It’s still early in the mock draft season, but definitive themes have emerged for every team, as usual. In the case of the Carolina Panthers, most mocks have then picking a lineman in the first round, usually an edge prospect with 10-sack a year potential or an offensive lineman to help plug the holes up front and protect Cam Newton.
In Doug Farrar’s first mock draft of 2019, he has Carolina going in a different direction instead, selecting LSU cornerback Andraez “Greedy” Williams with the No. 16 pick. Here’s Farrar’s blurb on the pick.
“The Panthers’ cornerback situation in 2018 was… well, not good. . . Williams would be perfect in Carolina’s defense—he can play everything from force defender to boundary cornerback, and with his trail speed, he has the look of a CB1. Williams could stand to gain a few pounds, and he struggles against angular routes as most taller cornerbacks do, but he’s a first round talent here for a team in need of it.”
The Panthers may have greater needs than cornerback, but it was undeniably a sore spot last season and has been generally underrated in importance by the team for too long. Pairing Donte Jackson and Eric Reid with another LSU product makes a lot of sense and gives the team depth at the position they haven’t had in a long time.
The question they’d have to ask is if Williams would represent an immediate upgrade over James Bradberry. If they believe that’s the case, he might be worth a first-round pick. Checking in at 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds with long arms, Williams has all the physical attributes he needs to be a solid cover cornerback in the NFL.
Let’s watch the tape.
Williams vs. Auburn
Williams vs. Georgia
Williams vs. Miami
In just 24 career games at LSU, Williams posted eight interceptions and 19 pass breakups.
