Make Carolina Great Again: A B&B Mock Draft

Let's get right into it.









Round 1 - Pick 8


Tyler Warren - TE - Penn State
6-5 260 lbs
22 years old




When I'm picking in the top 10, all of the following criteria have to be met.

• Path to immediate playing time? Check. The top of the TE depth chart is wide open.
• Dominated at his previous job? Check. John Mackey Award Winner.
• Scheme Fit? Check Plus. He'll do fine in any scheme just in case Tepper shitcans Canales.
• Fits into the NFL size parameters? Check. 6'5" 260 lbs.
• Alpha male with high energy? Check. He's all about ball.
• Medicals? Check. Never missed a game in college due to injury.
• High Floor? Check. Even if he turns out to be nothing more than an exotic Pat Freiermuth, that's not going to sink your franchise.

The TE position has been M.I.A. in Carolina for the better part of a decade. This ends with the selection of Tyler Warren. Equal parts Jeremy Shockey (RAC ability), Greg Olsen (highpointer in the endzone), and Taysom Hill (fun shit), his versatility for a TE prospect is virtually peerless, having the ability to line up anywhere you need him to. This past season, he averaged over 8 yards per carry. He wears #44 because he idolizes John Riggins, and he plays like Riggins. He's a do-everything finisher with high character. His blocking isn't elite, but I actually think it's underrated in the shadow of all the fun stuff he does. When he gets on a guy at the right angle, that defender is buried. He just needs to do it more consistently, and I expect him to get better at the conventional "Y" duties over time.


I still like JT Sanders, but adding Warren gives Canales a viable 12 personnel set in his arsenal. If defenses defend with base, spread out the formation and let Bryce Young deal. If they play with nickel, smash them with the run. His addition helps everyone on the offense, including Leggette, who can focus more on being a movable "Z" receiver instead of a miscast split end. Also, let's be honest for a second. You like seeing a big white guy knocking people over, don't you? It's okay to say yes. Woke isn't cool anymore, so you don't have to keep walking on eggshells. A big white guy breaking tackles gives everyone in the stadium a jolt, and the Panthers are always a better product with a psychotic white TE. You're back on some Bull Ratio type shit now. Can you see my MCGA vision yet?













Round 2 - Pick 57

T.J. Sanders - DT - South Carolina
6'4" 295 lbs
21 years old



Powerful, athletic, and still young for a modern NFL prospect, Sanders is the perfect rotational piece for Evero's 3-4 front. Pad level is too high and technique is unfinished, but he still has Year One value as an aggressive three technique sub player, while A'Shawn Robinson and Bobby Brown III handle the run stopping grunt work. Him and Tershawn Wharton suddenly give the Panthers a formidable interior sub package duo, and collapsing the pocket from the interior is arguably more NFL valuable than edge pressure. Most quarterbacks cannot function with large men barreling straight into them. Ideally, Sanders will become what the team was perusing in Milton Williams.


Great motor, great timing with the hands.





Round 3 - Pick 74

Darrien Porter - CB - Iowa State
6'3" 195 lbs
25 years old


Porter is basically brand new at CB (7 starts) despite a six year college career, but his athletic profile is off the charts. Elite speed (4.3 40) and change of direction (6.71 3 cone, which lapped the field at the combine) at 6'3" with 33" arms, you're just not going to find many corners with all of those traits put together. He blocked four punts and played over 1,000 special teams snaps through his college career (PFF), so at minimum, you're getting a backup with extensive special teams experience. At maximum, you're getting an outside starter who allows you move Horn into that Jalen Ramsey "star" hybrid role, which is where I think he's best.







Round 4 - Pick 111


Tory Horton - WR - Colorado State
6'2" 195 lbs
22 years old


He missed most of 2024 with a knee injury, but he's already running again and ran at the combine (4.41). Good at the catch point, good at RAC and he can cut like a 5'9" guy, which he also displays as a punt returner (16.4 per return, 17 missed tackles, 3 touchdowns per PFF). If we're going to add a wide receiver, special teams value is important to me. Too often, you see a guy get picked in this range and he can't get on the field because he's useless in the third phase. Horton will have a path to playing time even as a WR 4/5.











Round 4 - Pick 114

CJ West - DT - Indiana
6'1" 316 lbs
22 years old


First of all, why is Shy Tuttle still on the roster? Second of all, replace him with CJ West, a powerful, built low fire hydrant who ran a sub 5 40 at the combine. Like Poona Ford, his specialty is run defense leverage, but he becomes a mid-roud steal if you can tap into his underrated athleticism and explosion (his 33" vert beat James Pearce). You've got yourself a proper DL rotation now.





Round 5 - Pick 140

Hollin Pearce - OT - Rutgers
6'8" 341 lbs
24 years old



And 36" arms. It's hard not to notice him. He started as a RT in 2022, before becoming the Scarlet Knight's blindside protector over the last two years. Only four penalties throughout his college career, per PFF. He's also big on substance. He earned his keep the hard way, going from a freshman walk-on to a second team all-conference player at a power 4 school. He probably needs to get the weight down a little more and keep it down, but I think there's a legitimate NFL player here.






