Clemson’s Simpson, UNC’s Downs among best available for Panthers on Day 2 of NFL Draft
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Panthers pick Bryce Young No. 1 overall in 2023 NFL Draft
On April 27, 2023, the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young with the top pick in the NFL Draft. With a young quarterback finally in place, what’s next for the team as it prepares for the future?
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The Panthers still have plenty of work left to do during this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Following the first overall selection of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers have five picks remaining. Two of those selections are slated to be used on Friday.
Carolina owns the 39th overall pick in the second round and the 93rd overall pick in the third round. The Panthers acquired the No. 93 pick from the San Francisco 49ers as part of the Christian McCaffrey trade in October.
Here are the Panthers’ best available options entering Day 2:
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Panthers have dealt with constant injuries in the secondary through the past two years. Porter is the son of a former Pro Bowl pass rusher, and his pedigree and playmaking skills should stick out to the Panthers. The 6-foot-2, 193-pound corner was a surprise slider on Day 1.
Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Garner native has the versatility and athletic upside to be a game-changer for Carolina. A former college tight end, White is still growing as a defender, but he has the potential to be used in a variety of ways in a hybrid defense. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound pass rusher would fit in nicely with the new scheme.
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
While tight end isn’t necessarily a major need for Carolina, Mayer would be an excellent tag-team partner for free-agent addition, Hayden Hurst. Possibly the best tight end prospect in the class, Mayer was a production machine at Notre Dame. He finished his college career with 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdown in three seasons.
O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound guard was expected to come off the board in Round 1 by most notable analysts. However, the talented interior blocker could be a value grab for the Panthers. Carolina has looked at several offensive linemen this offseason, and Torrence could be a gem at No. 39.
BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
While White could be an impact player in the trenches, Ojulari has the athletic ability to be an excellent complement to Brian Burns on the edge. Ojulari has NFL bloodlines — his brother is Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari — and he has the athletic ability to cause problems for opposing blockers and quarterbacks. At 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, Ojulari is a nice fit for Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Brents is a new-age prototype at cornerback. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound defender should entice general manager Scott Fitterer, who had a bunch of big corners during his time in Seattle. Brents is coming off a four-interception season at K-State.
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Mingo is a bulky wideout with a surprising mixture of speed and size. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Last season, he caught 51 passes for 861 yards and five touchdowns.
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Smith was another surprising Day 1 snub. The long, lanky cornerback should go early on Day 2, as he is a playmaker with the ball in the air. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back would be a good long-term partner for Jaycee Horn, who played with him at South Carolina.
Brian Branch, S/CB, Alabama
Branch is considered the best nickel defender in the draft. While he was passed on in the first round, the Panthers could value his versatile in the secondary. However, Carolina is already pretty stacked on the depth chart at safety, and plans to use former second-round pick, Jeremy Chinn, at the “big” nickel spot this season.
Josh Downs, WR, UNC
Downs is a dynamic slot receiver who could be a reliable weapon for Young for years to come. While the Panthers have several slot receiver types on the roster, Downs would be a long-term play for a sqaud that doesn’t have many future star playmakers. Downs also has local ties, so the Panthers have probably done plenty of homework on him.
Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
The Panthers have been looking at talented offensive line prospects all offseason. With a major need at swing tackle, Bergeron could fill that role this season before ascending in the lineup down the road. He could be looked at as a guard as well.
Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
The former Mallard Creek star offers rare speed at the linebacker position. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound defender is an excellent athlete, and he could be considered a worthwhile complement to Shaq Thompson as a rookie.
Chandler Zavala, G, N.C. State
Zavala reportedly visited with the Panthers during the draft process. With Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen coming off major injuries, Carolina might want to get some insurance at the guard spot. Zavala could compete with Christensen for the left guard job if the Panthers feels he is an upgrade.
Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
Like the other offensive linemen on this list, Saldiveri is a versatile player who can fill multiple roles. The Waxhaw native played guard and center at the Senior Bowl after playing most of his college career at right tackle. Saldiveri has been praised for his toughness and intelligence throughout the draft process.
A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, Perry fits the mold of an “X” receiver. After putting up huge numbers at Wake Forest during the past two seasons, the upside with Perry could be tremendous. At worst, he could be a big-bodied target for Young off the bat.
Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Jones is a mammoth human being at 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds. While the Panthers could view Jones as a long-term play, there could be some interest in moving him to guard. He could also be a short-term swing tackle with long-term upside.
Other notable players still on the board:
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The biggest surprise on Day 1 was Levis’ epic fall down the board. While he was considered a consensus top-four quarterback, he will be selected at least 31 picks after Young. Levis — who famously drinks coffee with mayo — should be chosen in the second round with Detroit (34), Seattle (37) and Las Vegas (38) set to pick early on Friday.
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
The Greensboro native is coming off ACL surgery. That’s likely why he fell out of the first round. The 25-year-old quarterback should receive some interest from teams in the top-end of the second round. It’ll be interesting to see if he is selected before Levis during draft weekend.
This story was originally published April 28, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Clemson’s Simpson, UNC’s Downs among best available for Panthers on Day 2 of NFL Draft."
