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This is the Panthers' only pick in the first three rounds, so they could attempt to find a trade partner that would allow them to acquire additional picks. If they were to move back a few spots, it's possible that they'd still be able to get Cross. Either way, Cross would fill one of the team's biggest needs. He has 1,293 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons, per PFF, and the former five-star recruit uses his length (34½" arms) and light feet to excel in pass protection.

I had Kenny Pickett here in my first two mocks, and while that's still very much in play, Hamilton makes plenty of sense for Carolina too. He just hasn't been here in my previous mocks. Now, if the draft arrives and Carolina hasn't added a viable QB to its roster yet, then Pickett or any other QB is very much in play at this spot.

The Panthers need to consider moving down if they're targeting a quarterback in the first round -- they've been connected to Kenny Pickett. Otherwise, it's clear they need to upgrade the offensive line. Cross is a powerful blocker who developed into a dominant pass protector last season and could end up cracking the top-10 in April.

Carolina's bid for a franchise quarterback continues for another year, but the silver lining is that the team can finally shut down their search for a long-term starting left tackle. The Panthers' left tackle position has been a revolving door for about a decade but Cross will have a great chance to put that misery on the line to bed with his high-level pass protection skills.

The combine didn't change the fact that No. 6 is too rich for a quarterback this year. But regardless of whether it's Sam Darnold, Pitt's Kenny Pickett, Liberty's Malik Willis or someone else under center next season, the Panthers' offensive line has to get better. Carolina's 52 sacks allowed were the fifth most in the NFL last season, and its 50.1% pass block win rate was better than only three other teams in the league. Cross had an impressive combine workout, and despite playing the seventh-most pass-block snaps in the FBS last season (683), he allowed just one sack and six pressures.

The Panthers might not be able to land the offensive lineman they want at No. 6, so they leap up the board to grab one of the safer players in the draft.

This is perhaps the first true decision point.

The Carolina Panthers have a huge need at quarterback. According to Peter Schrager of the NFL Network, owner David Tepper might swing for the fences this offseason at the position:

They have a gaping hole at one position -- the quarterback spot. I look at Russell Wilson. I look at Aaron Rodgers. I look at Deshaun Watson. I look at Jimmy Garoppolo. I look at Kirk Cousins. I look at all these guys who might possibly be on the block to be acquired. Heck, I look at Tom Brady and if Tepper says to him here, Brady, we'll make it work together. You can be a part of my hedge fund. I don't know what you want just help bring me to the Lombardi. When you run a $15 billion company, you're not sitting there to be mediocre. So, I think the Panthers are a team to watch at the quarterback position especially.

But now with Wilson and Rodgers off the market for Carolina, they have to go a different direction.

That leads us to the offensive line, another position they need to address. Charles Cross could end up as OT1 on some boards, and bolstering the offensive line with this selection -- if it is not used to acquire a quarterback -- is a move that makes sense.

Plus, they would need someone to protect Jimmy Garoppolo...