Howdy folks! Welcome to The Pick Is In! That’s right, we’re back for another run with this experiment and can’t wait to see what our GMs, err, writers can cook up. If you’re unfamiliar with this series, lemme paint the picture for you. Our writers will be stepping up to the plate for a NFL franchise and act as if they have full control of the team on draft day. For each team, we’ll have two or three writers step into the front office and take over as general manager. You’ll see picks made from No. 1 overall to a sixth-rounder, bold picks will be made in unique spots, and trades will be cooked up. To highlight some of our success from 2022, we saw the Bengals trade up to take a star named Tariq Woolen in the mid 40s, the Packers snagged a stud in Jalen Pitre with the 28th overall pick, and with the 98th overall pick, the Saints struck gold with the valuable Zach Tom. This year will be no different. Our GMs will once again be showcasing their unique abilities to find intriguing talent. Whether you know it or not, the draft has already begun and it resumes with The Pick Is In. Welcome to the 2023 NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers are on the clock…
Liam Blutman:
The Pick Is In: Josh Downs WR — North Carolina (2nd Round, 39th Overall)
Well… uhh… we made it! The Carolina Panthers moment is here as they traded a zillion assets to draft Bryce Young with the first overall pick. Cool. Now what? Compete for the NFC South crown? Sure… but why do I care about that? I just wanna draft, and I’ve got the following picks to make do with: 39, 93, 114, 132, and 145. This is an easy decision for me as I’m a staunch believer in pairing a rookie QB with a rookie pass catcher. I want the two young talents to develop together and blossom into radiating talents together. The Panthers will be taking care of the QB part, so I’ll be using the 39th overall pick to pair a wide receiver with Young. We didn’t have to travel too far to locate Josh Downs, who played his college ball at North Carolina.
11.#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/lXT168yv4X
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) March 26, 2023
The 22-year-old rookie has tested exceptionally well. His 8.99 RAS proves that and is highlighted by a 4.48 40, 1.49 10-yard split, 38.5-inch vertical, 10-foot-11 broad jump, and a 6.75 3-cone. The concerns will come due to his 5-foot-9, 171-pound build. He’s small. But he’s dynamic, explosive, and he’s a weapon. Josh Downs moves at a different level than these other dudes. He strikes quickly with lethal cutting ability and wins with long speed that is fueled by great strides. You can spot Downs in the slot cooking up magic as he separates from the defense with decisive route-running. That’s thanks to immaculate footwork, sharp change of direction, and elite tempo. Despite his size, he’s a terrific piece in the red zone, not just because he finds ways to get open but because he plays bigger than his size would suggest and boasts a solid catch radius with stellar body control. And as we saw with Kansas City in the Super Bowl, getting playmakers the rock inside the 20 makes for a successful trip to the red zone. Downs will be able to catch quick hitters and turn them into important gains thanks to his clean cutting and slippery moves after the catch.
.@UNCFootball @JoshDowns has been super productive for the Tar Heels; but the creativity in his route running is what makes his tape so fun to study. His game easily transfers to Sunday afternoons. #nfldraft #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/mUFb283N6n
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 9, 2023
Downs really does make for one of the more underrated WRs in this class and would be a no-doubt first-round pick if he was closer to the listed height of 5-foot-10 that he played under at UNC. And yet… it wouldn’t shock me one bit if Downs heard his name called on Day 1. Speed kills, and it wins over NFL front offices. For the sake of my Bryce Young and Josh Downs pairing, let’s hope Downs is there at No. 39 for our Panthers. If not… congrats to Josh Downs and his wallet.
George Novak:
The Pick Is In: Keion White EDGE — Georgia Tech (2nd Round, 39th Overall)
In one of the most hyped trades in recent draft memory, the Carolina Panthers jumped up to grab the No. 1 overall pick after trading with the Chicago Bears, giving away star receiver D.J. Moore along with their first- and second-round picks this year, a first-round pick in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025. All reports lead to this pick being former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, who will look to become the face of the franchise starting this fall, but the truth is the Panthers have more work to do than just at the quarterback position. After giving up a haul for Young at No. 1, I have been tapped to step in to select for the Panthers in the second round, and in order to make an immediate impact for the franchise, I’m going defense.
The Panthers are ascending at the right time in the NFC South. The division lacks a frontrunner, and while the spotlight has been on the blockbuster move for the top pick, the Panthers made a splash on the defensive side of the ball, hiring Ejiro Evero as their defensive coordinator following the release of his contract from the Denver Broncos in February. This draft class is stacked at a few positions -— one of which being EDGE — and as luck would have it, that is exactly what the Panthers need in the second round. In order to bolster Evero’s 3-4 to take the Panthers to the top of the NFC South, they will be taking Keion White out of Georgia Tech with the 39th overall pick.
Keion White is a rare blend of size, strength and speed, and having moved over from his original position of tight end, he’s also incredibly athletic for a big man.
Keion White is a DT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.92 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 14 out of 1623 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/TnbiIwwAxQ pic.twitter.com/73WUELJRle
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 23, 2023
Originally recruited by Old Dominion to play tight end, White moved over to EDGE and was the most anticipated transfer to Georgia Tech in 2021 before an ankle injury sidelined him for the majority of the year. Upon his return, however, White had a stellar 2022 campaign, logging 54 total tackles — including 7.5 sacks on the season. Couple that production with his 6-foot-5, 285-pound frame, and it isn’t hard to see why White has been one of the largest risers in the draft class.
The biggest knock against Keion is age, as he will enter the league as a 24-year-old rookie this fall, and following the position move to EDGE during his last year at ODU and injury during his first season at Georgia Tech, his technique is still very raw. His motor, however, is relentless.
Georgia Tech Edge Keion White
— Jared Tokarz (@JaredNFLDraft) April 21, 2023
6’5 - 285 lbs
-Athletically gifted for his impressive
size
- High Ceiling = still pretty raw
- Recruited TE in college at ODU
-Long Arms/Powerful Hands
- 14 TKFL 7.5 Sacks in 2022
- Early 2nd round projectionpic.twitter.com/lG5w6ZsQnb
There’s no doubt Keion White will be a force in the NFL with his combination of size and athleticism, but the more pressing question will be if he is available for the Panthers to pick up midway through the second round for an incredible value.
About the author
I am a diehard UCLA fan that has enjoyed (?) mediocrity year after year. My favorite CFB moment was witnessing UCLA comeback from 34 down against Texas A&M. Being at the Rose Bowl for that historic moment is something I’ll never forget. I have written about CFB since I was 14 and my favorite thing to do is give under-the-radar athletes the recognition they deserve. You might know me from @NoContextCFB !
Native of New York, resident of Washington, DC. Graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Georgetown Business School. I love writing about coaching, quarterbacks, recruiting, and all aspects of gambling. My first college football memory was circling bowl game picks on a bet sheet for my grandpa and as a lifelong Longhorns fan I perpetually believe Texas is Back. My dog’s name is Bauer.
