Few teams spent more money than the Carolina Panthers during NFL free agency, where GM Dan Morgan addressed several key needs. But the 2024 NFL Draft presents the Panthers with the opportunity to add young talent to the roster, and if coach Dave Canales is lucky, he’ll be getting some very talented players.
Our 2024 Panthers mock draft doesn’t feature a first round pick due to the Bryce Young trade, and while Carolina could always trade up, they do have other needs to address with their other draft selections too.
Before we get to our latest Carolina Panthers mock draft, here’s everything you need to know about their draft capital and team needs.
Related: 2024 NFL power rankings, see where Carolina Panthers land
Carolina Panthers draft picks 2024
Here are the Carolina Panthers draft picks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft
- 2nd Round, 33rd overall
- 2nd Round, 39th overall
- 3rd Round, 65th overall
- 4th Round, 101st overall
- 5th Round, 141st overall
- 5th Round, 142nd overall
- 7th Round, 240th overall
Related: See where Bryce Young lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB Rankings
Carolina Panthers team needs 2024
Here are the Panthers team needs ahead of the 2024 NFL mock draft.
- Wide Receiver
- Cornerback
- Center
- Tight End
- EDGE Rusher
- Safety
- Linebacker
- Defensive Line
- Running Back depth
- OL depth
2024 Carolina Panthers mock draft: Building for the future
2nd Round, 33rd overall: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Adding an elite separator like Diontae Johnson raises the floor of the Panthers’ receiving corps. Now it’s time to raise the ceiling with an injection of young talent. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds while being able to clock a 4.34 40 time, Mitchell has No. 1 wideout potential.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein likens Mitchell to Pittsburgh’s George Pickens, and it’s not hard to see why. Like Pickens, Mitchell is a phenomenal athlete who has shown strong ball skills plus the ability to rise up and high-point the football using his 39.5-inch vertical leap.
His near-perfect Relative Athletic Score of 9.99 shows Mitchell has elite speed and explosiveness, and if the Panthers can maximize his skillset, they could have an immediate contributor who becomes the team’s best receiver in no time.
Related:Â Carolina Panthers Super Bowl odds
2nd Round, 39th overall: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
As good of a cornerback as Jaycee Horn is, he can’t cover the entire field at once. The Panthers have already essentially swapped Donte Jackson for Dane Jackson, giving defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero a new tool to work with in the secondary, but the Panthers don’t have much else in the cupboard.
At 5-foot-9, Sainristil may be limited to nickelback duties in the NFL, but he has the potential to be very good covering the slot. A former receiver with impressive ball skills for a corner, Sainristil has also been known to get his nose dirty, making the necessary tackle in the backfield or surprising quarterbacks with a well-executed sack. With the Panthers looking for more competition and youth in the secondary, Sainristil should push Troy Hill for playing time as a rookie.
3rd Round, 65th overall: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
There’s still hope for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Tommy Tremble to develop into an above-average starter, but the Panthers need to start making backup plans. Ja’Tavion Sanders was one of the more athletic tight ends in the draft class, recording nearly 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons.
While he’s a decent blocker, Sanders is known for his pass-catching skills, thanks to his ability to create mismatches against linebackers using his above-average speed and receiver-like route-running chops. A player who didn’t drop a single ball last season, Sanders could provide an immediate boost for Bryce Young.
Related: Are the Carolina Panthers a playoff team with yet?
Carolina Panthers 7-round mock draft 2024
Here is our full Panthers 7-round mock draft.
- 2nd Round, 33rd overall: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
- 2nd Round, 39th overall: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
- 3rd Round, 65th overall: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
- 4th Round, 101st overall: Sedrick Van Pran, iOL, Georgia
- 5th Round, 141st overall: Leonard Taylor III, DL, Miami (FL)
- 5th Round, 142nd overall: Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
- 7th Round, 240th overall: Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State