Grade the Panthers Day 3 and Overall Draft.

[thefuzz]

As for my grade, I'll give it the only reasonable grade I can an I = incomplete.  It's simply too soon to tell right now.  I would have preferred not to have given up our 3rd, but other than that, I have no problem with any of the trades.

 

Thompson - I didn't like the pick at the time.  But that was more because I wanted someone else, than anything about Shaq as a player.  I think he'll actually be a very good addition to our defense, and will make us much more dangerous.  And I get the impression that McDermott has been limited in what he would like to do because we didn't have the personnel, but Shaq may allow him to be more creative in his game planning and play calling.

 

Funchess - He was one guy I really didn't want heading into the draft; I just saw him as a KB lite, and felt we needed more speed instead.  After researching him a bit more, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  He's probably more athletic than I gave him credit for, and may be a little better at YAC and getting downfield than KB.  So, I'll reserve judgment until I see how we use him, and how effective he will be.  But I do see the matchup problems he'll create along side of KB.

 

Williams - This pick is one I loved.  I wanted a LT, but am happy to have a true road grader next to Turner.  That should really open up our running game, which in turn will help open up our passing game.  I see us as a much more complete and balanced offense this season.

 

Mayo - I was shocked at the pick because he was a no-name that I knew nothing about.  And even since he was taken, there's little to be found except some short highlights.  But I like what I saw from those highlights.  He seems to be a relentless player with a great motor and diagnoses the play pretty well.  He also appears to be a very good tackler that goes for the strip on every tackle.  In other words, he seems like a ST demon.  He also looks to potentially be a decent backup, but we'll have to wait and see for that.

 

Artis-Payne - Loved this pick as well...particularly where we got him.  There were other backs I wanted more, but they all went much earlier (this is the position I wanted to use our 3rd on).  So, under the circumstances, I feel good that we came away from the draft with a legitimate RB that can be a solid backup and emergency starter.  I don't think he'll ever be a star, but I do see him as quality depth.

 

I loved the Funchess pick a lot, and I agree with you on the rest, especially the bolded part in the Mayo write up.

 

LOVE that part of his game.  We needed youth on ST, and some "lunch pail" type players.  I think this kid is one of those.

[Woodie]

I loved the Funchess pick a lot, and I agree with you on the rest, especially the bolded part in the Mayo write up.

 

LOVE that part of his game.  We needed youth on ST, and some "lunch pail" type players.  I think this kid is one of those.

 

Yeah, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt with Funchess.  I realize it was more about my own bias and preferences than him as a player.  However, his drop rate and ability to separate are still concerns me a bit.  But I do think he'll be good, I just hope he's good enough to draw some coverages away from KB and Olsen, while opening up the middle.  

 

However, as odd as it sounds, the fact they had him rated as a 1st round player and traded so much to get him makes me feel better about the pick.  They obviously did their homework and he was clearly on their short list, and not some reactionary pick. 

[thefuzz]

Yeah, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt with Funchess.  I realize it was more about my own bias and preferences than him as a player.  However, his drop rate and ability to separate are still concerns me a bit.  But I do think he'll be good, I just hope he's good enough to draw some coverages away from KB and Olsen, while opening up the middle.  

 

However, as odd as it sounds, the fact they had him rated as a 1st round player and traded so much to get him makes me feel better about the pick.  They obviously did their homework and he was clearly on their short list, and not some reactionary pick. 

 

Cam needs a big catch radius, now we have 3 players with just that.  Ginn can take the top off and let KB, Funch, and Olsen destroy the shorts and intermediate stuff.

 

 

Our QB isn't accurate enough yet, and doesn't "throw guys open" yet, he will get better at that stuff in time, but he's not there yet.  May as well surround him with guys who can high point, and are just physically bigger than the guys trying to guard them.  Oh, and we need to be able to score in the red zone badly, Funch will help that as well.