Carolina Panthers full 2018 NFL mock draft

Round 3 – Pick 88

Lorenzo Carter, EDGE, Georgia

The Carolina Panthers have had elite pass rushers throughout their most recent run of success. Julius Peppers started it and ever since the team has been known for finding pass rushers. Now the unit as a whole may be impressive but it is an aging group. Peppers is now back and pushing 40 years old, at best he is a specialist who thrives in a limited role.

Mario Addison, starting opposite him, will be 31 when the season starts. Outside of last year’s third round pick Deashon Hall, the team lacks any player who can grow into a starter. Even Hall has his questions and was drafted largely on potential.

Lorenzo Carter is a player that will likely be drafted well higher than his tape shows. Carter is an elite athlete with an exceptional frame. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pound, he is a long and lean athlete. Adding bulk would allow him to be a potential starter at weak side defensive end for a base 4-3 team like Carolina. To start he could be a sub-package rusher. His long arms and exceptional burst allow him to get into tackles in a hurry. He lacks a rush plan on most plays but does show some moves when setting the edge and running the arc.

Part of the issue with Carter is that Georgia’s coaches did not really know where to play him. After being one of the highest recruits in the country coming out of high school, the team played him in all different roles. He showed strength as an off-ball linebacker but where he flashed was as a pass rusher.