Rd. # Player Pos. College 2 48 Cam Thomas DT North Carolina General Manager: Hussey

With the 48th pick of the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers select North Carolina defensive tackle Cam Thomas.

Here is Hussey's reasoning for the pick:

Looking up and down Carolina's roster and gauging the opinions of their fans about the team's needs, a few positions immediately stand out: A wide receiver to compliment Steve Smith, an every-down defensive end to replace Julius Peppers, and a DT to start over the various masses of ineptitude they consistently trotted out at the position last season. Considering all of that, and cursing New England for taking Damian Williams, Cam Thomas would be a fine selection with Carolina's first pick of the 2010 draft.

Damione Lewis is still a serviceable starter, but the following names should never be uttered in a starting lineup: Nick Hayden.  Tank Tyler.  Louis Leonard.  36-year-old Hollis Thomas.  It is of little surprise, then, that Carolina finished 22nd in the league in run defense.  Cam Thomas, from nearby Chapel Hill, is an excellent talent and the right fit for the Panthers.  At 6'4" and 330 lbs., he's a true space-eater who can consistently occupy two blockers, allowing Carolina's various undersized pass-rushers to go one-on-one against opposing linemen.  His size and strength would be a welcome addition to Carolina's smallish defense, and he will hopefully remind Panthers fans of a young Kris Jenkins and make opponents fear running up the middle against the Panthers once again.

Check out the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.