2017 NFL mock draft: Carolina Panthers land Tre’Davious White

In the first round of the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, the Carolina Panthers and Cat Scratch Reader took Alabama tight end O.J. Howard. There’s nothing wrong with the selection because Howard is such a good talent. However, it leaves some obvious needs at pass rusher and cornerback going into the second round.

Jaxon from CSR is back up to make his second-round pick for the Panthers to address one of those holes.

Jaxon: The Panthers did spend a lot of draft capital last year on the cornerback position, but that was to avoid a crisis after the Josh Norman fiasco. This year, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman gets back to his roots, going with the best player available, and that is cornerback Tre’Davious White.

White actually fills a couple of needs, but what makes him BPA is this: he can cover. White excels at man coverage, something any team can always use more of in the secondary. White is also a dynamic kick returner and can play gunner on special teams. That will allow him to contribute as a rookie while he adjusts to the NFL behind slot cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. White is also the kind of locker room presence the Panthers look for. As a senior at LSU he was awarded the coveted No. 18 jersey which signifies success and a selfless attitude both on and off the field.

Analysis: This pick completely makes sense, and does fit a big need for the Panthers. The only quibble is that the team still needs a pass rusher badly. The deeper you get into the draft, the harder it can be to find a good one. In the second round of our mock scenario, players like Auburn’s Carl Lawson and Missouri’s Charles Harris are out there for the taking.

Coming up at noon ET Cincy Jungle is back on the clock picking for the Cincinnati Bengals.