Most mock drafts have the Carolina Panthers selecting a cornerstone piece for their defense with the No. 7 overall pick. Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown have been the two players most associated with the Panthers throughout the pre-draft process and both possess tremendous upside which would echo new head coach Matt Rhule’s philosophy of building up the defensive side of the football first.
Still, Carolina must at least consider addressing the most important position if it feels there is a chance it can grab a future franchise quarterback. The NFL has been trending toward a pass-heavy league more and more every year and those without great to elite-level quarterbacks are at a serious disadvantage against teams with those caliber players.