Carolina Panthers Draft Approach Options

As is true for any rebuilding team, every draft over the next few seasons will be absolutely critical for the Carolina Panthers. They sit without their top pick in the upcoming draft, after the Bears acquired it in the Bryce Young trade. This means the Panthers are scheduled to go on the clock for the first time with the first pick of the second round, which sits at 33rd overall. Thanks to the Brian Burns deal, they pick again just six selections later, at 39. Despite a less-than-ideal setup for a team that disappointed last year, Carolina has a range of options heading into draft day.

Stick and Pick

The most obvious option for the Panthers is to stay where they’re at, and take two top 40 players. With a roster that clearly needs to add some young stars, these two picks give them an opportunity to do just that. The two most commonly discussed holes on the roster lie at the positions of wide receiver and edge rusher. In a draft class stacked with talent at both spots, the Panthers could quickly pick up two promising young guns.

It’s a favorable situation, especially considering where they sit in the draft order. If they’re exceedingly confident in the class’ depth at either position, they could also wait on one of those needs for a later pick. This would free them up to grab a cornerback or offensive lineman with one of the top 40 selections. Given Carolina’s desperate need to find top tier talent, this route is most likely what fans will see at the end of April.

Trade Up

One of the hottest topics in NFL media right now is what the Vikings will do with their two first round picks. Minnesota sent away three draft picks, including a second-rounder next season, in order to acquire the 23rd pick from the Texans. Many speculate they’ll combine this pick, along with the 11th overall, to move into the top five and draft a quarterback. An idea that few fans are discussing is that the Panthers have set themselves up similarly. They have a different outlook than the Vikings, possessing a far weaker roster, but the possibility remains.

If Carolina spots a prospect they’re desperate to acquire, they could package picks 33 and 39 in order to move into the first round. Not only could they grab a better player, but they’d be able to set them up with a contract containing a fifth year option. This means they’d have their services at a cheaper rate for an additional year, assuming the prospect turns into a core piece of the roster. With potential stars like Brian Thomas Jr. and Laiatu Latu likely to be available in the mid-first, this could be a great way for the Panthers to acquire a franchise cornerstone.

Trade Down

If Carolina decides to take the opposite approach, they could use one of the picks to trade back in the draft. The advantage of doing so would be that they could amass more draft capital moving forwards. For a team with too many needs to count, this could be a fantastic strategy. Banking on scouting well, they could use more picks in order to ensure more talent on the roster next year.

This shouldn’t be too hard, as there will be plenty of teams hoping to land a specific prospect. This favors a team like the Panthers, who could look to acquire players at a wide variety of positions. They’re less likely to be locked in on one prospect, meaning they can stand to move down the draft board. Additionally, the depth at their positions of need makes the option even more plausible. Even if teams they move behind select players at similar positions, there should still be an abundance of talent at each spot. This means Carolina can focus on gaining draft capital, while still getting quality players.

Trade Out

A surprise final option for the Panthers could be to trade completely out of one, or both of their top 40 selections. The reason for doing so would be to bring in a proven star, likely at the wide receiver position. The obvious candidates here are the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, and the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk. Both names have been circulating in trade rumors all offseason, which could culminate in a draft day trade.

The Panthers already traded for Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason, but could look to fill out a room of veterans pass-catchers. Higgins and Aiyuk are 25 and 26 respectively, meaning they have plenty of time left to shine. Acquiring one could lock down the Panthers WR1 spot for years to come. In reality, it’d be a shock to see either one actually get moved, but the Panthers are a likely suitor if something happens. Trading even more draft picks could result in some backlash for the front office, but it’d be worthwhile to obtain either of these elite wideouts.