NFL executives share thoughts on Carolina Panthers’ draft class with ESPN’s Mike Sando

[TheSpecialJuan]

Carolina Panthers

One evaluator thought first-round Panthers pick D.J. Moore could catch 50 passes with seven or eight touchdowns as a rookie in Norv Turner’s offense. That would place Moore’s rookie production in line with the rookie production for Chris Chambers (2001), T.Y. Hilton (2012), Julio Jones (2011), Torrey Smith (2011) and Marlon Brown (2013).

”Even though Calvin Ridley maybe had a little better college grade, Moore was a better fit for Carolina and maybe will be a better NFL player,” this evaluator said. “They have a vertical guy they traded for in Torrey Smith, and they have a tall guy in Devin Funchess, but who are we throwing the quick screens and slants and digs to? That is D.J. Moore. Bold prediction: He will be in the top five for YAC [per reception] next year.”

An exec said he ideally wouldn’t have taken any of the 2018 receivers in the first round because none was special.

”Unless you are getting a superstar like Julio Jones, I just feel if you have a good quarterback, he will make the receivers work,” this exec said.

Another exec said he liked second-round Panthers corner Donte Jackson as much as No. 4 overall choice Denzel Ward, but he also thought the top receivers in the NFC South would be happy to “take their chances” against Jackson and Rashaan Gaulden, the corner Carolina selected in the third round.

[davos]

Jackson was heavily hyped in general but not much around these parts.  I think people see the 5'11 and speed and just assume he's one dimensional.  He could be a really strong addition for us. 

[Rick Grimes]

31 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Carolina Panthers

One evaluator thought first-round Panthers pick D.J. Moore could catch 50 passes with seven or eight touchdowns as a rookie in Norv Turner’s offense. That would place Moore’s rookie production in line with the rookie production for Chris Chambers (2001), T.Y. Hilton (2012), Julio Jones (2011), Torrey Smith (2011) and Marlon Brown (2013).

”Even though Calvin Ridley maybe had a little better college grade, Moore was a better fit for Carolina and maybe will be a better NFL player,” this evaluator said. “They have a vertical guy they traded for in Torrey Smith, and they have a tall guy in Devin Funchess, but who are we throwing the quick screens and slants and digs to? That is D.J. Moore. Bold prediction: He will be in the top five for YAC [per reception] next year.”

An exec said he ideally wouldn’t have taken any of the 2018 receivers in the first round because none was special.

”Unless you are getting a superstar like Julio Jones, I just feel if you have a good quarterback, he will make the receivers work,” this exec said.

Another exec said he liked second-round Panthers corner Donte Jackson as much as No. 4 overall choice Denzel Ward, but he also thought the top receivers in the NFC South would be happy to “take their chances” against Jackson and Rashaan Gaulden, the corner Carolina selected in the third round.

Just about everyone in the league wants to “take their chances” against our secondary.

Jackson and Gaulden will be nice players for us. It will take time, but together they should be a nice starting point to rebuilding one of the worst secondaries in the league.

[Mr. Scot]

19 minutes ago, Rick Grimes said:

Just about everyone in the league wants to “take their chances” against our secondary.

Jackson and Gaulden will be nice players for us. It will take time, but together they should be a nice starting point to rebuilding one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Hiring better secondary coaches to bring them up to speed would be a nice step too.

I don't believe for a moment that it's coincidental how as soon as Steve Wilks stepped away from directly coaching the secondary (and Richard Rodgers and Curtis Fuller took over) things started going downhill.

[bythenbrs]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Hiring better secondary coaches to bring them up to speed would be a nice step too.

I don't believe for a moment that it's coincidental how as soon as Steve Wilks stepped away from directly coaching the secondary (and Richard Rodgers and Curtis Fuller took over) things started going downhill.

That's a strong statement, Mr. Scott.  I am embarrassed to say, I don't know if both are still with us.  Who is the Norv Turner of secondary coaching or did he just leave us to be HC with the Cardinals?  Hate to see us draft exciting young talent and then watch them flounder under weak coaching.

[Moo Daeng]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Hiring better secondary coaches to bring them up to speed would be a nice step too.

I don't believe for a moment that it's coincidental how as soon as Steve Wilks stepped away from directly coaching the secondary (and Richard Rodgers and Curtis Fuller took over) things started going downhill.

