2016 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers Post-Combine Seven-Round Mock

By Bryan Zarpentine

Despite coming up short in the Super Bowl, the Carolina Panthers had an amazing season in 2015. But if they’re going to take the next step and become world champions, the Panthers need to improve in certain areas which means bringing in a good draft class. Here is a prediction of how Carolina may spend its picks in the 2016 NFL Draft.

2016 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers Post-Combine Seven-Round Mock

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Round 1, No. 30 Overall - Kevin Dodd, Defensive End, Clemson — Charles Johnson and Jared Allen are gone, so the Panthers need to find a defensive end they can pair with Kony Ealy. Dodd played a key role on Clemson's outstanding defense last season, and he actually has a similar skill set to Ealy when Carolina drafted him. With Dodd and Ealy playing together, the Panthers will continue to have a strong pass rush.

Round 2, No. 62 Overall - Le'Raven Clark, Offensive Tackle, Texas Tech — The Panthers were exposed in the Super Bowl by Von Miller and the rest of Denver's pass rush, and they need to address the outside of their offensive line. Clark is a big, physical presence on the o-line, and even if there's a learning curve at first, he could eventually become an asset in Carolina who can help protect Cam Newton.

Round 3, No. 94 Overall - Zack Sanchez, Cornerback, Oklahoma — The Panthers are going to need a new corner who can play opposite Josh Norman, and they'll take their chances with Sanchez. He can have his issues, but Sanchez will get plenty of help with Norman able to cover one on one. Where Sanchez is useful is with his ball skills and propensity for creating turnovers, which can help make him an asset on Carolina's defense.

Round 4 - Malcolm Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Georgia — Even with Kelvin Benjamin coming back, Carolina's receivers aren't overly impressive, and they'll need a No. 2 to complement Benjamin. Mitchell's college career was derailed by injuries, but he's the most talented wideout to come out of Georgia since A.J. Green. When healthy, he can be a dangerous playmaker in the NFL and would be a great complement to Benjamin.

Round 5 - K.J. Dillon, Safety, West Virginia — Roman Harper is leaving Carolina, so the Panthers need to add some help in their secondary. Dillon comes from a high school program that's known for producing NFL talent, and he was a consistent and reliable player throughout his college career. The Panthers may not be getting a star, but Dillon is a solid addition for a fifth-round pick.

Round 7 - Ron Thompson, Defensive End, Syracuse — Thompson is a great value pick in Round 7 and gives the Panthers another pass rusher on their defensive line. He's a little undersized, but he is a tremendous athlete and even spent time playing defensive tackle during his college career. Thompson has enough athleticism and pass-rushing moves to be a rotational player in the NFL who can contribute a handful of sacks per season.

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