Carolina Panthers begin post-Cam Newton life in 7-round 2020 mock draft
By Lucas Schuh
4. 846. Quarterback. Anthony Gordon. Washington State. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
As solid of a quarterback as Teddy Bridgewater is, there are issues with his game. He’s somewhat risk-averse, meaning he’s not making a throw unless a receiver is completely open. That unwillingness to take chances can be detrimental to an offense, especially with his lack of proven ability as a deep-ball thrower. Thus, adding another quarterback to the fold would be valuable.
Anthony Gordon is not afraid to make the throws that Bridgewater avoids as he’s ready to let the ball fly to lead his target into open spots. He targets the intermediate and deep portions of the field often and can work through his progressions solidly. Of course, his propensity for taking risks can lead to bad decisions as he’ll sometimes lose track of defenders in the middle of the field.
Resting on the laurels after signing Bridgewater would be a terrible idea for Carolina. They must do their due diligence at quarterback beyond Kyle Allen and Will Grier. Drafting Gordon could possibly give Bridgewater a run for his money at the position and push him to be better.
Scouting Report. Guard. Calvin Throckmorton. 5. Pick Analysis. Oregon. player. 820
This offseason, the Panthers traded away star offensive guard Trai Turner to the Chargers, leaving them with a glaring hole at the position. Calvin Throckmorton could be an answer to the need at the position, one that fits better long term than anyone currently on the roster.
While at Oregon, Throckmorton played multiple positions along the Ducks offensive line, mainly lining up at offensive tackle. In the NFL, however, he’s likely better served as a guard. He’s not the most agile player but he has tremendous strength at the point of attack. Many young prospects struggle to adjust in that regard as they move to the professional ranks but it’s hard to see that being an issue for Throckmorton.
To be sure, Throckmorton is not going to be an immediate fix for the Panthers at guard but he will help the issue a bit right away and more so long-term. Bridgewater and Gordon aren’t the most mobile quarterbacks and adding protection with Throckmorton will help keep them upright.