Carolina Panthers: Who Are the Experts Projecting to the Panthers?

If there's one thing that's a certainty after looking at six mock drafts from the experts around the NFL, people in the know feel that the Carolina Panthers need to beef up their defensive line.

The use of the word "beef" wasn't an accident. While there are a few experts who feel Carolina needs a pass-rushing end with the ninth pick in the draft, the majority feel run-clogging is the right move.

Four of the six mocks that were examined elected to take Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, a huge 346-pound interior blockade of a young man. Here's the scoop:

ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper both took Poe. McShay did so because Poe "is exactly the kind of dominating interior presence the Panthers need." Kiper agreed because of Poe's "freakish athleticism" and the fact that "Carolina couldn't stop the run last year."

Sports Illustrated writer Don Banks used Carolina's pick on Poe because he thinks "Poe is the kind of athletic freak who can improve an entire defense with his disruptive playmaking."

Finally, when it comes to Poe, Rob Rang of CBS Sports took Poe because Carolina "allowed an average of 130.8 yards on the ground in 2011."

As you can see, Poe is a popular guy. Not only does he have the prototypical size of an interior defensive lineman, but he's strong (he bench-pressed 225 pounds 44 times at the combine) and fast (he ran an unofficial 4.98 40-yard dash). That's a special combination that doesn't come along very often.

It also may foreshadow the upside that Poe possesses. If Poe's that fast, and his size doesn't limit the number of snaps he can stay on the field because of conditioning, he may be able to use that speed to get to the quarterback on obvious passing downs.

Poe wasn't the only player taken in mock drafts, but each of the six selected a defensive lineman.

Another CBS Sports writer, Dan Brugler, opted for Carolina to stay in-state and select North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples. Brugler is careful not to directly compare Coples to star defensive end Julius Peppers, but dances around the topic and said Coples "offers an immense amount of upside."

Coples has the physical tools to excel as an NFL pass rusher. The knock on him is the fact that he doesn't play with 100 percent enthusiasm 100 percent of the time. He had 17.5 sacks in his last two years with the Tar Heels, but has taken heat for not living up to his lofty potential during his senior season.

It will be interesting to see if Carolina will take Coples because of his massive upside and forget the fact that his motor might not run all of the time.

The final mock draft came from Peter Schrager of Fox Sports. Schrager used Carolina's No. 9 pick on Mississippi State defensive lineman Fletcher Cox. Schrager calls Cox a run stuffer who is a "versatile defensive lineman that could work in Ron Rivera's defense."

Completely opposite of the reports that question Coples' work ethic, the book on Cox reads like a dream. He's a "pedal to the metal" guy from kickoff to the final whistle. Cox is also a guy who is expected to continue to grow, both physically and mentally, in the NFL.

Cox is also versatile. He played both end and tackle on the defensive line for Mississippi State and was adept at both run stuffing and in his pass-rush duties.