ESPN Projects Panthers Trade 33rd Overall Pick

All sorts of opinions have been thrown around as to what the Carolina Panthers should do with the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Many suggest they take a receiver, center, or perhaps a pass rusher with that pick while the option of trading back is less discussed.

In his most recent NFL mock draft on ESPN, Field Yates has the Panthers doing exactly that by swinging a deal with the Tennessee Titans.

"Teams will have nearly 24 hours to determine if they want to move up in Round 2 for someone who might have Day 1 traits but slid. And I have the Titans sending No. 38 and a pair of fourth-rounders (one in 2025) to the Panthers for No. 33 overall to kick things off. Yes, Tennessee is already out a third-round pick this year as part of last year's trade up for Will Levis, but this team looks intent on trying to win ASAP."

Yates' Projection for Pick No. 33:

"The interior offensive line and pass rush have been fortified through free agency, but the Panthers are still looking to beef up the receiver room for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Pearsall -- who had 965 yards last season -- is an explosive, powerful pass-catcher with a wide catch radius."

Yates' Projection for Pick No. 39:

"Back-to-back picks here for the Panthers. Jaycee Horn is a standout corner on one half of the defense, and Tampa would be a good fit on the other side. He is long and physical in coverage, and he consistently disrupts receivers at the top of routes."

I don't mind the idea of trading back, but maybe more so with the 39th pick. Moving out of 33 likely puts you out of range to take one of the top two centers in this draft - Zach Frazier and Jackson Powers-Johnson - as it did in Yates' projection with Powers-Johnson going 35th and Frazier going 37th.

Also, not assuming that the Panthers agree with me, but if Missouri pass rusher Darius Robinson is still available at 33, you take him. D.J. Wonnum is a nice get and Jadeveon Clowney serves as a two-year band-aid, so adding a player of his caliber at a position of need is absolutely something the Panthers should consider.