Sorry, Carolina Panthers fans—but mock drafts in 2024 won’t be nearly as fun as they were in 2023. With their first-round pick (which also just so happens to be the No. 1 overall pick) sitting in Chicago, it won’t be easy to find many predictions for Selection No. 33 on the daily.
Dane Brugler, however, already has it covered.
The Athletic’s NFL draft analyst recently unraveled a two-round mock to get this draft season rolling. As for the Panthers and the first pick of the second round, he rolls the dice on University of Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Brugler writes:
Based on NFL scout grades, this is a little early for Mitchell due to his lack of polish — he is a loose athlete, but his technique is also much too loose. If the Panthers don’t land a big fish via trade or free agency (Tee Higgins?), they might feel pressured to target a high-upside pass catcher.
That high-upside pass catcher, who reeled in 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023, stands at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds. Mitchell’s length, smoothness and long speed could make him a dangerous downfield threat at the pro level.
Considering Panthers quarterback Bryce Young didn’t have any of those during his rough rookie campaign, Mitchell may be worth keeping an eye on as we inch closer to April.
