2017 NFL Mock Draft: NFL Conference Championship Edition

While countless mock drafts have had the Carolina Panthers taking Leonard Fournette with this pick, I think that they can afford to wait until Day 2 to take a running back. Instead, they could take another impact defender to bolster their front seven.

There might not have been a single prospect that helped his draft stock more during bowl season than Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. He was by far the most dominant player on the field during the Sun Bowl against North Carolina, consistently blowing by offensive linemen and making his way into the backfield.

Thomas a versatile defender who could play either as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme or as an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s incredibly strong with excellent technique to help him disengage from blockers.

By far Thomas’ most impressive trait is his violent hands. Having worked with a boxing trainer this offseason, Thomas has hands that are on par with Jonathan Allen’s, and he uses those to shed blockers and make plays in the backfield.

The Panthers could very well use this pick on a running back or defensive back, but Thomas is such a talented player that it’ll be hard for Carolina to pass up on the Stanford star. A defensive line with Thomas, Charles Johnson, Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short would be one of the most intimidating in the league.