Archives for April 2021

Norris’ 4 Man Mock Draft

4 Man Mocks, NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris

By: Norris Thornburg

It’s almost here! We are less than a week away from the 2021 NFL Draft! The rumors and speculation will end and fans will see who the long-awaited picks will be. Will Carolina take Fields if he drops? Do they take Patrick Surtain Jr. to solidify the secondary? Will they trade picks? We will find out on Thursday!

It wouldn’t be draft season without a 4 Man Mock Draft write-up. This mock draft is a combination of several mocks I’ve done on a couple different mock draft engines. Anyone that knows me personally would tell you that I’m somewhat addicted to mock drafts, so there’s definitely been a ton of research put into this. Without further ado, let’s dive into the draft.

ROUND ONE

PICK 8

OT Penei Sewell – Oregon

I’m sure many are wondering what happened for Sewell to fall to eight.

1. Jags – Lawrence

2. Jets – Wilson

3. 49ers – Lance (or Jones)

4. Falcons – Pitts

5. Bengals – Chase

6. Dolphins – Smith

7. *Broncos – Fields

*Detroit was always the wild card in this scenario with the seventh pick. No one knew if they were going to take a receiver or a tackle. In this scenario they trade to nine with Denver and the Broncos take Justin Fields.

Sewell has been considered a generational talent at left tackle, even after opting out of the 2020 season. He’s quick off the line, has excellent hand placement on every play and has a very high football IQ. Sewell plays with good balance, has good pass protection and is a mauler in the run game. He’s one of the most competitive players in this draft and would anchor the left side for ten years, which is something Carolina hasn’t had since Jordan Gross retired.

Sewell isn’t the consensus number one tackle in this class, as it has been widely reported by several media outlets that a lot of teams have Slater at the top. I’m not sure Carolina is one of those teams but they could be. However, taking Sewell would give them position flexibility as well. Sewell can move to guard later in his career if needed, which sounds like something Matt Rhule may covet. Sewell’s Relative Athletic Score was 9.08 (out of a possible 10), which is considered ELITE. One thing is for sure….Getting a generational left tackle at eight is something every fan should get behind.

ROUND TWO

PICK 39

CB Eric Stokes – Georgia

There’s no denying that Carolina needs another starting corner in their secondary and Stokes would be a great fit. He has the length that teams covet at corner. Stokes is good in man coverage and he’s even better in zone coverage. He’s a willing tackler that will get the job done, even against the run. Stokes is a very smart player that never gets lost on the field. He wowed scouts at his pro day when he ran a 4.25 40 yard dash, so he has the speed that the team wants. His Relative Athletic Score was 9.99 (out of a possible 10), so he’s definitely the type of athlete Matt Rhule likes. This would be the perfect player to get in the second round that will make an immediate impact.

ROUND THREE

PICK 73

C Josh Meyers – Ohio State

Carolina goes back to the offensive line and drafts the Ohio State center. Matt Paradis has one more year on his contract and will turn 32 years old in October, so Carolina could get his replacement at pick 73. Meyers has good anchor, solid hand placement and has good lateral mobility. Playing Meyers at guard could work if it’s just for a year, which is what they’ll likely do here.

**TRADE**

*Panthers trade pick 113 and a 2023 third rounder to the Cleveland Browns for pick 89.*

ROUND THREE

PICK 89

G Trey Smith – Tennessee

Carolina continues to build the offensive line. Smith is one of best guards in this draft, but has slid a bit due to health concerns. Carolina decided he was worth trading up for so they could solidify the line. Smith is really good in pass sets and he mauls players in the run game. He’s powerful at the point of attack and always has good hand placement. Smith understands all blocking concepts and has a high football IQ. He has position flexibility, as he’s played left tackle at the college level. Smith’s Relative Athletic Score was 9.8, which is ELITE. His measurables and metrics make Smith one of the best players in the draft. Bringing Smith in the play right guard will make Fitterer look like a genius and it will solidify the right guard spot for years to come.

ROUND FIVE

PICK 151

S Caden Sterns – Texas

The Panthers could use a safety that has good upside to start in the near future. Enter Caden Sterns. Sterns has played multiple positions in the secondary and be understands the assignments of each. He’s a hard-hitting safety that won’t be a liability in the run game. Sterns is fairly opportunistic in regards to takeaways and should get his fair share at the next level. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.6,  which is considered elite. His 4.41 40 yard dash time, 2.47 20 yard split, 1.5 10 yard split, 4.13 shuttle and 42 inch vertical had something to do with that. He could be the starting free safety this year and also has high upside on special teams.

