Jeremy Igo

Now that the Josh Norman situation has been settled for the Panthers, don't expect any drastic moves to replace him. 

There won't be an immediate trade. There won't be a high dollar free agent brought in tomorrow. There won't be any of that. 

There may be a mid round draft selection at cornerback, but that would have probably happened anyways. Dave Gettleman does not change his draft strategy because of one player or position. That is just not his way. 

How do I know? Well, we only need to look back less than a year ago to find a precedent. When Kelvin Benjamin went down in camp with a torn ACL, it was arguably a more dire situation than this current Josh Norman dilemma. The Panthers were suddenly without an impact player for the year. 

What did Gettleman do? Not much. He relied on the men already on his roster to step up and fill the void. The team stayed on course and did not deviate from the plan. The result? A Superbowl appearance, which completely validated Gettleman's approach to team building and problem solving. 

The Panthers corner situation is not as bad off as the wide receiver situation a year ago. Bene Benwikere and Brandon Boykin are two talented players. Some will call Benwikere "injury prone" which is silly. One broken bone is no indication of such. Boykin, who signed as a nickel, could slide to the outside to help. He has experience there as well. 

So what will the Panthers do? 

Firstly, the 5 corners currently on the roster not named Bene will be given the opportunity to earn a starting spot across from him. Lou Young showed promise last season. Robert McClain is also someone to keep an eye on. 

The Panthers will likely be signing a low to mid level corner in the coming days in addition to drafting one. With OTAs and training camp on the horizon, another couple of corners are needed just to fill out the practice schedule. 

Any real impact move the Panthers could make would likely be well into the preseason. Once teams are required to cut down their roster, depth or potentially a starter could be found. Also, Gettleman has shown in the past that, at that point, he is willing to trade for upgrades. 

In short, don't look for much to be done right away... and that is a good thing. The Carolina Panthers are a stable organization that methodically goes about doing their business no matter which individual player is no longer available. 

You should be happy about that. 

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So, who will the Carolina Panthers select in the first round of the NFL draft? Last year I named Shaq Thompson as one of four first round possibilities.  

This year, I believe it comes down to these four players, and I will explain why....

First, I believe both Clemson defensive ends will be off the board by pick thirty. If either are still there for some strange reason, they are in play. 

Second, I believe any wide receiver prospects the Panthers would consider in the first will also be off the board. But again, if a guy like Baylor's Corey Coleman somehow drops to 30.... he is the BPA and would not be passed up. 

So who does that leave? Here are the four guys I feel could be available and fit the Gettleman mold. Two on defense, two on offense.  

Vernon Butler 

Defensive Tackle - Louisiana Tech

6'4 323lbs

With a first round run made on receivers and defensive ends, Butler could possibly fall to 30, and if so may be far too enticing for Dave Gettleman to pass up. Afterall, big men allow you to compete, and Butler is a big big man. 

Butler's availability would truly put Gettleman's "Best Player Available" convictions to the test. Defensive tackle is not a pressing need for 2016, but could be seasons to come. It is unclear if the Panthers can afford to keep the KK Short / Star Lotulelei combo in tact long term. 

Additionally, the Carolina Panthers know that their pass rush must improve this season, and Butler would be one way to help that happen. Vernon Butler lined up next to KK Short on third and long would be an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses. The Panthers defensive ends would also benefit from such a pairing, reducing the likelihood of double teams. 

I like it. I like it alot. 

Emmanuel Ogbah 

Defensive End - Oklahoma St

6'4 273lbs

Here is a case where the BPA could also be in a huge area of need, ala Kelvin Benjamin a couple of seasons ago. Ogbah has been mocked anywhere from early twenties to early second round, landing him squarely in the Panthers draft territory. 

The Panthers are in desperate need of a pass rush from the defensive ends this season. Ogbah would make an immediate impact, exactly what Dave Gettleman likes to see from a round one selection. 

Derrick Henry

Running Back - Alabama

6'3 247lbs

I don't recall a more controversial draft prospect than Derrick Henry. Some love the idea, others loath it. 

What I can tell you is that Henry would fit in very well on the Panthers offense. Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert are on the later end of their Panthers careers. The need is absolutely there for a bigger bodied runner, and you don't get any bigger bodied in a runningback than Derrick Henry. 

Recently, the Panthers have been unable to "impose their will" at times on short yardage situations. Often, they resort to incomplete passes or being stuffed at the line on 3rd or 4th and one. Derrick Henry could help remedy those ills. 

Hunter Henry 

Tight End - Arkansas 

6'5 250lbs

I have been preaching Hunter Henry for a while now. He is a first round talent that may not be taken in the first round. If not, I have a feeling a second round trade up could happen to grab him as the Panthers did for Devin Funchess.

Still, there is a chance the Panthers do not risk losing him and pull the trigger at 30 where he would still be a good value. 

Henry would finally give the Panthers the personnel to have an intimidating two tight end package, something fans have missed since the Olsen - Shockey 2011 season.  Sure would be nice to see that again, wouldn't it? 

So there you have it. One of the above players is your next Carolina Panthers first round draft pick. 

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By now most, if not all, of Panthers nation has seen the 2016 season schedule. If not, here it be.... 

General Thoughts and Musings.... 

REVENGE

Obviously, the first game is huge. Not in terms of playoff potential as it is an AFC opponent,  but in terms of starting fresh after a Superbowl loss. Everyone is talking about this, and rightfully so. But what happens next is interesting...

HOME COOKING

Four... count them again, FOUR home games in a row. I know, I know, in Atlanta is technically an away game. But now in the Cam Newton era there is no friendlier place to be in terms of tone and proximity. Half of that place will be black and blue once again. 

