ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has released his latest mock draft (ESPN Insider required) and has given the Panthers some desperately needed help in the secondary.

24. Carolina Panthers: Justin Reid, S, Stanford Reid is another fast riser after the combine, and he stands out on the Stanford tape. He can play in the box or as a deep safety, taking over for Kurt Coleman in the Panthers’ secondary. I think he’s going to play on day one in the NFL and be a key rookie standout wherever he ends up. The Panthers traded for Torrey Smith, but they should still be in the market for an upgrade at receiver.

CSR’s own Billy Marshall did a film room scouting report on Reid, and came to the following conclusion:

In an effort to get younger and faster in the secondary, the Panthers recently parted ways with Kurt Coleman. Justin Reid is an ideal replacement from a coverage standpoint. His primary role was to act as a nickel defender in Stanford’s scheme. Reid’s man coverage skills translate well into a true safety role. He has fluid hips, understands multiple zone concepts, and is a ball hawk. Reid has to temper his aggressiveness and clean up his pursuit angles, but he would be a great fit in Eric Washington’s defense.

My take

I love this pick. Can we go ahead and turn the card in now, please? The Panthers need a good, young, ball hawk at free safety and Reid checks all three of those boxes. The Panthers simply cannot afford to go into the season with their current depth chart at safety. Adding Reid to the roster fixes an immediate need and keeps the rotation solid for the next four to five years. If Reid is on the board at No. 24 overall, he’s a no-brainer pick.

What about you, Panthers fans? Would you like to see Justin Reid taken with the No. 24 pick? Share your thoughts with us!