2014 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers Select...

The Carolina Panthers are looking to continue to improve upon their 12-4 record, as the reign of Cam Newton seems to be in full effect. Their record has improved every year since his arrival in 2011, and now bolstered by a punishing defense and young nucleus of talent, the Panthers can be the first team in the NFC South to repeat as back-to-back division champs.

This hasn't been the greatest of offseasons for the star QB though: first, surgery on his ankle, then significant losses to his supporting cast - former Pro Bowler Jordan Gross retired in February after an 11-year career, and then Newton lost essentially his entire receiving corps. Perhaps they would rather be playing catch with Nate, the Play 60 kid. Steve Smith will be playing with Joe Flacco now, and he probably couldn't handle Nate's rocket arm anyways. Carolina will have relative unknowns starting at receiver and left tackle - a QB's two best friends - but luckily, Newton still has DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to hand off to.

But back to the pick - it ultimately comes down to picking someone to catch balls, or someone to protect the franchise. This draft is deep at receiver and there is a strong chance that the Panthers will double-dip at the position early and late in the draft. The question is, will any of the second-level talent still be available at their pick in the 2nd round?

With the 28th pick, the Carolina Panthers select Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In my opinion, Brandin Cooks is Antonio Smith 2.0. Or is it Steve Brown 2.0? Either way, the resemblance to our own Antonio Brown and former Panther Steve Smith is there. All three are short in stature, but their game and skills are anything but short. Cooks may lack size, but size isn't the only thing that makes a number one receiver. His excellent hands and route-running make him a threat from anywhere on the field, and will be at least a great slot receiver from day one.

Cooks's 4.33 40-speed is going to make Cam Newton's job easy as the defense is going to have to respect that, and open things up for Jerricho Cotchery and Greg Olsen to make their money catching everything underneath. Cooks is going to remind a lot of Panthers fans of Smith in the mid-2000s, and that my friends, is scary.

	Team	Player	Pos	School	BTSC rep/link to pick
1		Blake Bortles	QB	UCF	SteelerWolf
2	via	Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M	Jack Finn
3		Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville	twault
4		Jadeveon Clowney	DE	South Carolina	Double-Eagle
5		Jake Matthews	OT	Texas A&M	diehardsteelerfan625
6		Khalil Mack	LB	Buffalo	Erik Stone
7		Sammy Watkins	WR	Clemson	TheCommish
8		C.J. Mosley	LB	Alabama	VinnySteel
9		Greg Robinson	OT	Auburn	Sean Geddes
10		Anthony Barr	OLB	UCLA	JDSpartan
11		Justin Gilbert	CB	Oklahoma St	slatts17
12		Mike Evans	WR	Texas A&M	omara891
13		Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	S	Alabama	Panther pride 76
14		Aaron Donald	DT	Pittsburgh	Michael Uhlhorn
15		Darqueze Dennard	CB	Michigan St	(BTSC vote)
16		Calvin Pryor	S	Louisville	steeler fever
17		Taylor Lewan	OT	Michigan	Steelers_Fan_to_the_Core
18		Eric Ebron	TE	North Carolina	DropTheHammer
19		Zack Martin	OT	Notre Dame	steeler_chris_5
20		Dee Ford	OLB	Auburn	Wichita SunSteeler
21		Ryan Shazier	LB	Ohio State	NoVaBurgher
22		Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	LSU	c63tho
23		Kelvin Benjamin	WR	Florida State	WelcomeToReality
24		Kyle Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech	Steel Spike
25		Ra'Shede Hageman	DT	Minnesota	L-Ray
26	via	Derek Carr	QB	Fresno State	AMKrup
27		Marqise Lee	WR	USC	Ike Evans
28		Brandin Cooks	WR	Oregon State	asmith87
29					Mr MaLoR
30					Collision Course
31					alexryan
32					Thoroughbred of Sin