Panthers schedule prospect meetings before NFL Draft
Panthers first-round pick Jaycee Horn likely out 2-3 months with broken foot
With the NFL draft just weeks away, the Carolina Panthers have met with several players they hope will be available when they draft with the 8th pick. With pressing needs on both sides of the ball, the Panthers have kept their options wide open. Over the past few days Joe Person of the Athletic has confirmed meetings with several big names they’ve been linked to so far. For fans hoping Bryce Young gets a new weapon, they have a visit scheduled with Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, who is widely considered the top WR prospect. At 6-foot 4, and 219, he’s got the size and a knack for making contested catches, but he also surprised scouts by running a 4.48 40 yard dash at his pro day.
Panthers first-round pick Jaycee Horn likely out 2-3 months with broken foot
We learned from Person yesterday that the Panthers also met with Texas wideout Matthew Golden. Golden is a 5-foot 11 burner who ran a 4.29 40 and though many have him as the second WR off the board, another famous undersized burner doesn’t think so. Panthers great Steve Smith Sr made headlines a few weeks ago on his podcast by saying Golden was the #1 WR on his draft board and that McMillan was “not a No. 1 wide receiver” and questioned his route running skillset “I don’t think he’s going to run dynamic routes. I don’t see his route tree being very elaborate.” Panthers’ Xavier Legette inks sweet new endorsement deal Person also confirmed yesterday local top 30 visits in recent weeks with Georgia EDGE/LB Jalon Walker and South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. Emmanwori is considered by many experts to be a later 1st round pick, feeding the speculation the Panthers would love to trade back.
Panthers first-round pick Jaycee Horn likely out 2-3 months with broken foot
He’s an impressive run stuffing prospect that looks more like a linebacker at 6-foot 3 and 220 lbs, but flashed his incredible athleticism at the combine with a 4.38 40 and a 43 inch vertical leap. Former Carolina Panthers coach hired at famed university in turmoil Walker is probably the player linked most often to the Panthers, given both the need and the likelihood that he’s there if the Panthers remain at 8. Walker is 6-foot 1 and 243 lbs, and the one knock is his lack of experience. He was used mostly on 3rd down rush packages his first 2 years for the Bulldogs and only last season started to play off ball in run defense and pass coverage. He’s not as polished as fellow former Georgia LB Thomas Davis was when he came to the Panthers in 2005 as the 14th pick in the draft, but the potential and versatility is there. The Panthers had the 3rd fewest sacks in the NFL last year, they could certainly use the Salisbury, NC native.