Round 5 - Pick 146


Nohl Williams - CB - Cal
6'1" 200 lbs
22 years old


He caught a bunch of arm punts at Cal, so while his ball skills aren't quite as proficient as his 15 career interceptions suggest, they're still very good, and he becomes a return man with the ball in his hands (he also literally returns kicks, adding value). He does get grabby and draw penalties, but maybe Evero's zone-centric scheme helps mitigate this.
He's also heavy enough and strong enough (19 reps) to be an option as a "big slot".







Round 5 - Pick 163



Collin Oliver - OLB - Oklahoma St
6'2" 240 lbs
22 years old



Instead of taking an undersized OLB/designated pass rusher type at 8, why not just grab one on day 3? There's actually a plethora of those types in this draft. Oliver fits they architype perfectly, posting 4.56 40 and 39" vert. He's a natural, explosive mover with buy-low appeal after missing most of 2024 with a foot injury.


By the way, stop calling these guys "EDGE". That's not a real football position. OLB still works fine.












Round 7 - Pick 230


Caleb Ransaw - DB - Tulane
5'11" 200 lbs
22 years old


Finishing with a quirky one. Ransaw started his college career playing outside corner at Troy, and then slowly moved further inside at Tulane until he was virtually an OLB, so I'm not exactly sure where to try him in the NFL. I'm still willing to throw a dart based on his testing results (4.33 40, 40" vert). He's sort of Josh Metellus box beast if it works out. It's telling that his best plays are against Army and Navy.











Theoretical UDFAs



There's are some guys who may go undrafted who I'd take a swing on:





Ricky White - WR - UNLV
6'1" 185 lbs
23 years old


This one is fun. A 1,000 yard receiver (twice) who also blocked 4 punts last year. Belichick would draft him in the second round.




Ben Sauls - K - Pittsburgh
5-10 185 lbs
23 years old


It's hard to predict which kickers get drafted. Sauls has range and made kicks in tough outdoor conditions.




Timothy McKay - OL - NC State
6"4 315 lbs
23 years old


Large man with local ties and G/T flexibility. PFF claims he just had the best season of his career.



Nazir Stackhouse - DT - Georgia
6-3 320 lbs
23 years old


Apparently, he has narcolepsy. When he's awake, he's a big, stout run defending nose. Maybe we could just roll him in there between naps.





Lan Larison - RB - UC Davis
6'1" 215 lbs
22 years old


Small school back with pass catching chops. 127 career receptions. I think Canales would love to find a 3rd down specialist, so why not let it be a white guy with a moustache.




D.J. Uiagalelei - QB - FSU/OSU/Clemson
6'5" 245 lbs
24 years old


The forgotten man of this QB class, he only intrigues me because of his size and Canales's knack for turning around cuckolded gunslingers. I'd like to see if he can make this one into an NFL backup.








Recap:


I like teams that double up on positions, which is why I took two DTs and two CBs. What's better is that the picks don't have to cancel eachother out. Sanders and West are very different DTs, as are Porter and Williams at CB. If they all hit, they can all find a unique roll. I guess Horton is almost a double up. He's not a TE but he is a "pass catcher". We all know this offense needs one more of those.


Ultimately, I don't trust this defensive coaching staff enough to give them one of the raw OLB/DE types at 8. That's just me speaking frankly about the matter. I trust Canales more with that pick.



I really hope they don't trade away picks. Use all of the picks. You're not smart enough to nail all of your selections, so go with volume.










My prediction, though:


They'll probably take Walker, either at 8 or a few spots back. I don't love it. Walker isn't elite, and the fulltime OLB talk should make everyone a little nervous.






We have art in order not to die from the truth.

 

I love the first three picks in this draft. Too bad it will never happen.

 

Yep, the only real value for us at 8 will be Warren or if by chance Graham falls. Other than that, what we can get at 8, we could get at 12 or later, most are same value looking guys

 

That draft shows a lot of confidence in the FA signings.

 

I actually have a lot of confidence in our FA signings. Between the new DTs and Derrick Brown coming back, our run defense is going to actually exist this year. I like Moehrig a lot, but really wonder what the hell we're doing at the other Safety because there's no way we should be satisfied with Demani Richardson.

I just noticed that B&B doesn't address the Safety position, unless he thinks that's where Darrien Porter's future lies.

 

Porter is an outside CB. He's not physical enough to play safety despite his size and special teams experience.



As for safety, they all have red flags that I'm uncomfortable with. Mukuba could be had in the 3rd if Porter is gone, but his tackling might be too shitty for a full time starter. Kevin Winston is the flip side of that coin (great tackler who can't cover) and the knee injury is a concern.


Ransaw is probably a safety in the NFL, FWIW.

 

Is there not another draft next year?

 

I ain't getting no younger. This could be the last draft for any of us.


jes say'n