2013 Panthers Rookie Grades

[Captain Morgan]

Reading the thread about 2014 guys, it got me to thinking....now with 2 seasons under their belt, let's take a look at them.

 

 

 

 

rd 1.  Star Lotulelei 

 

We were ecstatic he fell to us, and he didn't disappoint in his first season, with him being

talked about as DROY possibility.  A bit of a sophomore slump in his second season, but

nothing to indicate he won't improve.

 

A

 

 

 

rd 2.  Kawaan Short

 

  He was the guy I wanted in the second round, and his second season has been better than his first.

He really is a disruptive pass rusher, and looks like he'll be in DL rotation for years to come.

 

 

A+

 

 

 

3.  We didn't have a third.

 

 

 

4.   Edmund Kugbila

 

    

bit of a controversial pick at the time, although he had ample oppourtunity to show he could make an impact in

what was our biggest position of need, he has shown nothing.

 

 

F

 

 

 

 

5.   AJ Klein

 

     showed some flashes in his first season, but this past year has been a disappointment.  Gets caught out of

position and lack of speed allows big plays.   It appears he's lost his job to an undrafted free agent.  Klein still has time

to improve, but right now it looks like he will be a career backup.

 

 

C

 

 

 

6.  Kenjon Barner

 

   Seemed like a good value pick at the time, but it became clear he was a bust.

 

 

 

We didn't have a 7th pick.

 

 

 

overall, looks like 2 homeruns, at least they were the top 2 rounds, but the rest of the draft...2 complete whiffs, and a meh.

 

 

 

 

[DangerClose]

I'd give Klein a B. He performed well this year, extactly what I expect from a back up. Good depth;  Too bad he got injured.

[Jeremy Igo]

Not sure how Klein is a Meh as a fifth rounder.solid starting linebacker.

[Jeremy Igo]

Also, he has been injured. He didn't lose his job.

[jayflip]

Also, he has been injured. He didn't lose his job.

We erased the ghost of McFua with the first two picks. Everything else is cherry. Klein is a "B" to boot.

[Captain Morgan]

I'm glad you guys are more up on Klein than me.  I was ecstatic about him last year.

 

 

[JawnyBlaze]

Yea, first two picks solidified the middle of our DL for many years to come.  A+ for the first two rounds, solid B maybe B+ on Klein.  He isn't spectacular, but for where we got him it's a good value.  Spot starter, good depth, good ST guy.  Still has room to grow, too.  The rest of the draft gets an F minus, but that's ok considering how great the first two picks have been.  Short ending the run of terrible 2nd rounders that we've had since after Kalil was picked was big.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Just reading the name "Edmund Kugbila" ruined my morning. 

 

 

But, Star, KK, and Klein IMO are all promising players and starters for the future. Star and KK are obvious home run picks, especially if Star can consistently be as disruptive as he was in the 2nd half of the Atlanta game. Klein is a solid guy overall, and a B grade pick to me as well. 

[MHS831]

3 starters a year removed from the draft is pretty good--especially when you consider we did not have a third rounder.

 

This quote seems pretty accurate and is generally what I go by to determine immediate draft success:

 

"If you look historically, teams get 2.3 (32.8% of the 7 picks) starters per draft and as a team, I think you need to strive to get 3 starters per draft (42.8% of the 7 picks) , or I should say players worthy of starting."- Mike Reinfeldt, former GM of the Titans

 

TO PUT 2013 INTO PERSPECTIVE:  The Panthers, had 2 player of the 5 picks, or 40%, starters or players worthy of starting as rookies.  A year removed, that number is 60%, with the jury still out on Kugbila.  Pretty good.

 

2014 IN PERSPECTIVE: 4 starters (Benjamin, Benwikere, Boston, Turner, and the odd man out is Ealy) who are rookies is tremendous. Ealy is probably conisdered "worthy of starting"  That is 5 of the 6 picks--considering Gaffney went to IR--5 of 5 either started or are now proving they are worthy of starting.   100%

 

While this was solid, free agency is where Gettlemen is doing his best work--with absolutely no money to spend. 

 

Again, putting this into perspective, I found an article that discusses what the author thinks an exceptional draft--belonging to the Chargers some time ago:

 

"As an example of what an exceptional draft might look like, I thought the Chargers' 2005 draft class might serve as a good example.  With the selections of Shawne Merriman, Luis Castillo, Vincent Jackson, and Darren Sproles, you could argue that their success rate that year was 57.14% (they had 7 selections that year).  This probably represents, or is close enough to representing, the upper limit for what teams can currently aspire to achieve.  This is obviously far from a typical result."

 

So, if the 2005 Chargers draft proves to be exceptional, and I agree that it was impressive because the 4 starters became stars, you can see that Benjamin, Ealy, Turner, Boston, and Benwikere have the potential to eclipse that draft--beyond the upper limit of what teams can aspire to achieve.  Throw possible stars Philly Brown and Norwell into the mix, this has the chance of being the best rookie class ever assembled.  Not bad for a GM in his second year. 

 

One more key point.  These rookies have star potential because this team turned it around when Boston, Brown, Benwikere, Norwell, Turner, and Ealy began playing.  They turned it around, when we all thought we were auditioning for 2015.

 

http://occamskangaroo.blogspot.com/2013/06/overall-draft-sucess-rate.html

[caatfan]

Aside from the injury, I think Klein would be viewed as a real bargain on quite a few other teams. It's hard for a backup to look good with the Panthers since Luke and Davis are rarely off the field.

[davos]

I mean Klein is ok I guess.  Sure, relative to his draft position it's nice, but he's pretty spotty.  

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

I think we made out pretty well in that draft. Look at the top 10, it's bust city.

[RelaxImaPro]

I'm glad you guys are more up on Klein than me.  I was ecstatic about him last year.

 

You were talking like he sucked, was a disappointment. and got outplayed and lost his job or something.  That's not true at all.  He didn't lose his job, he just got injured.

 

He was playing pretty damn solid before he got hurt too.  Consistently better and more complete than he was at any point last year IMO... he really only had a handful of plays last year that I think got people too hyped up on him.  He's a solid LBer, but if you were expecting him to be another Kuechly or TD (especially this early in his career), then you were bound to be disappointed.

 

For where he was drafted, Klein has done a good job.  He's still improving too.

[Captain Morgan]

You were talking like he sucked, was a disappointment. and got outplayed and lost his job or something.  

 

 

C is average in my book, and is dead center in the A to F scale.   So saying I  said he

sucked is stupid.  He has been outplayed more than once, but that doesn't mean anything.

Every player does.  I said he may have lost his job, not that he lost his job, and with the speed and performance 

that Glanton has showed (albeit against some terrible teams), he certainly has some competition.  

 

After all, Ego gave Glanton an A grade in the 2014 draft.  So an udfa gets an A, but he rates Klein a B...not a huge difference,

but my rating of a C is that he sucked?  

 

I don't understand the argument that say Bene, an obvious steal, is an A, and that there is some huge

controversy between a B and C grade for the same fifth round choice the previous year.