2021 NFL Mock Draft: Final prediction has Patriots trade for Justin Fields

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

15 of 32

Christian Darrisaw, 2021 NFL Mock Draft. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Final 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers still get O-line help at No. 15

15. Carolina Panthers (via NE): Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The biggest reason the Carolina Panthers traded down from the No. 8 pick is because the Chargers jumped them to take Penei Sewell. Frankly, even with as good as I think Slater is, I don’t believe that the Panthers or any other team would value him highly enough to use a top-10 pick on the Northwestern product.

So while getting a future first-round pick and two more selections in this class, something that will help replenish the pool of capital that they lost in the Sam Darnold trade, the Panthers are also able to be in a better range to take the offensive tackle they need. Christian Darrisaw is the obvious guy to fall into that role.

Darrisaw’s raw talent doesn’t take long to see when you turn on his film. There simply are only a handful of human beings in the world who are blessed with his size and length while being able to move the way he does, both laterally and vertically.

That said, there are inconsistencies on his film as his effort level can be called into question, sometimes not dominating in easy matchups for him. If the Panthers can iron that out and keep him locked in play-to-play, though, he clearly checks the boxes to be a high-end offensive tackle in the NFL.

Who I Would Pick: Christian Darrisaw

Home/NFL