2 weeks Ago By Brent Sobleski
The Carolina Panthers changed the game and not in a good way. With 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young benched and the Panthers looking like the NFL's worst team, quarterback is back on the table for the directionless franchise.
Furthermore, the timeline for a quarterback's development continues to shorten with each passing season. With no clear top option and fewer first-round-caliber choices at quarterback in the 2025 draft, other quarterback-starved teams could very well be placed in a bad situation after the Panthers take one of them. This week's top-10 mock draft—according to reverse order from this week's B/R power rankings —centers on how the Panthers get everything started, with the ripple effects that follow.
Also, the Bleacher Scouting Department of Brandon Thorn , Cory Giddings , Dame Parson and Matt Holder provide insight into which prospects impressed or disappointed coming out of college football's Week 3 action, starting with what could be a difference-making defensive tackle. 1. DT Deone Walker, Kentucky Not many opponents can stack up with the Georgia Bulldogs' physicality at the line of scrimmage.
Kentucky's Deone Walker proved up to the task. In a close contest, Walker made multiple pushes into the backfield, particularly during the first half. "The sell for Walker is pretty simple: Guys with his size (6'6", 345 lbs) aren't supposed to move the way he does," Holder said.
"Walker's physical traits allow him to be disruptive in the trenches, and that's what we saw during the first half against Georgia last Saturday. However, conditioning was one of his biggest issues last year and that also showed up in the second half last weekend. "The Wildcat has plenty of size to spare and could afford to slim down a bit to get in better shape and help keep his pads down consistently throughout the game.
And if he does that, Walker could be a disruptive player at the next level." 2. OG Tyler Booker, Alabama Alabama's Tyler Booker is one of the top guard prospects.
But he began his junior season at left tackle before finally moving back inside in Week 3. A world of difference could be seen in his play between the two positions. "After making it work at left tackle in place of injured starter Kadyn Proctor, Booker went back to his natural guard spot against Wisconsin and put on a show with the amount of displacement and knockdowns he was able to dish out," Thorn said.
"Booker is a massive, thickly built blocker with a nasty demeanor and the power to back it up. "There is a bit of a wild element to his play style that shifty, quicker defenders can exploit that exposes middling recovery skills. Against most competition, Booker's strengths shine and did in a major way last weekend.
" 3. RB Kalel Mullings, Michigan Even as reigning national champs, the Michigan Wolverines didn't truly have an identity entering this season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy declared for the NFL draft.
They also lost Blake Corum, Roman Wilson and several offensive linemen. The Wolverines needed an offensive reset and found a focal point in running back Kalel Mullings. "Mullings has been a bright spot through three games," Parson said.
"He is tied with Donovan Edwards in carries but has rushed for 120 more yards and one more touchdown. The 6'2", 233-pound Mullings boasts NFL size and runs with every pound on his frame. He has strong contact balance to absorb defenders' hits and stays upright to keep his legs driving forward for extra yardage.
"Mullings is also fleet-footed to string together multiple cuts and spin moves as he evades defenders in the open field. The former linebacker (22 games played) has made the transition to running back look effortless." 4.
S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina Hybrid prospects tend to fall into one or two categories. Either they go on to become defensive weapons (e.g.
, Derwin James) or NFL defensive coordinators fail to employ them correctly (e.g., Isaiah Simmons).
It's important to have a plan for versatile defenders. South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori will be the next test for an organization. "The 6'3", 227-pound Emmanwori brings an imposing frame.
As a big safety who excels in the run game, he also shows very good athleticism when working in space. Emmanwori does a great job of fitting the run with physicality at the point of attack when taking on blocks and tackling. "In the few games so far, he has shown the ability to play from depth but can easily move down to the Will linebacker position.
" 5. QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana Everyone better take notice of Indiana Hoosiers football, because head coach Curt Cignetti appears to be working his magic at yet another program. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who transferred from the Ohio Bobcats program, is a big reason it's working so far.
"Rourke has been one of the best-kept secrets to the early portions of this season," Parson said. "He tends to play mistake-free, smart and efficient football, though he did get away with one ill-advised pass against the UCLA Bruins. "In three games, the former MAC Offensive Player of the Year completed 73.
3 percent of his passes for 755 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. Rourke brings a savvy veteran feel to the passing offense, takes what the defense gives him, rarely puts the ball in harm's way and distributes the ball to his playmakers in space. His awareness and navigation in the pocket are outstanding.
