Carolina Panthers full 2018 NFL mock draft
By Joe Romano
Round 3 – Pick 85
Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
A weak spot for the Panthers is the corner position. That has been true since the team let star corner Josh Norman sign with the Redskins. In another questionable decision, Carolina traded starting corner Daryl Worley to the Eagles in exchange for Torey Smith earlier this offseason. Addressing the secondary is another spot that the Panthers need to get aggressive with in the draft.
Donte Jackson of LSU is a prime candidate to out-perform his draft position. For starters the man can fly. He was the popular pick for the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine. He slightly edged out LSU teammate D.J. Chark to take the crown with a 4.32. The speed shows on tape and masks some of Jackson’s warts in coverage.
The reason someone with that speed slips into the end of day two is because he is so-so as a cover corner. Despite being an experienced player, appearing in almost every game since he arrived in Baton Rouge, he needs more work in coverage. When players are as special of an athlete as Jackson they can slip up on assignments and still make a play on the ball. However, Carolina has excelled with lesser players at the corner position.
Their impressive front seven will allow help to the corners over the top. Jackson’s speed should make this range his floor. He could develop into an above average starting corner given some time. LSU’s recent track record for placing defensive backs into the NFL speaks well for his chance of a positive development path.