The Panthers sent their big guns to watch Trey Lance throw at North Dakota State’s pro day a couple weeks ago. They decided to skip Alabama’s yesterday though, missing out on a chance to watch Mac Jones underthrow some receivers on an important stage.
While we probably shouldn’t look too much into missing one throwing session – especially given their first-hand experience with Jones during the Senior Bowl week – this could indicate that they’re not keen on taking Jones at No. 8 overall. Joe Person at the Athletic reports that they don’t view him as a top-10 kind of a draft pick.
“If Rhule and Fitterer are no-shows for Jones’ second pro day, that would seem to confirm what I’ve heard since the Senior Bowl — that the Panthers like Jones’ leadership and winning track record, but don’t view him as a top-10 pick.”
This fits with our estimation of Jones’ game, which is too similar to Teddy Bridgewater’s to be worth serious consideration. If the Panthers are truly interested in getting an upgrade they’ll have to get someone more athletic and dynamic that fits what teams want in modern QBs.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that one of those QBs will still be available when Carolina is on the clock. The Jaguars and Jets are expected to take Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
That only leaves Lance and Justin Fields for several QB-needy teams to fight over between No. 3 and No. 8. The Falcons, Eagles and Lions might all be in the mix for a quarterback, making it necessary for the Panthers to move up to make sure they get a top-four prospect.
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