2018 NFL Mock Draft: Final projection on draft day

23. New England Patriots (via Rams): Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

It’s still somewhat baffling to try and ascertain what exactly happened with Malcolm Butler and the New England Patriots, most notably during the Super Bowl that he might as well have sat in the stands for. Regardless of what the real story is though, Butler is gone and the Patriots have now lost two very talented cornerbacks to free agency in consecutive offseasons. Thus, it’s time to bring in reinforcements like Joshua Jackson.

The Iowa cornerback is a pure zone corner at this point as a prospect, but he has all of the tools to develop into more than that as he enters the pro game and picks up the nuances of it. He seems like an ideal candidate to play a role akin to Butler’s during his time in Foxborough, but also adds special teams value, which you know has to have Bill Belichick salivating.

24. Carolina Panthers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

Offensive line, wide receiver, tight end, safety, edge rusher and the list goes on in terms of needs that the Carolina Panthers need to address moving forward. To be a playoff team, they have an awful lot of holes to fill. However, it’s all about value and making one selection at a time when it comes to the draft, and the Panthers don’t reach or panic at this point.

Carolina has been searching for a Josh Norman replacement since they allowed him to leave in free agency. While Jaire Alexander isn’t a 1-for-1 replacement for Norman, he is a player with all the ability to be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL. Pairing him wth James Bradberry in the Panthers secondary would give this unit real depth in the Queen City and hopefully solidify the position for several years.