Carolina Panthers 7-Round Mock Draft

Oct 11, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) and Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Justin Cox (9) celebrate after a reception during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the Auburn Tigers 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 7, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) huddles on fourth and and goal with guard Brendon Austin (74) and guard Johnny Caspers (57) and guard Joshua Garnett (51) and offensive tackle Kyle Murphy (78) in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 2: Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford

Panther fans who wanted the team to address their need at left tackle in the first round only have to wait one more pick to see the team select a potential replacement for Michael Oher. Stanford’s Kyle Murphy would represent great value late in round 2 and would give the Panthers a potential starter at the valuable left tackle position.

In all honesty, Oher has performed better than most people thought he would this season. He isn’t going to turn into Anthony Munoz on the left side, but he hasn’t been a complete disaster. Some might even say his play this season has been close to average.

Still, when you want to win a Super Bowl you need to protect your quarterback, and having a solid left tackle is a big part of that. The Panthers must invest a draft pick to help protect Cam Newton; Murphy could be just that guy. He’s not a road grader on offense, but he possesses great lateral quickness that allows him to be an above-average pass blocker. His skill set could help Cam Newton avoid so many hits next season.

Kyle Murphy doesn’t necessarily have Pro Bowl potential on the left side but if you can find a quality starter at left tackle in the second round, you’ve made a solid selection.

Next: Round 3

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