2019 NFL draft: Carolina Panthers 3-round mock draft

Round 3, Pick 100: Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame

The Panthers close out Day 2 of the draft with an instinctual linebacker in Notre Dame’s Drue Tranquill. He has a significant injury history, however, after tearing his ACL (in the left and right knees) during his freshman and sophomore seasons. That, alone, should cause him to drop farther than his talent warrants.

Tranquill is going to make his name in the pros — at least initially — on special teams before he earns meaningful reps on the field. But once he gets his opportunity, he has starter’s upside. The Panthers can afford to draft him in the third round and develop him into an eventual starter, especially with a mentor like Luke Kuechly to learn from.