Gettleman's 1st round options

[KB_fan]

I really like the list of picks that could be there late in the 1st.  It's very hard to choose among some very exciting players.  I seriously could see Gettleman trading up to pick early in the 2nd to snag a second one of these guys.

Interesting that there are no CBs on this list.  I expect us to pick a CB in the 3rd or 4th.  It's a very deep CB class.  Some decent CBs (names like Cyrus Jones, Zach Sanchez, Harlan Miller) should be there in later rounds.

A bit surprised there are not more top OTs (names like Conkllin, Decker...)  whom we've visited with.  But it does seem like the way the draft board is setting up, the true round 1 OTs will be gone when we pick, and I'm guessing DG likes one of the later round guys we've visited with (Haeg, Beavers, Shell) enough to pass on an OT in round 1 or 2.

Here's my guess on how the draft goes for us by position:

Round 1:  DE / DT,  but if none we like are left WR or possibly RB (D. Henry)

Round 2: Safety, WR  (very possible we trade up to take someone like Cravens or Sterling if they're still on the board)

Round 3 - 4:  CB, OT

[Ja Rhule]

Cravens is gonna be the pick.

[Panthro]

Just now, ARSEN said:

Cravens is gonna be the pick.

If he is there in the 2nd

[KB_fan]

Using the NFL.com rankings /grades  (these are from 2 weeks ago, there may be some changes in rankings...) I highlighted players Panthers have met with.  It shows several distinct groups as I noted above.  DE/DT;  S / WR;  CB

Here are the top 30 players we've looked at, based on NFL.com grades:

I find it notable that we've visited with very few players ranked from 48 - 70.  It strongly suggests to me that we'll try to move up in round 2.

[Panthro]

9 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

     -  Found this good piece of information on reddit, Panthers.com -

INTERESTING NOTE:Gettleman has 1st rounders in for a pre draft visit. (self.panthers)

submitted 12 hours ago by BananaGooP

In every year that Dave Gettleman has been the GM he has had the player he picks in the first round in for a pre-draft visit. In 2015 he had Shaq Thompson and D.J. Humphries in.(Humphries would have been the pick if Arizona had not picked him first) In 2014 he had Kelvin Benjamin, Kony Ealy and Corey(Philly) Brown in for pre draft visits. In 2013 he had Kawann Short in, and 2 unnamed players. I would wager a good amount of money that one of those 2 unnamed was Star.

Because of this it is likely that their 2016 pick has already been in for a visit. We can eliminate all players who have not met with Carolina for a workout of private meeting because everything else is not "official." Next we can eliminate players who are clearly not first rounders. There is a handful of prospects who are likely second round picks on this list, but they are not clearly out of the first round and therefore should be included. The STMs are likely private meetings or workouts. I also believe Shepard has been in for a visit. Now here is the list:

• Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (STM)
• Tyler Boyd^, WR, Pittsburgh (COM, WOR)
• Vernon Butler^, DT/NT, Louisiana Tech (SR, WOR, PRI)
• Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (STM)
• Su'a Cravens, OLB, USC (STM)
• Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (PRI)
• Derrick Henry^, RB, Alabama (STM, PRI)
• Germain Ifedi^, OT, Texas A&M (COM, PRI, WOR)
• Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson (STM)
• Shaq Lawson^, DE/3-4OLB, Clemson (PRI, WOR)
• Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/3-4DE, Oklahoma State (WOR)
• Jarran Reed^, DT/3-4DE/NT, Alabama (WOR, PRI)
• A'Shawn Robinson, DT/3-4DE/NT, Alabama (PRI)
• Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (COM)
• Darian Thompson^, S, Boise State (PRI, WOR)

From this list my bet would be IF Lawson, Ogbah, Robinson or Coleman fall they will be picked up and outside of that I would say it is likely Su'a Cravens, Vonn Bell, or Germain Ifedi.

---

Info Gathering:

• All info gathered from(2016): http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam
• All info gathered from(2015): http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/3/16/8225465/nfl-draft-2015-visit-tracker-marcus-mariota-jameis-winston
• All info gathered from(2014): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000338464/article/tracking-teams-interest-in-top-2014-nfl-draft-prospects
• All info gathered from(2013): http://www.derp/2013/4/18/4237516/2013-nfl-draft-final-pre-draft-visit-tracker

That's a good list of prospects right there. Depending on the grades they could move up ala funchess of the price is right. Maybe see 2 of that list

[Jimmy]

I don't usually follow draft picks until about this time and from your list I looked up 3 of these guys and here is what I like:

Ogbah - quick first step, long arms, doesn't let Olineman get their hands on him much

Cravens - would be great SS for us I believe, quick enough to cover an area and is not afraid of contact AT ALL, this guy puts a hat on you

Shepherd - I know this will sound blasphemous around here but you can't watch his highlight tape and not think to yourself...is this Smitty reincarnate?  Fast, battles for everything, not afraid of going across the middle and making a tough catch while being hammered, catches EVERYTHING.  I could definitely see him as a slot or possible WR2 or KR.

[Growl]

Surely we've expressed some interest in Karl Joseph. I was watching him last night and he absolutely is a guy that fits this team's persona. Pursuit to the ball, big blows, turnovers. 

 

There are number of good safety prospects at the top of the class 

[JawnyBlaze]

I feel like picking an undersized LB to "become the next TD" has become the new picking an undersized WR to "become the next Smitty".

[Jeremy Igo]

13 hours ago, The_Rainmaker said:

Unless you know what players are 1st round grade by Gettleman this list is partially incomplete 

 

There are a few on here that are, and a couple that are not on the list. 

 

 

[davos]

1 hour ago, Growl said:

Surely we've expressed some interest in Karl Joseph. I was watching him last night and he absolutely is a guy that fits this team's persona. Pursuit to the ball, big blows, turnovers. 

 

There are number of good safety prospects at the top of the class 

Definitely.  In the first 3 rounds, there are some great ones.

Karl Joseph, Keanu Neal, Jeremy Cash, Darian Thompson, Miles Killebrew...I'd be happy with any of them.  And now there's the buzz around TJ Green. 

[top dawg]

It's not just a Gettleman thing iirc (from reading a past article), I don't believe that the franchise has ever picked a player in the first without some type of meeting. And, yes, a couple of these have been private in the past, and it didn't come out that we had any contact with them until after the fact.

That being said, Hunter Henry must have had a clandestine meeting with us, or he is not deemed first round material.

[top dawg]

I absolutely would love if Sterling Shepard is the one by the way. Kid has some game and would make his presence known from day one. I think that Cravens would do the same. I think Henry might not make as great of a day one impact, but that he would be very involved, and perhaps the most prolific overall going forward.

[Swaggasaurus]

7 hours ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Cravens wouldn't be next to Davis, Kuechly and Thompson. He'd be playing behind them. Most scouts see him as a safety, not a linebacker. Su'a is gonna be a killer in-box SS.

Su'a apparently is getting a lot of looks from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, Detroit and Kansas City. He's definitely going in the first round now. 

I strongly disagree that Cravens goes in round 1, I think teams will look at the true SS like Neal and Joseph before him. Cash, Bell, and Cravens should go at around the same time, mid 2nd

[CarolinaNCSU]

I reallllllly want Cravens. Grab DL/WR/or a Henry in the 1st, then trade back up for Cravens.  Grab an OT late like Darryl Williams last year and let's play ball.