He steps and slides up to allow his offensive tackles to wash edge-rushers around the arc. "At 6'5", he has no issues seeing over the offensive line and finding his receiving options at every level of the defense." 1.
CB Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin When facing the Alabama Crimson Tide, the now-Kalen DeBoer-led offense will lean on its physicality up front and a vertical passing attack. Wisconsin's Ricardo Hallman didn't get the memo. To start, the 5'10", 185-pound athlete is more of a pure cover corner.
Second, he surrendered two big downfield catches, which resulted in Alabama's third touchdown of Saturday's contest. The second one is particular looked like a cornerback sniffing to make a play in front of him instead of staying in-phase down the field. "Hallman has been up and down in the short season," Giddings said.
"The best part of his game is his athleticism in coverage. He's got quick feet and a fluid backpedal that allows him to quickly get out of breaks. "But his inconsistent eye discipline gets him in trouble with zone coverage.
His lack of size and strength has also shown up too often when taking on blocks. Bigger blockers easily wall him off, making it difficult to disengage. When tackling he also bounces off bigger backs and struggles to wrap up.
" 2. QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas The Kansas Jayhawks are an up-and-coming program. Quarterback Jalon Daniels has been a big part of that rise.
But when he's in a position to show who he is as an NFL prospect, he tends to fall flat. "After returning from an injury that limited him to three games in 2023, Daniels was expected to be a difference-maker for the Jayhawks offense," Parson said. "Instead, he has struggled mightily this season.
"Daniels has completed 38-of-70 pass attempts for a 54.3 completion percentage. He has yet to throw for over 200 yards in any game this season.
Daniels has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (three). His legs are still a weapon as a dual-threat quarterback, but he is less efficient and productive as a passer this season. "Kansas is on a two-game losing skid, and its hopes for the College Football Playoff might be over already.
" 3. OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia The 2025 offensive tackle class is looking for prospects to step up and claim a spot. West Virginia's Wyatt Milum was a preseason favorite to do so, with the potential to possibly slide into the first-round range.
He doesn't look a professional-level blindside option, though. "Milum is a skilled run-blocker and underdeveloped pass protector, who benefits from operating inside a run-first scheme at West Virginia that typically puts him in positions to shine," Thorn said. "That changes when the team is down big and in too many obvious passing situations.
Milum has been exposed a bit more this season with struggles creating space out of his stance to beat rushers to the spot. This has disrupted his strike timing and caused him to scramble a bit. "Milum's play strength is notable as a run-blocker and looks like enough of a plus to warrant consideration for a move inside at the next level.
" 4. RB Roydell Williams, Florida State Can the entire Florida State Seminoles roster be included? It probably should be after the program's embarrassing 0-3 start. Plenty of blame can be passed around, and it may be unfair to name only one individual.
However, expectations were high for Williams upon joining the program after four seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. "The 5'10", 215-pound ball-carrier was expected to be a main feature in the Seminoles offense," Parson said. "That has not transpired.
"Williams opened the season against Georgia Tech with 13 carries and has not eclipsed five over the last two games. The senior running back has not been productive and has struggled to find running room behind his offensive line. "In one of the most talent- and depth-rich running back classes in recent years, a lackluster start to the season could damage his draft stock.
" 5. DL Shemar Turner, Texas A&M The Texas A&M Aggies defensive front is supposed to be loaded. The individuals counted among the group need to fulfill that promise, though.
"At 6'4" and 300 pounds with decent movement skills and strength to win at the point of attack, Shemar Turner has some traits that NFL teams will like," Holder said. "However, he's still a project who is struggling to put it all together as he has subpar use of hands when rushing the passer and doesn't hold up well against double-teams and combo blocks. That leads to Turner blending in more than standing out, and he had a tough day against Florida last Saturday where he was unproductive.
" The Los Angeles Rams' season is quickly turning into a disaster. Sean McVay's squad started 0-2, with injuries decimating the lineup. Cornerback Darious Williams, safety John Johnson III, left tackle Joe Noteboom, wide receiver Puka Nacua and interior offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila currently find themselves on injured reserve.
