With The First Pick
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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Super Bowl LII and Senior Bowl Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the North team throws the ball during the first half of the Reese's Senior Bowl against the the South team at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the North team throws the ball during the first half of the Reese's Senior Bowl against the the South team at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 10: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers celebrates with Brian O’Neill #70 after catching a 7 yard touchdown pass in the first half during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 10, 2016 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 10: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers celebrates with Brian O’Neill #70 after catching a 7 yard touchdown pass in the first half during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 10, 2016 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

player. 87. . Offensive Tackle. Pittsburgh. Brian O'Neill. 24

The question for the Carolina Panthers is whether it’s more important to give Cam Newton more time in the pocket or better targets in the passing game. Devin Funchess and Christian McCaffrey are dynamic young talents, and Greg Olsen is a star, but Newton needs stability.

For as intriguing as the addition of a second viable wide receiver would be—Funchess is currently the only reliable threat on the roster—Newton needs to be protected.

Having more time in the pocket means having more time to make the right decisions. That enables wide receivers to break off of their routes to get open, thus keeping the quarterback upright and ensuring that the ball will move.

Thankfully for Carolina, former Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Brian O’Neill is the athletic powerhouse whom a player like Newton needs.

Blocking for Newton requires offensive linemen to be athletic enough to react to his spur of the moment decisions to run. Newton is capable of hurting teams from the pocket, but he’s at his best outside of the numbers, which can make life difficult for his linemen.

O’Neill has the athleticism to potentially be the missing piece opposite Daryl Williams, thus giving Newton and McCaffrey the space they need to operate in 2018.

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