticism would also be needed to be grafted onto the defensive roster. Enter 3rd round, 72nd overall selection, LB Trevin Wallace from Kentucky. Wallace is a veteran of 35 games for the Wildcats in three years. He recorded 166 tackles, 18 for loss, in his time In Lexington. He sacked the QB 10 times. He broke up one pass and intercepted three. He forced two fumbles and recovered one. He was productive while playing in the rugged SEC. He was a team captain for the Wildcats in his final season. He posted a score of 9.34 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), ranking 193rd out of 2,889 linebackers scored since 1987. He is a sure and willing tackler. If the Panthers’ staff can smooth out his rough edges, they may have found their middle linebacker for the next dozen years.

One of the best friends a young quarterback can have is a reliable tight end. The lack of one last season hindered Young. His QBR when targeting the tight end was 44.8, which was lowest among all QBs. Morgan hopes his pick in round four, 101st overall, Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders solves the issue. The 6’4”, 245 pounder ran a 4.69 40 yard dash. He was ranked second among tight ends in both production (87) and overall score (81) according to the NFL Next Gen Stats Model. They project him to be an eventual plus starter. Sanders displays crisp cuts and explodes out of breaks. He gets on top of defensive backs quickly but lacks ideal strength to take on linebackers effectively. With the improved wide receiver room of Legette, Mingo, and veteran Diontae Johnson occupying defenders, Sanders’ athletic ability allows him to find open space for big gains and relieve pressure on Young.

Morgan spent the remainder of the draft selecting players to provide depth or special teams prowess. The possibility exists that any of these players could become meaningful contributors on offense and defense. Any contribution added down the road would be considered a bonus. The benefit these players have is that joining a team like the Panthers provides greater success of making the 53 man roster.

Fifth round, 157th overall CB Chau Smith-Wade had his draft stock impacted by missing his final five games at Washington State due to injury. He played significant minutes since his freshman season. In four years in Pullman, he made 103 tackles, six for loss, and intercepted 3 passes. He has quick feet as evidenced by 4.32 second shuttle time. He is limited by his 5’10”. 184 pound frame. He will be a special teams contributor and situational cornerback on passing downs.

DT Jaden Crumedy from Mississippi State was drafted in the 6th round, 200th overall. If Crumedy makes the final roster, he will spend his rookie season sitting behind veterans and learning the position at the pro level. He has a prototypical interior lineman body at 6’4” and 301 pounds. He is athletic, having an RAS of 8.62 which is 225th out of 1,620 defensive tackles who have been tested since 1987. His run defense is more advanced than his pass rush. He can get manhandled in tight spaces. His flaws can be coached out of him, allowing him to eventually be a three down player. He is mobile and strong enough to spend more than a handful of years on NFL rosters participating in special teams.

If an organization is to become a contender, physical skills are obviously needed. However, injecting a winning attitude in the locker room is also required. What better way than accomplishing that goal than by drafting a member of the newly crowned national champions, the Michigan Wolverines? Morgan’s final pick was in the 6th round, 240th overall in the form of LB Michael Barrett. Barrett was the all-time winningest player on the all-time winningest Division I football program. He was a team captain in Ann Arbor and a two time All-Big Ten selection. He has his degree and began working towards a graduate degree. Surrounded by elite defenders, Barrett still carved out 208 tackles with 8.5 sacks. He had a pick six in 2022 and saw time on special teams. He will hold teammates accountable and lead by example. It would not be a surprise to see him be a team captain at the next level.

Grading a team’s draft before a single introductory meeting is a fool’s errand. Injuries, attitudes, and roster additions can all derail a prospects progress. Any sound evaluation of a draft takes multiple years. If there is a criticism to be made of this draft, it is Morgan not taking a big swing at a high-risk, high-reward selection. Especially when that pick is in one’s own backyard. Morgan had multiple chances to draft NC State LB Payton Wilson, the defending winner of the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive collegiate player. The Charlotte Touchdown Club presents that award less than a five-minute drive from the Panthers’ home of Bank Of America Stadium. Wilson slid to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round due to structural concerns in his knee. Despite that issue, the North Carolina native played in 47 games for the Wolfpack. A selection of Wilson would have given fans a much-needed jolt of excitement. Time will tell if this becomes a “what might have been” scenario.

Note: The Panthers have not announced the dates for their rookie minicamp. It must be held between May 3-6 or May 10-13. The first OTAs begin May 20-21. The mandatory minicamp will be June 11-13. The dates for the official training camp at Bank of America stadium have not yet been determined.

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Emmet Mahon can be reached at emmet@draftcarolina.com