Do you think you make any sense? What are you trying to say? Think dude

[Mr. Scot]

13 minutes ago, bythenbrs said:

That's a strong statement, Mr. Scott.  I am embarrassed to say, I don't know if both are still with us.  Who is the Norv Turner of secondary coaching or did he just leave us to be HC with the Cardinals?  Hate to see us draft exciting young talent and then watch them flounder under weak coaching.

Well, apparently Curtis Fuller isn't a question mark anymore.

Now we've got Richard Rodgers (Rivera's old college teammate who did a terrible job with special teams before being switched to the secondary) and nickel coach Jeff Imamura.

[ColumbusCounty]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Well, apparently Curtis Fuller isn't a question mark anymore.

Now we've got Richard Rodgers (Rivera's old college teammate who did a terrible job with special teams before being switched to the secondary) and nickel coach Jeff Imamura.

Richard Rogers should have been dumped after the special teams demotion. I'm guessing alot of people haven't noticed everything he touches going downhill. A good football mind doesn't necessarily translate to great coach in all cases. Good man not so great coach. 

[Mr. Scot]

10 minutes ago, ColumbusCounty said:

Richard Rogers should have been dumped after the special teams demotion. I'm guessing alot of people haven't noticed everything he touches going downhill. A good football mind doesn't necessarily translate to great coach in all cases. Good man not so great coach. 

Always got the vibe Gettleman tried to get Rivera to let him go but Rivera reassigned him instead.

Really don't wanna see him promoted but it won't surprise me.

[Rags]

The first corner that was 6'0+ taken this draft was Josh Jackson at #45. Then Issiah Oliver at 58. 2 out of the first 8 CBs taken are 5'11 and under.

Idk why everyone's acting like we're an outlier. Teams are figuring out how to beat bigger corners now (slot guys and speedier guys), bigger CBs are in less demand. The best CB over the past two seasons, Casey Hayward, is 5'11. It's no coincidence the two teams that took those big CBs don't have a starting big body CAB that can match up with the bigger guys.

But lol no we're dumb for not wanting two big CBs even though that's part of the reason our CB duo was so bad last year.

[davos]

2 hours ago, Rags said:

The first corner that was 6'0+ taken this draft was Josh Jackson at #45. Then Issiah Oliver at 58. 2 out of the first 8 CBs taken are 5'11 and under.

Idk why everyone's acting like we're an outlier. Teams are figuring out how to beat bigger corners now (slot guys and speedier guys), bigger CBs are in less demand. The best CB over the past two seasons, Casey Hayward, is 5'11. It's no coincidence the two teams that took those big CBs don't have a starting big body CAB that can match up with the bigger guys.

But lol no we're dumb for not wanting two big CBs even though that's part of the reason our CB duo was so bad last year.

If they're under 6' they're a NB Rags! Get it right!

[jumpman910]

2 hours ago, Rags said:

The first corner that was 6'0+ taken this draft was Josh Jackson at #45. Then Issiah Oliver at 58. 2 out of the first 8 CBs taken are 5'11 and under.

Idk why everyone's acting like we're an outlier. Teams are figuring out how to beat bigger corners now (slot guys and speedier guys), bigger CBs are in less demand. The best CB over the past two seasons, Casey Hayward, is 5'11. It's no coincidence the two teams that took those big CBs don't have a starting big body CAB that can match up with the bigger guys.

But lol no we're dumb for not wanting two big CBs even though that's part of the reason our CB duo was so bad last year.

Green Bay has Kevin King and he's 6'2/6'3. But Alexander and Jackson are better than he is and they took him early second last year after trading down. 

[Snake]

Signing DJ Moore in my opinion is writing on the wall for Samuel. I've been warning people his injury was not close to healed. 

[Woodie]

53 minutes ago, Snake said:

Signing DJ Moore in my opinion is writing on the wall for Samuel. I've been warning people his injury was not close to healed. 

Don't have any clue about how close he is, but I do love the fact that having Moore allows us to give Samuel as much time as he needs to heal 100% from his injury before putting him back on the field.  Too often players are rushed back out of need, and he either re-injures it or has a compensation injury, or he's just not as effective as you'd like since he is not truly healthy.