2017 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers final grade
By John Buhler
Fifth Round
Corn Elder
Cornerback, Miami Hurricanes
Carolina did a fine job in the first two days of the draft. Day three was a different story. Carolina is always in need of defensive back help. While Miami Hurricanes cornerback Corn Elder looks to be too good to be a No. 152 pick in the fifth round, he has been buried in a very deep cornerback class. For a franchise that rarely gets it right in the back-end of its defense, maybe Carolina could have done better than Elder in the fifth round?
Sixth Round
Alexander Armah
Wide Receiver, West Georgia Wolves
While the West Georgia Wolves are making headway under the radar in developing NFL talent, maybe a player from a bigger school would have made the Panthers faithful happier in day three of the draft? It was a forgettable one for the Panthers to say the least. That being said, wide receiver Alexander Armah has picked up steam of late, enough to get drafted in the top 200 at least.
Seventh Round
Harrison Butker
Kicker, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Kicking issues have been an ongoing thing in Charlotte for some time now. Taking a reliable kicker from the ACC in Georgia Tech’s Harrison Butker at No. 233 is totally understandable. The kid is clutch and accurate from distance. Maybe the nightmares associated with Graham Gano are a thing of the past in Panthers football?
Next: 2017 NFL Draft instant grades
Overall, Carolina’s draft was more good than bad. Though there is not a great level of value picks in the draft for the Panthers, they seemed to address the needs they had appropriately in this draft. Fans can get excited about landing McCaffrey. Samuel was a little redundant of a pick, but that’s what Gettleman does. Elder isn’t for everybody, but this is a high-floor, low-ceilinged draft for Carolina. Not bad, but nothing to really write home about.