Bill Voth: Panthers taking DT Christian Wilkins at #16

[TheSpecialJuan]

Last year, I made my pick with my heart. I'm going to do it again.

I love talkers, and Wilkins has possibly the biggest personality in this draft. Selfishly, the more guys like that in the Panthers' locker room, the easier it is to provide fun, engaging content. Of course, winning is fun, too, so it helps that Wilkins can play. The guy was a force at Clemson, helping lead the Tigers to a pair of national titles.

As I wrote in Grill Bill last week, I get all the pre-draft focus on outside rushers, but the fastest way to a quarterback is through the middle – especially when offenses are being increasingly designed to get the ball out quicker and quicker. And it's not like Wilkins is a traditional defensive tackle. He can play all over the line, flexibility the Panthers covet as they evolve to more multiple fronts.

Ultimately, like my choice of chatty cornerback Jaire Alexander last year, I doubt Wilkins will still be on the board when the Panthers pick. I do think it's safe to continue assuming whoever it is, it'll be a guy who plays on either line. But if Wilkins happens to be available, I'd hand his name in as soon as the clock starts.

 

 

https://www.panthers.com/news/who-will-the-panthers-pick-three-best-guesses

 

 

 

 

[Palmetto]

[Captain Morgan]

if the ends and tackles are gone, he's certainly a nice consolation prize

[rippadonn]

It's always stupid to trade up. Trade down to amass scrubs.

[rippadonn]

I hope we can get in on the best Dline draft in years. Standing by may not be the move. I just have a feeling teams are going to eat up all these great defensive players.

[LinvilleGorge]

I would be quite pleased with this development.

[Verge]

I'd be super hype if we got Wilkins.

[hepcat]

Panthers got Cam Newton in a historic defensive draft in 2011. Watch them get another offensive player during the next great defensive draft

[bobcat91]

Its definitely a need as we have little depth there. It wouldn't have me super excited but depending on who is left on the board, I wouldn't hate it

[Mage]

7 minutes ago, hepcat said:

Panthers got Cam Newton in a historic defensive draft in 2011. Watch them get another offensive player during the next great defensive draft

To be fair, that draft was insane everywhere lol

 

[LinvilleGorge]

14 minutes ago, hepcat said:

Panthers got Cam Newton in a historic defensive draft in 2011. Watch them get another offensive player during the next great defensive draft

Cam has done a helluva lot more for us than any defensive player would have.

If you need a franchise QB, then getting a franchise QB trumps the hell out of anything else.

[Yaboychris28]

I hope not. Both players have high floors low ceilings imo

[hepcat]

2 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Cam has done a helluva lot more for us than any defensive player would have.

If you need a franchise QB, then getting a franchise QB trumps the hell out of anything else.

Oh yea I agree for sure, although I think Von Miller would have done quite well for the Panthers too.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, hepcat said:

Oh yea I agree for sure, although I think Von Miller would have done quite well for the Panthers too.

Oh, he absolutely would have, but it would've looked like his last couple of years in Denver when they didn't have a QB. Big individual production, but not many wins. QB (well, healthy QBs) can carry a team. An individual defensive player can make a big impact but without that QB on the other side they're limited in what they can do unless that overall defense is an all-time great defense.