Which draft pick would make an immediate impact

[mc52beast]

Looks like Newton thinks it would be Howard, says everyone else would be a back-up

http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/24995/alabama-tight-end-o-j-howard-could-have-the-most-immediate-impact-on-panthers
http://es.pn/2mGkQo6

[top dawg]

Drafting just for "immediate impact" is missing the bigger picture. 

[panthers55]

His logic is sound. The two players on offense who would be immediate upgrades would be Howard or Williams. A guy like McCaffrey would start on special teams and play slot receiver and take reps from Whitaker. Fournette, Adams or Hooker will be starters but not this year. Most other guys would be eventual starters but not this year. So a true impact starter would be Howard. I would like that pick.

[t96]

Fournette would start and carry the load from day one, likely resulting in Stew being cut post June 1 or if he'll take pay cut being relegated to breather back and maybe passing down situations while Fournette continues to improve his blitz pickup as a youngin.

[GoobyPls]

Ross

[Peppers90 NC]

If you're planning picking number 8 a guy you don't expect to be an immediate impact, other than QB maybe, you might as well trade back.

[csx]

I don't know! That's the magical answer they look for

[KillerKat]

Corey Davis or Adams.

[Toker Smurf]

Adams. 

[Dex]

I'm thinking Adams. It would force teams to immediately start respecting our pass defense.

[Eazy-E]

Ross would make a much bigger impact day one than Howard. Even if it is a reach Newton forgot about special teams and Ross's return ability. 

[uscgamecocks]

My opinion:

Most Day 1 Impact:

Offense:  OJ Howard
Defense:  Jamal Adams

Most Long Term Impact:

Offense: OJ Howard

Defense:  Solomon Thomas

 

Drafting Howard wouldn't be about replacing Olsen long-term.  It's about moving to base 12 personnel.  Our receivers are subpar, our tackles had issues in pass pro last season, and our run blocking could always use help.  There's a reason Shula asked for another top-tier TE last offseason and why we almost drafted Hunter Henry.

Using two TEs would improve our pass blocking, would improve our run blocking, would make the offense less predictable, and would capitalize on one of Cam's strengths as a passer - hitting the seam route.  

Matt Kalil having trouble with Vic Beasley?  Let Howard chip and double block while Olsen does his thing.  Need a quick 15 yards?  Run play action and watch him blow by the linebacker who froze because you've been using Howard as a lead blocker all game.  Need 3 yards on 3rd and 2?  Put him at H-back and hit him on a quick swing pass.

Rotoworld's Evan Silva has said that Howard is the best blocking TE he's seen come out of college in years.  Silva thinks he will be a top 5 blocker at the position in his rookie season.  And he can help from day 1 in the passing game as well, because he is extremely athletic and a natural hands catcher.  Watching SLBs try to keep up with him on vertical and/or breaking routes is going to be comical.

Ignore the season-long stats - Alabama's scheme last season featured him as a blocker, not a receiver, and Hurts was a bad passing QB.  There are plenty of examples of who Howard is as a player on tape.  Watch the Texas A&M 2016 game on draftbreakdown and see Howard take on Myles Garret 1-on-1 - and win, in both pass blocking and run blocking.  If you want splash offensive plays, watch either of the last two national championship games.

There's a reason Howard's draft stock blew up after the senior bowl.

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/27/14400150/oj-howard-senior-bowl-2017-alabama-nfl-draft

Mayock says his pro comp is Greg Olsen.

Who wouldn't want two of those on the field at the same time?

 

[Nails]

2 hours ago, thomas96 said:

Fournette would start and carry the load from day one, likely resulting in Stew being cut post June 1 or if he'll take pay cut being relegated to breather back and maybe passing down situations while Fournette continues to improve his blitz pickup as a youngin.

A successful team that's serious about kicking ass and taking names wouldn't even think twice about cutting a 30 year old injury prone RB coming off a 3.8 ypc year carrying an $8+ million cap hit after investing the #8 overall pick on a younger, better version of the same player.

[Nails]

David Newton sucks by the way.