Receiver Cooper Kupp is now dealing with a high ankle sprain, and cornerback Cobie Durant has a toe injury. A potential top-10 pick isn't out of the realm of possibility if the squad doesn't start to get healthy or find numerous capable replacements. As such, general manager Les Snead can stand pat and simply take the best available talent at a premium position.
Enter Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison. Even if the Rams were healthy, Tre'Davious White isn't a long-term solution. Williams turns 32 next March.
Morrison can provide a presence on the back end after the Rams made significant draft investments in their front seven this past offseason. The Chicago Bears didn't do enough to solidify their offensive front after they drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with this year's No. 1 overall pick.
Williams is tied for the league's most sacked quarterback through two weeks of play. The blame doesn't entirely fall on the offensive line, especially with a rookie quarterback finding his way. Even so, upgrades can be made.
LSU's Will Campbell will be an interesting evaluation. He's been LSU's starting left tackle since the start of his freshman campaign. He's played extremely well.
Yet his game may lend more to playing guard at the next level. The evaluation will depend on individual teams. Maybe Campbell immediately steps in and takes over the blind side from Braxton Jones, who has only one year remaining on his current deal.
Or, the incoming rookie slides inside to replace Teven Jenkins, who is a pending free agent. Either way, the Bears add significant talent to their front five, which should make life much easier for Williams. The Indianapolis Colts run defense has been downright atrocious at the start of the 2024 campaign.
Opponents have parted the blue sea and found plenty of ground toward the promised land. So far, the Colts are the only team to surrender over 400 rushing yards. The next closest defense is still 75 yards better than Indianapolis in this particular area.
To make matters worse, the Colts' best defender, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his ankle Sunday. With the selection of Georgia's Malaki Starks, general manager Chris Ballard could make up for the mistake of not adding anything of consequence to the team's secondary this offseason. Instead, he'll look to bolster a defensive interior that's been dominated at the point of attack.
Michigan's Mason Graham may come in and be slotted behind Buckner and Grover Stewart initially. However, he's a rare defensive tackle prospect capable of being a disruptive force on all three downs. His inclusion to the rotation should greatly strengthen what may be the league's biggest weakness.
Missouri's Luther Burden III came to play in Week 3. After a slow start to the season caused by the Tigers facing a lower level of competition, Missouri relied upon Burden far more heavily against a nationally ranked Boston College squad. The first-team All-SEC performer responded with six receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.
The scoring play shows how dangerous Burden can be after the catch. He has a strong lower body to sift through traffic and make tough plays, whether he's working outside the numbers or from the slot. The Commanders have built their early-season offense around targets creating after the catch.
As Hogs Haven's Bill Horgan noted , rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leads the NFL in pass attempts behind the line of scrimmage, while the Commanders receivers are fifth in yards after catch. Some of Washington's current setup is to build Daniels' confidence and allow him to grow as the season progresses. At the same time, Burden is the type of talent who can fit in well alongside Terry McLaurin.
Currently, the Jacksonville Jaguars own the league's third-worst pass defense. It's only a two-game sample size, of course. But it speaks to a larger problem.
The Jaguars have invested quite a bit of draft capital in their secondary without seeing significant improvement. Tyson Campbell signed a four-year contract extension this summer, though he's currently dealing with a hamstring injury. Otherwise, Ronald Darby will go into next season as a 31-year-old cornerback.
Montaric Brown has shown some signs so far this season, but he shouldn't be viewed as a quality starter at this point. Rookie Jarrian Jones primarily serves as the squad's nickel corner. Clearly, a legitimate bookend and potential upgrade is needed.
Michigan's Will Johnson is a true lockdown corner. He's yet to allow a touchdown since the start of the 2023 campaign, per College Football Report . The first-team All-American has the size (6'2", 202 lbs), length and fluidity to be a top-notch cornerback at the NFL level.
Once paired with Campbell, the Jaguars could finally have some stability in a secondary that hasn't finished outside of the bottom 10 in pass defense since 2021. The New England Patriots lack a true left tackle. Oh, the team has multiple offensive tackles.
None of them should be viewed as serious candidates to protect Jacoby Brissett's or Drake Maye's blind side. Chukwuma Okorafor, Mike Onwenu and Caedan Wallace are natural right tackles (or even guards). Vederian Lowe is a replacement-level performer.
A significant investment in a premium position to provide an anchor for the front five will go a long way to stabilize the entire offense. Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. looks to be the best of what may turn out to be a down offensive tackle class.
