On Friday night, the Carolina Panthers opted for a bit of clay to mold. The 39th overall selection was spent on Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo while the 80th overall selection—one they traded up for—called on Oregon edge defender DJ Johnson.
So, are the experts feeling Carolina’s Day 2 haul? Let’s take a look at some of their grades.
Touchdown Wire
Mingo: B
Mingo proved to be a receiver in the Deebo Samuel/Golden Tate mold with the Rebels, built as much like a running back as a receiver. He should be a good replacement for D.J. Moore, who the Panthers lost in the trade to move to the first overall pick, and he’ll be an easy target for Bryce Young.
NFL.com
Mingo and Johnson: C+
Mingo was great value for a team needing an athletic, physical receiver. Carolina sent a third-round pick to New England last year to pick quarterback Matt Corral, which has not paid off thus far. Johnson met a need for another long, strong edge rusher, but he’s not yet a finished product.
CBS Sports
Mingo: B-
Sizable but compact WR with RB-like frame and RB-like capabilities after the catch. Tested awesomely. Carolina needs to rebuild the WR group. He’s a lesser version of D.J. Moore.
Johnson: D
Explosive, thick athlete. Very developmental type with his pass-rush move arsenal. Much better and more assertive against the run. I like the athletic profile, but this is not worth a trade up in Round 3.
The Athletic
Mingo: B
The Panthers dealt No. 1 receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago to land the No. 1 overall pick, and by selecting Mingo, they have a chance to replace him in time.
Everything about Mingo (6-1 ¾, 220) is smooth and well-defined. He caught 51 passes for 861 yards and five touchdowns last season at Ole Miss and was a second-team All-SEC pick. Mingo produced 10 catches of 30-plus yards, and he uses his size well in his routes with great body control. His 247-yard game against Vanderbilt broke Elijah Moore’s single-game record at Ole Miss.
What’s easy to see with Mingo is his physical size, large hands (10 3/8) and his 4.46 speed with a 1.52-second 10-yard split. He also put up 22 reps of 225 pounds, so there’s strength to match his weight. He missed seven games in 2021 after a stress fracture but came back strong in 2022.
Johnson: D
This could qualify as a reach for the Panthers, who traded up for Johnson. The No. 21-ranked edge rusher graded as a fifth-rounder by Brugler, Johnson (6-4, 260) was an elite performer at the combine. He ran a 4.49 40 and his wingspan measured 80 inches.
At Oregon, Johnson played outside linebacker and tight end until the 2022 season when had six sacks. He had 39 tackles last year as an honorable mention selection. He’s athletic but unrefined. It’s a reach at this point of the draft.
Pro Football Focus
Mingo: “Average”
Mingo was one of the biggest risers in the pre-draft process and finds himself in Carolina to team up with top pick Bryce Young. While his production in college was spotty, he has a good blend of size and athleticism to like his fit here with the Panthers. Not to mention, he flashed often on tape between unbelievable body adjustments and clean wins at the line of scrimmage.
Johnson: “Good”
This is one of the bigger reaches so far based on the PFF big board, with Johnson coming in at 237th overall. The Panthers are taking a swing on Johnson’s athleticism on the edge (4.49-second 40-yard dash at 261 pounds). He’s a 24-year-old prospect who recorded fewer than 50 career pressures on 786 defensive snaps in college.
Yahoo! Sports
Mingo: B
The Panthers get a target for Bryce Young, adding to a thin wide receivers room following their trade of D.J. Moore to the Bears. Mingo is raw, but it’s hard to find his blend of blocking, run-after-the-catch ability and overall physicality. He’s a lottery ticket type pick for the Panthers.
Johnson: C-
Trading up for Johnson probably wasn’t necessary here. He had a great 40-yard dash time, but not very much production at Oregon. Still, taking athletes on the defensive line is almost always a defensible idea.
For The Win
Mingo: B-
There’s a thick crop of second-tier wideouts still remaining after the first round, and the Panthers had their pick at No. 39. I’m not convinced Mingo will be the best among them with Jalin Hyatt, Josh Downs and — sure why not? — A.T. Perry still on the board.
Frank Reich can use him as a big, fast, mismatch-creating slot receiver and he should be able to build a quick rapport with Bryce Young. It’s a good pick, but he may not be the best receiver available.
Johnson: C+
Johnson tested well at the combine and has the athletic chops to thrive. But, for now, he’s a ball of clay with no definitive shape. I suppose the Panthers can wait.