ROUND SIX

PICK 193

CB Avery Williams – Boise State

The Panthers came into this draft needing a return specialist and a corner or two. Williams would fill both needs at once. He ran a 4.43 40 yard dash and ran a 2.57 on the 20 yard split. He’s only 5’8, so he will probably only be at corner for sub-packages but he holds tremendous value as a returner. He had nine return touchdowns in his college career (three kickoff, six punt). As a corner, he has sufficient ball skills, does well in zone coverage and understands situational football. Williams anticipates routes and is a willing tackler against the run. His RAS is 7.76, but that’s because his measurements brought his score down significantly. Carolina has met with his during the pre-draft process, so there is interest. Getting a day one contributor on special teams would be a win for Carolina this late in the draft.

ROUND SIX

PICK 222

WR Jacob Harris – University of Central Florida

It’s no secret that Carolina struggled in the red zone last year. Taking a 6’5 receiver with a 40.5″ vertical jump would help take care of that issue. Harris would also come to the Panthers with terrific speed for his size. He ran a 4.39 40 yard dash at his pro day (Carolina brass was in attendance), which raised a lot of eyebrows. So much so, that Carolina held a Zoom call with Harris recently. Harris is also really explosive, as he posted an 11′ 1″ broad jump at his pro day. On his RAS he posted a 9.96, which is considered ELITE. His pro day numbers and measurements were outstanding. He’s a little raw, but the potential to break out is there. Harris would be a solid pick here and would contribute fairly early with his skill set. Edit: It’s worth noting that Harris can play tight end as well.


This would be a significant haul for a Carolina team looking to fill the roster with athletes who will contribute. Some names you’ve seen before and some names you’re seeing for the first time. Getting a left tackle, corner, center, guard, safety, returner and a dynamic receiver/tight end would be best case scenario. Let me know what you think, Panther fans!

What Could Carolina Do in Round One of the Draft?

NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris

By: Norris Thornburg

Prior to a couple of weeks ago, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Carolina would take a quarterback in this year’s draft. Then on a Monday in early April, the Panthers traded for the Jets’ starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold has the potential to be a solid starting quarterback for the Panthers and he’s only 23 years old.

There are also question marks at left tackle, corner, guard, defensive tackle and even safety for the Panthers. Carolina’s had a very good offseason and filled the holes, but they could still upgrade these positions if a player presents themselves in the draft. Let’s have a refresher of these acquisitions:

LT Cam Erving
G/C Pat Elflein
TE Dan Arnold
WR David Moore
LB Denzel Perryman
EDGE Haason Reddick
DL Morgan Fox
LB Frankie Luvu
CB Rashaan Melvin
CB AJ Bouye
RB Darius Clark
QB Sam Darnold
DT DaQuan Jones

That’s a pretty good offseason for a team that had a lot of missing pieces. They’ll look to upgrade left tackle, corner, guard and maybe defensive tackle in this draft. Carolina picks at number 8 in a very important draft and there are a lot of good players from which to choose. So, what are the options Carolina could have in the first round?

LT Penei Sewell

This would be the perfect scenario for Carolina. Sewell has been mocked all over the top eight in the draft, so it’s uncertain whether he will be there for Carolina to pick. If he is, Fitterer needs to run to the podium himself and announce the pick. Sewell is considered a generational talent at left tackle, a position that has been a turnstile since Jordan Gross retired. Sewell has a very high football IQ and plays with outstanding power at the point of attack. He has good hand strength and can move defensive players effortlessly. Sewell would be a home run pick for Carolina.

CB Patrick Surtain Jr

If Sewell isn’t there at eight, the Panthers should look to solidify another position of need. Carolina has struggled in coverage since the departure of James Bradberry, so they need another shut-down corner in the near future. Surtain has football in his blood, as he is the son of three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Surtain Sr. He’s the best corner in the draft and would make Thieves Ave. relevant again. This could be the route they go, as left tackle is really deep this year. Getting Surtain in the first and a dominant left tackle in the second round would be a win.

LT Rashawn Slater

While Surtain would be a stud, Carolina could still elect to snag a left tackle in the first instead. Slater should be there and would be a solid pick for the Panthers. Some scouts are worried about Slater’s arm length (33″) and think he should move inside to guard. However, he will be able to play left tackle at a high level. The standard for arm size for left tackles is 34 inches or longer, but you don’t have to look far to find tackles that have had success with shorter arms. Carolina’s own Jordan Gross measured in at 33 1/4 inches and had a long and dominating career at left tackle. Slater is powerful, agile and smart. In 2019, he held his own against Chase Young, who was the second overall pick in 2020 and also rookie of the year. There isn’t much of a drop off between Sewell and Slater and he should be a Pro Bowl left tackle for a long time. Side note: There are whispers that Carolina may like Slater more than Sewell.

