Raising Zona
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2016 NFL Mock Draft: February edition

By Johnathan Henson

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Sep 12, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) celebrates the win over the Oregon Ducks after a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) celebrates the win over the Oregon Ducks after a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

30th Pick – Carolina Panthers (15-1)
Jack Conklin – OT
Michigan State – Redshirt Junior
6-6, 318 Pounds
The Panthers have been analyzed as a returning NFC Champion, if not for the sufficating defense they present, but for the fact that Cam Newton is going to continue his reign as a possible MVP canidate next season. Carolina had a tough break in the Super Bowl, don’t let it get you down Panthers fans, Carolina still has one of the best teams in the NFL. Cam Newton is still great, Jonathan Stewart is a beast on the ground (unless they release them), your getting the combo of Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess (maybe Philly Brown), and the offensive line had one bad game all season. Sorry, that bad game was the biggest game of the seasonn, and eventually gave way to an incredible beatdown.

On the brightside, the Panthers still have plenty of good offensive lineman who are under contract, and they could assist in the development of Jack Conklin of Michigan State. Conklin was simply one of the better offensive lineman in the draft this year, proving his movement was better then a lot of scouts thought. Jack plays with a low center of gravity, uses his hip-flextion very well, and seems very keen on playing through contact. I don’t think that the Panthers necesarily need an offensive tackle, but I do think they need to upgrade a little bit. Michael Oher and Mike Remmers saw a lot of speed rushers, they got pushed around like children, and maybe it’s time to start replacing.

For those of us that are worried about the never-ending talent that the Panthers have, they do have some contracts that are expiring. If the Panthers want to keep Josh Norman, Mike Tolbert, and Roman Harper, they need to start shuffling money around. Next off-season will also be tough on them, as players like Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, and Charles Johnson are entering contract years. The Panthers have so many things to address, not enough time or salary cap space to do so. Do the Panthers keep Michael Oher and Mike Remmers this off-season after such a bad Super Bowl appearance?

Player Comparison: Cordy Glenn – Buffalo Bills

Next: The Broncos are on the clock

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