The Carolina Panthers hit the jackpot in the 2011 NFL draft when they selected quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick in the draft.
Newton won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after throwing for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns and running for 706 yards and scoring 14 more touchdowns.
The Panthers would love similar results with their draft this year, especially if they can draft a defensive player that could quickly turn into an impact performer like Newton did last year.
Here's my latest prediction as to what Carolina could do on Thursday, April 26, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Round 1 (No. 9 overall)—Fletcher Cox, DT—Mississippi State
The best option for the Panthers here might be to trade out of this spot and grab a few extra picks. Since that's not going to happen in this mock, Carolina will grab disruptive defensive tackle Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State.
Cox is a high-motor, great-sized lane clogger that can also get into the backfield and grab the quarterback when needed. He has versatility to play inside or on the end and will likely get bigger and stronger quickly in the NFL.
Round 2 (No. 40 overall)—Mohamed Sanu, WR—Rutgers
With the Panthers addressing the defense in Round 1, they'll thank Cam Newton for his fantastic year in 2011 by drafting him another big target in Mohamed Sanu.
Last season, Sanu caught 115 passes and scored seven touchdowns. He's 6-foot-2 and extremely strong, which could be good news in a division of defensive backfields that are on the small side and have been known to be weak tacklers.
Round 3—No pick (traded to Chicago for Greg Olsen)
Round 4 (No. 104 overall)—Brandon Washington, OL—Miami
Brandon Washington played both tackle and guard at Miami, but will likely play guard in the NFL. He's a huge force at 320 pounds and a fierce run blocker who makes very few mental mistakes.
He does need to work on his pass protection, but that's fine as he'll play in a division where none of Carolina's opponents ranked higher than 19th in the league in sacks. If he improves each year in the NFL, as he did at Miami, he'll have time to bring his protection skills up to snuff.
Round 5 (No. 153 overall)—Audie Cole, ILB—North Carolina State
The Panthers were absolutely decimated by injuries to the linebacker corps last year. The pick of Audie Cole here is as much insurance as it is adding depth to a unit that really needs it. Cole isn't a prototypical linebacker with size and great athleticism, but he puts himself around the ball constantly and is a heady defensive option at this stage in the draft.
Round 6 (No. 180 overall)—Tim Fugger, DE—Vanderbilt
Tim Fugger did wonders for his draft status at his pro day in late March, but now will have to prove that as an undersized lineman—he's just 248 pounds—he can get to the quarterback like he did at Vanderbilt where he led the team in sacks last season with seven.
Fugger is going to have to work hard at the next level to keep from being pushed around, but he's quick off the snap and always is on the go.
Round 6 (No. 207 overall)—Lance Lewis, WR—East Carolina (Compensatory Pick)
Lance Lewis was a junior college transfer who played in just 22 games for the Pirates. But he made the most of those games, catching 149 passes for 1,716 yards and 22 touchdowns. With his height—he's 6-foot-3—and good hands, Lewis could be a fabulous red zone target for Cam Newton.
Round 7 (No. 216 overall)—Steven Baker, OT—East Carolina
In what might be the first time East Carolina has sent two players to the same team in the same draft, the Panthers will grab Steven Baker with the 216th overall pick.
Baker wowed scouts at the East Carolina pro day with his physical prowess and his immense size at 6-foot-8, 310 pounds. Baker only has one year of starting-unit experience in college, but the Panthers can afford to work on this seventh-round project.
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