Carolina Panthers full 2018 NFL mock draft

Round 2 – Pick 55

Braden Smith, G, Auburn

Carolina’s ability to mask holes in their team is largely attributed to quarterback Cam Newton’s improvisation and playmaking. Their offense was an interesting mix of players. One constant was their fantastic guard play. Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell formed one of the best duos in the NFL at the position. This offseason Carolina had to let Norwell walk in free agency after the Jacksonville Jaguars ponied up a big contract for the All-Pro. For a line that cannot afford missing pieces, that was a big loss. It is crucial for Carolina to replace Norwell moving forward.

Braden Smith is one of the most pro-ready guards in an extremely deep interior offensive lineman class. He is a lost name after the likes of Quinton Nelson, Isaiah Wynn, Will Hernandez, James Daniels and Billy Price. Smith is a step below those but his name should still be called inside the first two rounds. This is the perfect landing spot.

If Carolina sticks to a modified power scheme, Smith would fit in seamlessly. On tape his a powerful people mover on the offensive line. He put up an impressive 35 reps on the bench. The power is evident in his jumps as well. The Auburn guard jumped 33.5 inches in the vertical and 113 inches on the broad. Those are impressive numbers for a 6-foot-6 and 303 pound man. Carolina would find a plug and play guard, making up for weak tackle play and replacing Norwell.