Since we have been in mock draft mode and its never too early to make predictions...here we go, Todd McShay's 2012 mock pick for the Panthers.

Warning: I'm not letting these kind of predictions get me riled up too much; I think we'll be picking in the mid-teens next year. We're coming off of a 2-14 season so we should expect it. If you recall there were a few people who thought we were going to suck last season, we didn't believe them, and they were right. I'm not going to give them props for that though so they shall remain nameless.

McShay doesn't have us picking 1st again, it's Cleveland. My first thought about Cleveland was "They won't be the worst team" but if you remember they now have the Falcons #1 pick next year so two #1s a #2 and maybe another pick would be enough to rise to #1 from say #10. 

Moving on to the Panthers this is who McShay has assigned to the Panthers at #2 overall...after the jump...

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound end with great versatility. He explodes off the ball, is powerful and quick and was all over the field in 2010.

I have a couple comments on this prediction:

1. What is it with people linking UNC DE's to the Panthers? I mean just because we drafted Peppers..oh and Hilee Taylor. Will every UNC DE look like a Panther at the NFL level?
2. Who is this kid? I watch GT play UNC every year and I don't recall seeing this guy last season.
   
3. The current Panther collection of 4-3 DEs must be the most under-rated in the NFL. I don't think that will be the case after the 2011 season.

So who knows anything about this kid? Is this a good pick if we are there at #2?