NFL Draft Bible’s Zack Patraw recently suggested that the Carolina Panthers could move up to the second pick. According to Patraw’s recent mock draft, the Panthers would receive the no. 2 pick and a seventh-round pick while the Detroit Lions would receive the no. 6 pick, a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick. Patraw has the Panthers picking Alabama OT Evan Neal. Neal is an athletic lineman with great footwork for his size.
When a team moves up in the draft, it is typically for skilled positions on either side of the field. In this case, however, I understand Carolina’s rationale and reasons for moving up to select lineman.
Despite being linked to Liberty QB Malik Willis, there’s not a lot of incentive to move up just to take him since this is a weak draft for QB’s. There is a belief that offensive linemen such as Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross will be off the board by the time the Panthers pick at six.
Carolina has a habit of drafting more of the same player. No matter what, they would usually end up drafting a DB or a S and leaning more into defense without attempting to address their issues on the offensive line. If they are really serious about addressing the issues on the line, I think they should move up and draft Neal, Ekwonu, Cross, or whoever can impose their will on opposing defenses in the trenches.
If it were me, I’d do it. Take the second pick and get the OL of my choice. If I want to address the QB situation and take Willis, I could always try to trade into an earlier round with that seventh-round pick and add some assets to get him. Regardless of where the Panthers are in the draft, it is an encouraging sign that the projections indicate that they are willing to lean into fixing a long-standing issue.