2021 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers 7-round mock

Vincent is an undersized defensive back who makes up for that deficiency with elite athleticism. His future at the NFL may lie in the slot or as an undersized cover safety, but Carolina can use help all over their secondary.

At worst, he can give the Panthers a much-needed boost of athleticism at the back of their defense. He’ll need quality coaching at the next level to become a more intelligent defensive back, but his abundance of physical gifts make him a quality pick in Round 5.

Gillespie probably won’t develop into an NFL starter, but he can add valuable depth to the Panthers right away. He’s a steady safety who lacks the athleticism to cover large amounts of space on his own, but he can hold up in conventional cover-2 looks.

Perhaps more importantly, Gillespie is a quality tackler who should also give Carolina’s special teams a boost in 2021. This isn’t a swing for the fences in Round 6. Instead, it’s a nod to the team’s need to build cheap, but quality depth on the bottom of the roster.