Keep an eye on that Vikings game though... could be a surprise upset against the Panthers. That is the only one I am slightly concerned about in that stretch.

Bottom line... The Panthers really need to cushion their lead in the NFC South during this period. 

Halloween in the Big Easy

Last year Panthers weekend in New Orleans was pretty nuts. I met up with the Roaring Riot crew, had a few cocktails, and I couldn't tell you what happened after that if I wanted to. This year I envision the same thing, only with a Halloween theme as it is mid October. Things could get even crazier. 

Oh, and the Panthers play the Saints. That is a mark in the win column. 

At the Bye.... 

Week 7 brings the Panthers bye week. Not too shabby, almost in the middle of the season. Time for the Panthers to lick their wounds and refocus. 

Best case scenario the Panthers are 6-0... which would be great because there are some really rough waters ahead. 

Candy to Turkey

From Halloween to Thanksgiving things get more difficult, but still manageable. Three home games and one west coast game against the Rams who will be starting a rookie QB. Go ahead and mark that a win. 

Two of the home games could be problematic... Cardinals and Chiefs. Both playoff caliber teams. The good news is that these are home games and the Panthers should have the edge. It would not shock me to see the Panthers lose one of these games, the first home loss in quite some time. 

Efff you, Santa 

Next brings us the holiday season. This is the roughest patch of turf the Panthers have seen on a schedule in many seasons. 

Four away games. Two home games. 

The Panthers won't even be coming back to Charlotte for the entire week between the Raiders and Seahawks games. They will likely stay out west and practice at a college field.

On a personal note, Mr RoaringRiot himself and I have discussed just staying out west as well and making it a west coast micro brew road tour for the week as we make our way from Oakland to Seattle. That sounds amazing, not sure we would survive past Portland. 

The good news here is that the Panthers will have 10 days to prepare for that game in Oakland. I expect they will fly out a day or two earlier to adjust to the time change. That game should be a victory for the Panthers, but the next week in Seattle..... I don't think so. That is the closest thing to a sure fire loss I have seen on a schedule in a long time. Far too much travel and change to face a tough home team.

The last two road games are not awful, but at this point the Panthers could be worn down from the west coast barrage, making them much tougher. The Redskins and Buccaneers both could be playing for wild card spots at this point, neither are pushovers. 

All in all, if the Panthers can manage to go 3-3 in the final six games, they still should be in the lead in the division. 

I am not one for definitive record predictions as so much hinges on staying healthy. But looking at this schedule I would say 12-4 is a pretty fair prediction, give or take. Which brings me to my last point...

Pray for a first round bye! 

You can go ahead and consider a first round bye mandatory this year if the Panthers hope to reach the Superbowl again. I do not like their chances in the playoffs without one. The last portion of the schedule is extremely taxing. Not so much physically, but psychologically. Fans tend to forget these players have lives and families at home. Travelling and getting out of normal routines takes a toll. That said, if the Panthers can earn a first round bye this season, I like their chances. 

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With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, the Panthers are finalizing their draft board and preparing for their own first set of internal mock drafts. 

In round one, I feel the Panthers will be targeting offensive players. Yes, yes, I know, right now you are screaming "Best Player Available". That is a platitude that gets spread around far to often. Ever notice how over the last three Dave Gettleman drafts, the round 1 selection was also in an area of great need? Funny how that works.

Gettleman has said in the past that first round picks need to contribute their first year. This doesn't exactly make sense if the "BPA" mantra is true. What if the BPA is a quarterback? Or a middle linebacker? Or one of many positions on the team that a rookie has no chance of real playing time.  

In 2016, the Carolina Panthers first round selection has a much higher chance of contributing on offense rather than defense.

Yes, the Panthers do need another pass rushing defensive end, but when was the last time a rookie defensive end not taken in the top 15 had a great rookie season? In a draft full of solid defensive ends, I don't see the Panthers selecting one first. 

Two positions on offense, however, stand out to me as opportunities for a young guy to step in and immediately start making plays... Tight End and Running Back. 

Last season the Panthers kept two rookie running backs, Cameron Artis-Payne and Brandon Wegher. Clearly they know an eventual Jonathan Stewart replacement is needed. Cameron Artis-Payne did see some playing time, but he had a tendency to put the ball on the ground. That fact alone could cause Dave Gettleman to seriously consider spending a first round pick on a running back. 

Oh look, RB Derrick Henry could possibly be available at 30, and he is the big running back that would compliment a shiftier Artis-Payne or Wegher. Derrick Henry has also visited with the Panthers, who are only one of three teams to bring him in.

Now, about tight end. Yes, Greg Olsen is an amazing player and his importance in the offense cannot be overstated. But opposite Olsen is Ed Dickson. While Dickson is a serviceable vet, he could very well lose his playing time to an outstanding rookie tight end.

Enter Hunter Henry, the most complete tight end in the draft and some say in years. Equally as skilled in catching and blocking, Hunter Henry could not fill the tight end position opposite Olsen more perfectly. 

In mock drafts, Hunter Henry is a late first round to early second round pick... and smack dab in the middle of that range are the Carolina Panthers. Bingo. 

In short, I like Hunter Henry or Derrick Henry in the first round, depending which is available. If both are... watch out. A trade up and double dip of Henry boys could happen, which would make Cam Newton especially happy.  

But just in case I have not convinced you yet that the Panthers will be going on the offense in round one, take a look at Dave Gettleman's draft pick history...

2013 - Defense

2014 - Offense

2015 - Defense 

2016 - Do I see a pattern here.... ?

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