TE Kyle Pitts

Carolina could elect to get the best all-around player in the draft at pick eight. There’s no denying that Pitts would make this offense even more dynamic and give Sam Darnold another weapon. Rhule and Fitterer really like Pitts (I mean, who doesn’t?) and could draft him and get a left tackle later in this deep draft. While Pitts is listed as a tight end, he can line up as a receiver too. He has elite hands and has mastered the ability to grab any pass thrown his way, even if the ball is poorly thrown. Pitts can get yards after the catch similar to DJ Moore, he has a high football IQ and is just an all-around good guy. Like Sewell, Pitts is considered a generational talent and would be one of the faces of the franchise for years. Which is why it’s very doubtful that Pitts is there at eight. But if he is….

QB Justin Fields

One of the main takeaways from free agency is that Fitterer filled the roster with solid pieces at every position of need. Carolina can go into this draft with the ability to take the best player available, regardless of position. That could very well be Ohio State phenom Justin Fields. Fields could go anywhere between pick 3 and pick 15, depending on who you ask. There’s no doubt Fields would be the quarterback of the future, even with the Sam Darnold trade. There is some intrigue for Carolina, as there should be. Getting Fields could get Carolina the quarterback of the future, and they could still build the offensive line on day two.

WR Jaylen Waddle

Even with the loss of Curtis Samuel, wide receiver isn’t really a need for the Panthers. With that being said, Carolina could elect to take Jaylen Waddle, who is probably the most balanced and talented receiver in this draft. Waddle can play any receiver position on the field. He has the ability to gain separation quickly and has soft hands to catch anything thrown his way. The only reason Waddle may fall to pick eight is because of his injury last season, which shouldn’t be an issue any longer. Getting another weapon for Darnold could elevate this offense to another level, as long as they’re able to solidify the offensive line with some of the next six picks. Side note: Robby Anderson is going into his last year under contract and DJ Moore only has two more years, provided the Panthers pick up his 5th year option. Taking a wide receiver is a very real possibility, depending on who’s there at eight.

Trade-back

With new general manager Scott Fitterer at the helm, the team will be in every deal and will have every option available to them. Trading back in the draft and gaining more draft capital is something that is absolutely on the table for Carolina. If player they love isn’t there at eight, Fitterer could elect to trade back a few picks and gain extra picks, depending on what is offered. If Carolina was offered an additional second or third round pick to move back 5-8 spots, it would probably be hard for Fitterer to say no. Especially given the fact he came from Seattle, who traded back quite a bit.

In recent years, it’s been fairly easy to pinpoint who Carolina was going to take in the draft. This year it’s a little harder, as there’s a new general manager and there’s a lot of good players in the first round. Also, there’s been little information about players that have met with the Panthers virtually. The Carolina staff did benefit from coaching in the Senior Bowl, so that helped the scouting process immensely. No matter what the Panthers decide to do in this draft, they’re going to get a great player in the first round. With any luck, they’ll knock this draft out of the park, just like they did last year. It certainly helps to have all of these options at their disposal.

4MR Draft Profiles – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

NFL Draft

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 (Linebacker)

Scouted and Written by: Darion Collins

6’1 220 lbs

21 y/o Redshirt Junior – University of Notre Dame

(Rick Kimball, ISD)

Summary:

The first thing you notice about Jeremiah is his body type. He’s built sort of like a big safety/cornerback. You also instantly notice his athleticism. His comfort level in space allows him to effectively cover TEs and slot WRs His exceptionally high motor has him flying around the field. He has really good straight line speed as well. This is a prospect that creative defensive coordinators will covet because he can play multiple roles. He can be used in coverage and pass rush to help you disguise some things you’d like to do defensively. You don’t have to take him off the field on 3rd down because of his versatility. He differs from Penn State LB Micah Parsons (the consensus top LB) in that he’s not as effective taking on offensive guards and mixing it up in the run game. He doesn’t really have the body type for it. He needs a coordinator that knows how to utilize his skillset best.

STRENGTHS:

Very explosive player with top notch athleticism.

Has effectively played at LB, nickel CB and box safety.

Displays high football IQ which allows him to quickly diagnose plays

Plays with relentless effort to track down ball carriers play side and back side.

Great use of hands to make plays on the ball while also protecting himself

Very good at flowing through traffic laterally against the run.

Can play all three downs and be used in multiple roles.

WEAKNESSES:

Lacks typical NFL LB frame and size.

Not a strong tackler

Struggles with unblocked offensive linemen

CONCLUSION:

I will be very interested in where JOK lands. As most of us know, scheme and fit is important for most prospects. It’s especially important for JOK. I would think that whoever drafts him has a detailed plan for his skillset. Overall, I think he can be a headache for offenses if used creatively. The question is, will he land in the right spot? Time will tell.

