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2015 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers Seven-Round Mock, Late-April Edition

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2015 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers Seven-Round Mock, Late-April Edition

Ron Rivera Carolina Panthers
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers have a chance to retool their roster in the 2015 NFL Draft. They have a total of nine picks, including three fifth-rounders. Carolina has been stuck with a terrible cap situation for the past few seasons, making the draft that much more important for them. Here is what they might do with each of their nine selections.

Round 1: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Andrus Peat Stanford
D.J. Alexander-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Andrus Peat Standord
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Carolina has to improve their offensive line, and fast. Andrus Peat is one of the most NFL-ready tackles in the draft and would start day one for Carolina. He could slot in at right tackle as a rookie and has the potential to become a good left tackle in the future. Peat is coming into the NFL from a pro-style system at Stanford which should help his learning curve.

Round 2: Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke

Laken Tomlinson Duke
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2: Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke

Laken Tomlinson Duke
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina would be wise to go right back to the offensive line in Round 2; that's how poor of a unit it is. Laken Tomlinson is another smart and game-ready prospect who can step right in for the Panthers. Tomlinson is a powerful guard with good toughness. Getting him along with a tackle in the first round would give Carolina's offensive line some much-needed hope.

Round 3: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Sammie Coates Auburn
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Round 3: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Sammie Coates Auburn
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Sammie Coates has watched his stock fall during the pre-draft process. He was once considered a late first-round pick and now is projected by many to fall to the third round. Questions about his route running and ability to make the tough catches have been the concerns of many. However, he remains an impressive physical presence and is worth a shot in the third round. Cam Newton likes big targets, and he could turn into a valuable deep threat.

Round 4: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State

Steven Nelson Oregon State
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Round 4: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State

Steven Nelson Oregon State
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Opposing teams faced little resistance against Carolina's secondary for most of last season. It improved a little at the end of the year, but they should still look to add a corner in the draft. Steven Nelson in the fourth round would be a good choice for the Panthers. He is an ultra-competitive cornerback who isn't afraid of getting physical with receivers. Nelson would be a solid addition to their secondary.

Round 5: Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami

Anthony Chickillo Miami
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Round 5: Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami

Anthony Chickillo Miami
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The thing that made Carolina great two years ago was their pass rush. They lost some of that last year with the suspension and eventual departure of Greg Hardy. Anthony Chickillo isn't going to be able to replace Hardy's talent, but he can become a valuable rotation piece along their defensive line. He doesn't have the explosive physical traits of the top pass rushers, but he is technically sound and has good instincts.

Round 5: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn

Cameron Artis-Payne Auburn
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Round 5: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn

Cameron Artis-Payne Auburn
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Carolina should look to grab a running back with one of their fifth-round picks, and Cameron Artis-Payne would be a good fit for their style of offense. Carolina started having real success with the read-option at the end of last year which is what Artis-Payne played in at Auburn. He is a tough runner with good patience.

Round 5: Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke

Jamison Crowder Duke
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Round 5: Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke

Jamison Crowder Duke
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Jamison Crowder could become one of the steals of the draft. He already has a defined role as a slot receiver. Crowder had 193 catches during his final two seasons at Duke. Scouts will doubt him because of his size which is something that has a way of coming back to bite a lot of teams. He would be a great addition to Carolina's passing attack.

Round 6: James Sample, SS, Louisville

James Sample Louisville
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Round 6: James Sample, SS, Louisville

James Sample Louisville
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James Sample is an inexperienced player with some real upside. He is very physical and a good tackler from the safety position. Most of his deficiencies go back to his lack of experience. He is worth a look in the sixth round for a team like Carolina to stash and develop him for a year.

Round 7: Quinton Spain, OG, West Virginia

Quinton Spain West Virginia
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Round 7: Quinton Spain, OG, West Virginia

Quinton Spain West Virginia
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

For Carolina, when in doubt, take a lineman. Quinton Spain meets just about all of the physical requirements it takes to be an NFL guard. His weakness is all in his technique, most notably his hand position. That is something that can theoretically be fixed by the right coaching staff, which is what makes him a solid late-round selection.

Keith Alrick is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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