Even the 6'4", 320-pound Banks doesn't necessarily fill the typical standards for the position. But the fluidity found in his pass set portends a long-term, top-notch pass protector. Banks can be more consistent as a run-blocker.
Still, he'll be paid to keep his quarterback upright. He has the potential to be a Rashawn Slater-like bodyguard, which will give the Patriots a much stronger offensive front than the one they're currently fielding. Offense still appears to be the way go in Tennessee.
The Titans offensive line has yet to be fully figured out, even with Bill Callahan molding the unit. Still, left tackle JC Latham has made significant strides already. Besides, the Titans already sunk a pair of premium draft picks in Latham and left guard Peter Skoronski.
Will Levis is far from proving he's the long-term solution at quarterback. Right now, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Georgia's Carson Beck are considered the top two prospects but they're off the board, though Miami's Cam Ward is making an early-season charge. With those things in mind, attention turns to the skill positions.
Calvin Ridley is the Titans' top target. He's signed through the 2027 campaign. DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd are free agents after this year.
Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan quickly established himself as the class' WR1 with a monster 300-plus-yard performance in the Wildcats' season debut. He wasn't nearly the same factor the following week against inferior competition. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita knew exactly who to target in an important early season Big 12 contest against the Kansas State Wildcats.
Arizona came up short, but its 6'5" target caught 11 passes for 138 yards. The Denver Broncos can stand pat at No. 3 and land the best all-around talent for the 2025 class in Colorado's Travis Hunter.
As a wide receiver, Hunter posted his third straight 100-yard game to open the season. He's also had back-to-back games of 10 or more receptions. His 34 catches and five touchdown snags currently rank second overall.
On the other side of the ball, Hunter plucked his first interception against the Colorado State Rams. With Saturday's performance, Hunter became the first player since 1996 with 100 receiving yards, two touchdown receptions and an interception, per ESPN Stats & Info . According to Pro Football Focus , the hybrid prospect ranks top 11 in both receiving and defensive grades for his position.
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix hasn't played particularly well to start his career. But there's no reason to believe Denver has a short leash on this year's 12th overall draft pick. Instead, the organization can continue to build around him.
Hunter adds another weapon in specific packages while providing a long-term bookend to cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Daniel Jones may very well be on a one-way ticket to leaving the New York/New Jersey area unless a dramatic turnaround occurs for the Giants. While it's only been two games, frustration with Jones and the offense continues to mount.
Currently, the Giants' starting quarterback is 29th in completion percentage. According to quarterback rating, Jones ranks above the likes of the Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson, Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson, Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams, Denver Broncos' Bo Nix and Carolina Panthers' Bryce Young. In other words, Jones is better than another quarterback who's been a severe disappointment, three developmental options and a fifth who's already been benched.
The Giants have an escape hatch built into Jones' contract next year. The team can release him with a June 1 designation and save $30.5 million toward the 2025 salary cap, per Over The Cap .
By picking this high again, another quarterback is the logical choice. Georgia's Carson Beck didn't perform particularly well against the Kentucky Wildcats this past weekend. He's currently dealing with a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder.
Beck is a facilitator. He will work within the offensive structure while delivering the ball on time and accurately. He can do things that Jones has proved he can't.
Make no mistake: The Carolina Panthers made a franchise-changing decision this week. They've moved on, even if Bryce Young is still on the roster. A team doesn't bench its No.
1 overall pick—knowing the ramifications publicly and privately—and expect that situation to be reconciled down the road. Carolina's brass watched Young for just over a season and basically said, "Yep, we've seen enough." Keep in mind, neither general manager Dan Morgan nor head coach Dave Canales were in their current positions when the franchise chose to trade up, surrender multiple early-round draft picks and select Young with the No.
1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. They're not tied to the 23-year-old quarterback. They're trying to win.
If the Panthers still land the first selection, quarterback has to be the choice. The franchise can move on and reset. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is a mercurial talent with significant upside.
After being shelled by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Sanders was a little tentative at the start of the Buffaloes' in-state meeting with the Colorado State Rams. Once the quarterback got into a rhythm, he once again looked like a future top pick by throwing for 310 yards and four scores. The accuracy, arm talent, athleticism and creativity are apparent.
Sanders simply needs to shine against top competition to secure this spot..
