2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold goes to Browns

By Brad Weiss | Apr 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Sam Darnold (14) of the USC Trojans during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins vs USC Trojans on November 18, 2017 at the Los Angeles memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 23: Arden Key #49 of the LSU Tigers rushes during a game against the Syracuse Orange at Tiger Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Arden Key. 24. player. 87. . Edge. LSU

The Carolina Panthers made it back to the playoffs last season, as they bounced back from a horrible 2016 campaign. That 2016 season was so shocking due to the fact the Panthers went to the Super Bowl the year before, though they were destroyed by the Denver Broncos. Still, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Cam Newton, who finally appears to be healthy heading into the 2018 season.

With their first round pick on Thursday, the Panthers should look to add to their pass rush heading into next season. While Julius Peppers is defying Father Time, the team needs to start thinking about life after him. That player who could take his role going forward is Arden Key, who is an explosive edge rusher from LSU.

Key has had to battle injuries during his time with the Tigers, but he is a first round talent nonetheless. He has that quick first step that you cannot teach, and he would be able to learn under Peppers for the beginning of his career. 2017 first round pick Christian McCaffrey had a solid rookie season for the Panthers, and the hope is they can hit a home run with their top selection once again in 2018.

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