Who would Carolina Panthers fans pick if they were in charge of the 2022 NFL draft? Well, we have our answer.
Pro Football Focus set out to tackle this question, using results from its Mock Draft Simulator to forecast a fan-powered first round. The mock paired 32 prospects with each selection based off the frequency the simulator’s users chose them in each particular spot.
So, the faithful has spoken, and they’re shouting for a new hope under center in Liberty University’s Malik Willis.
“Panthers fans know they need a quarterback, and both Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett are being selected a lot at No. 6 overall, with tackle Charles Cross the other player garnering a lot of attention,” Sam Monson writes. “Willis is the quarterback to roll the dice on in this draft given his upside and potential. He has a cannon for an arm, but it’s his rushing threat that makes his early floor much higher. He averaged 4.7 yards after contact for his college career and broke 90 tackles in 2021 alone.”
Already off the board by that sixth selection in this particular simulation were Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and Alabama’s Evan Neal. That, in turn, left Carolina with Willis—who was selected by fans 22.9 percent of the time.
As for the other projected favorites for Carolina’s No. 6 pick—Mississippi State’s Charles Cross landed at No. 9 to the Seattle Seahawks, NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu at No. 13 to the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett at No. 20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Luckily for Willis, he already has some experience interacting with the fanbase that apparently wants him.
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