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

Round 5, 143rd Overall: Cade Otton, TE, Washington

This 2022 NFL Mock Draft is about the Carolina Panthers setting up their future franchise quarterback, Malik Willis, for success. The first two picks after Willis in this mock draft were offensive linemen to protect him, and this fifth-round selection is a value pick at tight end.

Cade Otton has the size (6’5” 250) and requisite athleticism to be an NFL starter at tight end. He’s not a super athlete, but few players are at this point in the draft. He does have enough juice to be able to get open and make catches in the NFL.

Otton has shown quickness in tight spaces, and he’s demonstrated the ability to use head fakes and technical footwork to gain separation from defenders. He knows how to use his size to his advantage and has a large catch radius as a result. He can also make his presence felt in the running game. Cade Otton is a high energy and high IQ blocker, using his intelligence to attack his assignments and his hands and torso flexion to stave off edge defenders.

In short, Cade Otton is a smart, high motor player who will compete and catch the ball reliably both in traffic and against zone coverage schemes. You could certainly do worse with a fifth-round draft pick.