If you've read the previous 11 versions of Mock Draft Report leading up to the grand finale, this should come as no surprise: Most mock drafters expected the Panthers to invest the No. 8 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft in a running back.
If for some unimaginable reason you haven't checked it out the last couple of weeks, however, this will come as a surprise: Group think says that running back will be Christian McCaffrey.
After two-plus months of mock drafts dominated by LSU running back Leonard Fournette, McCaffrey closed strong and surpassed him in the projections. Fournette has certainly remained in the mix, and defensive end Solomon Thomas and tight end O.J. Howard have also been constants.
| ANALYST | OUTLET | POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
| Mike Mayock | NFL.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Lance Zierlein | NFL.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Bucky Brooks | NFL.com | DE | Jonathan Allen | Alabama |
| Daniel Jeremiah | NFL.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Chad Reuter | NFL.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Charley Casserly | NFL.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Mel Kiper | ESPN.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Todd McShay | ESPN.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Rob Rang | CBSSports.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Dane Brugler | CBSSports.com | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Pete Prisco | CBSSports.com | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Will Brinson | CBSSports.com | DE | Derek Barnett | Tennessee |
| Chris Burke | SI.com | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Peter Schrager | FoxSports.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Chris Collinsworth | Pro Football Focus | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Steve Palazzolo | Pro Football Focus | DE | Solomon Thomas | Stanford |
| Matt Miller | Bleacher Report | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Doug Farrar | Bleacher Report | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Josh Norris | Rotoworld.com | RB | Leonard Fournette | LSU |
| Peter King | MMQB.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Charlie Campbell | Walterfootball.com | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Vinnie Iyer | Sporting News | TE | O.J. Howard | Alabama |
| Dan Kadar | SB Nation | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Eric Edholm | Yahoo Sports | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Frank Schwab | Yahoo Sports | S | Malik Hooker | Ohio State |
| Danny Kelly | The Ringer | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
| Nate Davis | USA Today | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford |
