Non-quarterback draft prospects who fit the Panthers and new coach Frank Reich
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2023 NFL Draft
The Carolina Panthers hold the top pick in this year’s draft and there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding the team and what it will do. Check out all our pre-draft coverage here.
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The Carolina Panthers have obvious team needs outside of quarterback. But identifying and drafting that quarterback is the team’s No. 1 priority, which makes forecasting the Panthers’ plans later in the NFL draft difficult.
Currently, Carolina has two picks in rounds two, three, and four. That’s a lot of middle-round capital that could either help the Panthers gain important roster depth or propel them to trade up.
Based on general manager Scott Fitterer’s comments this offseason, the Panthers are hoping to target “sexy” picks after building up their offensive and defensive lines over the past two offseasons. Here are several prospects to watch at tight end, wide receiver and edge rusher. These players project as realistic draft options for Carolina.
Tight end
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Height, weight: 6-6, 250 pounds
2022 stats: 11 catches, 169 yards (15.4 avg.), 1 TD
Musgrave started just two games in 2022 but played well in both. He struggled to stay healthy in college, playing 20 games in four seasons. However, evaluators consider Musgrave a gifted athlete who can create and exploit mismatches.
He can handle his own as a blocker considering his natural size and athleticism. Musgrave must develop into a reliable and consistent player to be trusted. But his upside is obvious.
“If Musgrave falls to the second round, I’d be all over him in a heartbeat,” NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein said. “We saw Greg Olsen in Carolina have the ability to catch the ball which is like having another receiver. So I think having another primary pass-catching tight end would be a great gift for Carolina’s offense.”
Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
Height, weight: 6-6, 250 pounds
2022 stats: 35 catches, 418 yards (15.4 avg.), 3 TDs
Schoonmaker is the same size as Musgrave but slightly lesser of an athlete. He proved himself as a run-blocker in Michigan’s downhill scheme but lacked opportunities in the passing game.
That should change in the NFL. Schoonmaker projects as a traditional Y-tight end that showed smooth movements when running routes.
“Now you’d have two tight ends that have the athleticism and that will block for you,” Zierlein said. “That can really threaten defenses in two different ways if you wanted to go with two tight end sets.”
Sam LaPorta, Iowa
Height, weight: 6-4, 249 pounds
2022 stats: 58 catches, 648 yards (11.1 avg.), 1 TD
LaPorta led the Hawkeyes in receiving yards during the past two seasons. He nearly doubled the production of the team’s next leading receiver. He’s creative with the ball in his hands. According to Pro Football Focus, Iowa ran 10 screens for him this season. LaPorta did most of his damage underneath, running crossing routes and sitting in zone coverage holes.
He caught 53 passes for 592 yards and broke 14 tackles. His 7.3-yard average depth of target is low but that could be because of Iowa’s limited vertical offense. LaPorta is projected to be a third-round selection.
“I wasn’t as big on his tape. I know a lot of people were but I wasn’t. I may be missing him,” Zierlein said. “But I think a guy like Tommy Tremble is better than him and that’s not where you want to be.”
Edge rusher
BJ Ojulari, LSU
Height, weight: 6-3, 250 pounds
2022 stats: 9 sacks, 26 hurries
The brother of 2021 second-rounder and New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, BJ Ojulari shares a lot of the same traits as his older sibling.
Scouts are attracted to his speed and countermoves on the edge. His hands are quick and his pass-rushing moves are already refined. Ojulari can change directions during a pass rush, leaving offensive tackles grabbing air.
He’s best as a speed-to-power rusher and would thrive in the Panthers’ new 3-4 scheme.
“He’s a first-round guy who could slide into the second round,” Zierlein said. “He’s a speed rusher but is not a small guy by any means.”
Andre Carter II, Army
Height, weight: 6-2, 245 pounds
2022 stats: 4 sacks, 17 hurries
Carter projects as a Day 2 prospect with explosive traits. At Army, he recorded 14.5 sacks in 2021 and established himself as a passionate leader.
He’s a bit undersized but he made up for that with quick hands and fast feet. He’s swift around the edge and has a combination of pass-rush moves that are pro-ready.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Height, weight: 6-4, 255 pounds
2022 stats: 8 sacks, 29 hurries
The Panthers need a power rush opposite Brian Burns. Anudike-Uzomah plays with a firm base and consistently set the edge for the Wildcats.
He’s capable of jackknifing inside to disrupt a run play or take a direct line to the quarterback. He’ll need to refine his overall pass-rush moves, especially his counter techniques. But his long arms and high motor suggest he’ll be a very productive NFL defensive end.
“He is just a freight train out there. He plays with so much energy and so much power so much strength,” Zierlein said. “I think he’s going to be a really good power rusher. He’s got a lot of upside.”
Wide receiver
Josh Downs, North Carolina
Height, weight: 5-10, 171 pounds
2022 stats: 94 receptions, 1,029 yards (10.9 avg.), 11 TDs
Each season at North Carolina, Downs kept finding new ways to prove he is a complete No. 1 receiver. His raw speed (4.47 40-yard dash) and quickness suggested he’d be a gadget NFL player, but evaluators believe he’s capable of taking handoffs, lining up in the slot, and winning outside the numbers.
Downs is a smooth route runner who keeps defensive backs guessing with a diverse set of release moves and in-route hesitations. His hands are strong and he plays bigger than his 171-pound frame suggests.
“He’s a first-round talent to me but I do not know if he’ll go in the first round,” Zierlein said. “He reminds me of a basketball player with his movements. He’s kind of unpredictable in terms of how he runs. He’s extraordinarily confident as a player. I think he’s a player who could end up being a high-volume target guy.”
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Height, weight: 5-11, 185 pounds
2022 stats: 55 receptions, 904 yards (16.4 avg.), 9 TDs
Tyler Scott picked up where rookie Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce left off for the Wildcats. He’s a burner who will vertically test NFL defenses. Panthers coach Frank Reich drafted Pierce last year in the second round. Some evaluators consider Scott a more promising prospect than Pierce. He’s a name to watch for Carolina.
“He has extraordinarily burst. His early burst is really good,” Zierlein said. “He’s also great with the ball in his hands as a former running back. In the same way (Reich) used is Nyheim Hines, I could see him getting creative in some ways with Scott.”
Elijah Higgins, Stanford
Height, weight: 6-3, 234 pounds
2022 stats: 52 receptions, 704 yards (11.9 avg.), 2 TDs
Whether the Panthers target a big-bodied slot receiver like Higgins will depend on what the team has planned for third-year receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. If Reich wants to develop Marshall as an outside threat, Higgins could fill an important over-the-middle role.
He plays the physicality and toughness needed to run inside. Higgins might struggle to separate in the NFL due to his average speed and quickness.
“Higgins is more of a fourth-rounder. He’s a big 230ish pound wide receiver who’s very strong and is in the mold of that new hybrid big slot,” Zierlein said. He could create matchup problems with for Marshall and D.J. Moore.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Non-quarterback draft prospects who fit the Panthers and new coach Frank Reich."
