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Carolina Panthers 7-Round 2022 Mock Draft: A Solution At QB

By Andrew Fischer

Jan 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Darrian Beavers (0) reacts after tackling Temple Owls quarterback D’Wan Mathis (not pictured) in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Darrian Beavers (0) reacts after tackling Temple Owls quarterback D’Wan Mathis (not pictured) in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 4, 122nd Overall: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

As of this writing, the Carolina Panthers have three linebackers set to hit the open market, Haason Reddick, Julian Stanford, and Jermaine Carter Jr. Reddick and Carter were both starters for Carolina last year, so regardless of what the team decides, they’ll need some depth at the linebacker spot, preferably someone who can play inside and outside. Enter Cincinnati’s Darrian Beavers.

The Cincinnati native had the best year of his career in the Bearcats’ undefeated regular season last year. He set or tied career highs in sacks, tackles for loss, and fumbles recovered. He was fifth in the American Athletic conference with 98 tackles on the year. And he’s one of the new hybrid players becoming more common in the NFL. Beavers played both wide receiver and safety in high school, so he brought his agility and coverage skills to the linebacker position.

Beavers has a big frame (6’4” 252) that he knows how to use, attacking downhill towards the line of scrimmage on running plays. He excels at diagnosing plays and uses his high football IQ to foil screens, draws, misdirection plays and to disregard play action fakes.

Darrian Beavers can run sideline to sideline to cover receivers and run down ball carriers. His safety background provides him with cover skills that most linebackers don’t have and provide him with a unique viewpoint to figure out what’s going to happen on a given play.

He can do a little bit of everything (make tackles, play zone coverage, rush the passer), but Beavers isn’t exactly spectacular at any of those things. He does have pretty high floor though and should be a nice value for the Carolina Panthers as the 21st pick of the fourth round.

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