NFL Draft Day 3: Sam Howell drafted in 5th round, Panthers take four players
Posted April 30, 2022 1:04 p.m. EDT
Updated May 1, 2022 5:01 p.m. EDT
UNC quarterback Sam Howell's long wait to get selected is finally over on the final day of the NFL Draft. Howell was thought to be drafted as high as the first round and he was the last top QB prospect drafted at No. 144 overall by the Washington Commanders.
-The Panthers finished out the 2022 NFL Draft in the seventh round by drafting Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes at pick 242.
-The Panthers made their second pick of the second round, this time drafting guard Cade Mays out of Tennessee. Mays started 35 of the 42 career games he played in for the Vols, and the Panthers get yet another piece to bolster their offensive line.
-The Carolina Panthers had a break between picks, but got back on track in the sixth round by taking Virginia Tech pass rusher Amare Barno with the 189th overall pick. Barno had 35 tackles and 5.5 for loss last year for the Hokies.
-UNC offensive lineman Marcus McKethan was drafted with the 30th pick of the fifth round by the New York Giants.
-UNC running back Ty Chandler is drafted at 169 overall by the Minnesota Vikings, the 26th pick of the fifth round. Chandler had a great year after transferring in from Tennessee.
-Sam Howell's wait is over: the Washington Commanders draft him with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round. He will play for former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and will be reunited with former teammate and wide receiver Dyami Brown.
-Sam Howell continues to wait. And now, two punters have been drafted (neither of which are the punter widely regarded as the best in the draft, Matt Araiza) and the last remaining elite quarterback prospect in Bailey Zappe. The Patriots took Zappe at 137 overall in the fourth round.
-The Panthers got the 120th pick in the fourth round already via a trade with the Washington Commanders take Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith.
Smith tested out as an athletic freak and finished his senior campaign with 81 tackles, nine for a loss.
-Defensive players continue to fly off the board. Nine of the fourth-round players selected in the first 14 picks.
-The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Washington tight end Cade Otton to kick off the final day of the draft.