Overall Grade: 6.5 (7.0 Perennial Pro Bowler with right coaching staff. 6.0 Solid Day 1 Starter without)

4MR Draft Profiles – Kwity Paye

NFL Draft

Kwity Paye #19 (EDGE)

Scouted and Written by: Darion Collins

6’2 261

22 y/o Senior – University of Michigan

Rich von Biberstein/Getty Images

Summary:

Kwity Paye is a really good run defender on the edge. He reads his keys quickly and gets off blocks to make plays in the run game. When the offensive tackle turns his hip away from Paye he knows to squeeze down on his gap, stay patient by keeping his shoulders and hips square. There are several examples of this on tape where he’s consistently in great position to defend the run. He’s also really consistent with getting full extension, eye discipline to quickly locate the ball, disengage his blocker to make the play. The word of the day here is CONSISTENCY for Paye in the run game. This makes him a high floor prospect. What can take him to the next level is continued development with his pass rush. He uses his hands really well and knows how to extend and dislodge, but I wouldn’t call him a great pass rusher just yet. Could he get some pressure on the QB as a rookie in the NFL? Yes. The reason he probably won’t go in the top 15 of the draft is because he’s not there as a rusher yet. There’s still a lot to love about Paye though.

STRENGTHS:

Plays great technique with consistency

Has very powerful hands to compliment great functional strength

Possess very elite athleticism to disengage blockers

Easily can convert speed to power with bull rush and rip moves.

Plays with a non stop motor until the whistle blows

Has displayed ability to rush the QB from the DT position.

Effective as a 4-3 DE and as a 3-4 OLB

WEAKNESSES:

Needs to develop very raw pass rushing abilities

Needs to add weight and bulk to his frame

Struggles at time with big athletic offensive tackles

CONCLUSION:

I have been really high on the Front 7 talent coming out of Michigan in the last few drafts. I am on record as saying I would’ve taken Chase Winovich in the top 40 of the 2019 NFL Draft. Time will tell if I was crazy, but for now I have to give a shoutout to the DL coach at Michigan, Shaun Nua. You can tell these guys are really well coached when they leave the program. The players deserve some credit too for being coachable and applying what they’re taught. Paye is the latest example of this. I believe he will reach his ceiling as a complete EDGE guy because of that reason. Not sure I would take him in the Top 10, but around 15th overall I would feel very comfortable.

Overall Grade: 6.0 (Day 1 Solid Starter)

4MR Draft Profiles – Alijah Vera-Tucker

NFL Draft

Alijah Vera-Tucker (#75)

6’4” 315 lbs

21 y/o Redshirt Junior Southern California

(photo credits: theozone.net)

Games watched: vs. Oregon (‘20), vs. Notre Dame (‘19), vs. Stanford (‘19)

 

Summary:

Alijah Vera-Tucker was a two-way player at Bishop O'Dowd High School
in Oakland, CA. He played four years as an OT and as a DT. By the end
of his senior year in 2016, he had won the state’s Class 5AA
championship, first-team USA Today All-California, 19th best OT
nationally, and 141st best player nationally. He committed to the
University of Southern California.
Vera-Tucker decided to redshirt his true freshman season in 2017.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he got back up reps in all 12 games at RG and
special teams.
Switching to LG in 2019, he started all 13 games during his redshirt
sophomore year. That resulted in him winning USC’s Offensive Lineman
of the Year and Associated Press All Pac 12 First Team.
His 2020 season began with him opting out. Vera-Tucker eventually had a
change of heart and played in all six games at LT. He was selected All
Pac 12 First Team, All American Honorable Mention, and the Morris
Trophy winner as the best offensive lineman in the conference voted on by
opposing defensive linemen.

Strengths:

● Position flexibility; able to effectively play LG, RG, and LT.
● Above-average athleticism
● Above-average natural strength
● Plays with great body control, balance, and kick slide in pass sets
● Has a mauler mentality; blocks with nastiness in run sets.
● Shows consistency with low pad level, which allows leverage advantage
● Above-average coordination with eyes, hands, and footwork
● Very good at down blocking and pull blocking.
● Very consistent effort getting to LBs on the second level
● Takes very effective blocking angles on defenders
● Very high football IQ and awareness against stunts and blitzes

Weaknesses:

● Sometimes gets pushed back too quickly
● Needs to stay engaged with blocks longer on pass plays.
● Could look for more opponents to block after the primary assignment.
● Needs to have better hand placement inside the pads of his defender
● Sometimes beaten by inside moves when over committing to the outside

Conclusion:

Alijah Vera-Tucker’s natural abilities are best suited for zone blocking
schemes. He can also be effective in power-run schemes too.
He can play both LG and LT at a highly effective level. There is concern
that he does not have the ideal height for a prototypical NFL LT. His
athleticism and nasty demeanor will allow him to thrive on the interior as
an NFL guard.
His football smarts and awareness will allow him to start right away and
potentially be a Pro Bowler in a few years.

 

Overall Grade: 6.5 (Day 1 Solid Starter with Pro Bowl potential)