• Georgia's Ladd McConkey falls to No. 33: McConkey is a highly nuanced receiver who has the athletic ability and football intelligence to be a difference-maker in the slot at the NFL level.
• Panthers also select tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders in Round 2: Sanders looks like a super-sized athlete. Coming mostly from an inline or wing-back position, he is a constant vertical threat and a mismatch for most linebackers in coverage.
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As the 2024 NFL Draft nears, our seven-round team mock draft series continues with the Carolina Panthers.
Round 2, Pick 33: WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
A three-star recruit with plenty of athletic versatility, McConkey played quarterback, running back, defensive back, punter and return specialist in high school. From his Georgia tape, McConkey is a highly nuanced receiver who has the athletic ability and football intelligence to be a difference-maker in the slot at the NFL level. His footwork and release variation give him the advantage against press coverage in the slot or on the outside. He also has good enough long speed to remain a threat vertically. He's on the smaller side, but that does not curb his willingness to be an impact blocker.
Round 2, Pick 39: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
Sanders, a former five-star recruit, looks like a super-sized athlete. Coming mostly from an inline or wing-back position, he is a constant vertical threat and a mismatch for most linebackers in coverage. His hands are reliable, as he did not drop a single pass in 2023. His explosive movement skills allow him to run routes like a receiver. If he wasn't on a team that also included Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, he could've easily been a 1,000-yard receiver. He possesses all the tools to be an impact blocker, as well. His tape does include snaps where he lacks the necessary blocking physicality against smaller players.
Round 3, Pick 65: EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah
Elliss comes from an NFL family, and it shows. He's smart and disciplined with his fundamentals, which helps him overcome some strength and length deficiencies. His hands are fast and consistently in the right place inside and at the chest of offensive tackles, which allows him to dictate contact and remain in control, even against stronger players. He has a variety of pass-rush moves, and in 2023, he expanded his repertoire even more with a variety of different swipes and rip combinations. He has an adequate first step for the NFL and can corner better than most in this class.
Round 4, Pick 101: C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Van Pran is a smart center prospect who projects well to a man/gap scheme in the NFL. He started at center for three straight seasons, and with that workload comes an understanding of how to win with hand placement, leverage and footwork, in addition to pre-snap communication. His strength is adequate, and his hand placement allows him to latch consistently. His wide base gives him a good ability to anchor, but it hinders how well he can mirror in pass protection. His weaknesses show up when he is required to be agile in one-on-ones. More athletic pass rushers gave him trouble. He sets the tone with physical play on every snap.
Round 5, Pick 141: EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
Kamara is an outlier for an edge player in his measurables. At 6-foot-1, he's below the fifth percentile for all NFL edge rushers, which comes with natural pros and cons. The pro is that he can really explode out of a low, loaded stance with good pad level to fuel his preferred move: a bull rush. The con is a lack of length, which makes it more difficult for him to really press offensive linemen in his bull rush. It also holds him back from being able to get off blocks. He's a strong player, though, and has a motor that is always running hot.
Round 5, Pick 142: WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
Johnson is an experienced receiver prospect, having played 60 games with 44 starts at Michigan. He is a good overall athlete with a decent blend of straight-line speed, acceleration and change of direction. However, his change of direction can be a bit stiff, especially when he gets up to speed. He isn't an imposing blocker, but he is reliable in his positioning and fundamentals, which will help him make an NFL roster on special teams. His separation rates are very high, but that was more due to usage and setup than rare athletic ability. Johnson seems to have more in the tank talent-wise; we just didn't see it in his three years as a starter.
Round 7, Pick 240: LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Watson is a classic between-the-tackles kind of linebacker who wins with strength and length, but his athletic limitations will likely limit him to early-down work and special teams duties.
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