Carolina Panthers 1st round draft mini breakdown

[Verge]

The season is unfortunately over for us, but that doesn't mean we can't look past the bad into our future! 

What do we need going into the offseason?
Uhh everything unfortunately, there probably isn't a position group outside of RB that we look at and say we are set at. Not to say we don't have talent or anything, we very much do, our defensive line is on it's way to being one of the best in the league, our WRs our dynamic game changers, we have the best RB in the league. Free agency will help us fill the gaps in our defense I believe. Someone to play opposite Brown, a solid corner to fill out the group, a replacement for Boston, and likely another edge rusher. The focus on this draft I believe is direction, what direction are we taking this team? Who is our leader? What do we want our offense to look like? I fully believe this year we will go out and get our franchise QB, and we will do whatever it takes to get the guy we want. I don't really believe we are going into this draft without that plan in place. I do not believe we will settle on a FA or settle at a spot where we do not get "our guy". 

Okay, so who is our guy? Who can we draft to help the offense? 
Well here is my current QB rankings
1. Trevor Lawrence (This is not happening in any way so don't even begin to get your hopes up)
2. Zach Wilson 
3. Trey Lance 
4. Justin Fields 
5. Mac Jones

"Wow we have 5 chances to get our guy?"

Yes and no. There is likely not a chance that our staff come away feeling comfortable with everyone on this list, and I do not believe you take all 5 guys in the top half of the NFL draft. 

"Okay well who do you believe we take?"

I believe we will end up falling in love with Wilson and trading up for him. Though I fully entertain the idea of of Lance as well, both are excellent ways to start a franchise and develop into guiding this offense. 

"wait a second? I thought Justin Fields was the 2nd best if the not the best QB in this draft?"

I guess that is a matter of opinion honestly, but my evaluation as well as an evaluation from one NFL scout lead me to believe the media may be overselling Fields quite a bit. That isn't to say Fields is a bad QB or anything, he will certainly be drafted within the top 20, it is just a hard sell for me personally to trade up for or take him in the top 10 as the face of a franchise. 

"Okay so Wilson and Lance, are they franchise QBs"

I would say with Wilson more than Lance it is a lot more definitive, yes Wilson is a franchise guy, he is a QB you trade up to get, and he is a guy who you stick out there day 1 and let win the job. Lance is a tad more of a project, and only hurt himself this year unfortunately, but there are not QBs that come out looking like Lance and having the type of production/talent combo that he does. He can without a doubt be molded into whatever you need him to be, and is as close to Cam Newton as you are going to get (If you want to go that way I guess). 
 

"Well hey what about that Mac Jones guy?"

I really like Mac Jones a lot, I think he can perform well with talent around him, I do not believe he can elevate a team on his own and that is something we unfortunately need a QB to do right now. I think a perfect sort of projection for him is Andy Dalton if that helps at all, not an elite arm, but is very productive and very accuracte. 

"Isn't there that Trask dude who could win the Heisman?"

Trask is okay, I think he excells in the offense he is in and with the talent around him, but is far to statuesque with a longer release, something that just doesn't work in the NFL anymore unless you have some other type of elevating factor (elite arm strength, Brees accuracy, etc) which he does not possess. I do think he can come in and do a fine enough job, but his limitations make him a hard sell in round 1, and maybe even round 2. Though to be honest it wouldn surprise me if a team looked at his tape and took him in the back end of 1 to get that 5th year option.

"Well what if we don't draft a QB?"
I think it is very unlikey, but if we are not able to trade up for whatever reason, and Wilson/Lance/Fields are gone, here is a list of guys who would make a lot of sense for us 

1. Penei Sewell, T, ORE (another one I wouldn't count on being there, this kid is special) 
2. Kyle Pitts, TE, FL
3. Alijah Vera-Tucker, T, USC 
4. Jamar Chase, WR, LSU 
5. Micah Parsons, LB, PST 

"Hold on a TE at 9?"
Pitts is the best weapon to come out of the draft since CMC. We will need someone to replace the threat of Samuel on third down, and Pitts does that plus way more. He is truly a matchup nightmare and would make this offense excel once we eventually do find that QB to run this offense. 

"I thought you said we were going offense this draft? Why Parsons?"
Well i think we are, but you know, I've been wrong before. Parsons fits the utility mantra of our defense, and is speedy enough and instinctive enough to play anywhere in the middle part of our defense. Though this D player could easily be someone like Jaycee Horn, Kwitty Paye, or Patrick Surtain as well. I just honestly don't expect us to go D. 


Hope that helps a little bit. I can answer any questions you have about the draft to the best of my ability in the comments below.


 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Verge

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Quote

I believe we will end up falling in love with Wilson and trading up for him.

All I needed to hear

[Moo Daeng]

His name is Zach

[SmittysLawnGuy]

Typo first part. Zack Wilson instead of Kyle. Probably combined him with Trask.

[chknwing]

Wilson is the next Manziel. dude is cocky as poo.

[Verge]

Just now, SmittysLawnGuy said:

Typo first part. Zack Wilson instead of Kyle. Probably combined him with Trask.

Haha yep, my train of thought has 400 different tracks sometimes.

[Ivan Knight-Jordan]

Wilson or Pitts would be great. If it is Pitts take a flyer on a 2nd round or later QB. This isn’t the last year we have a chance to get one. If it’s not the guy they are really high on don’t reach. We always have next year and/or free agency. The Titans turned Mariota into Tannehill, which worked out pretty well for them. 

[Daddy_Uncle]

6 minutes ago, chknwing said:

Wilson is the next Manziel. dude is cocky as poo.

Agreed, I'd be pissed if we gave next years first rounder plus a poo load more picks to move up and get him. I like Lance better and he will be there at 8. 

[Verge]

I think the "character issue" thing is extremely overblown with Wilson. His teammates would die for him and his growth has proven he works hard day in and day out. Comparisons to Manziel are lazy and I am not sure what they are based on at all. Not to mention Wilson is a much better prospect that Manziel was coming out. 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Verge

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Just now, Verge said:

I think the "character issue" thing is extremely overblown with Wilson. His teammates would die for him and his growth has proven he works hard day in and day out. Comparisons to Manziel are lazy and I am not sure what they are based on at all.

It's based on some article with "anonymous sources" from Walter fuging Football.

[MHS831]

OK, I knew what you ,meant with Wilson--call him Daisy if you want to---we are very close in opinion---but I am a bit interested in (at a later time--I think we will have time to break this down later----I really like Jones, and I like Fields, but the OSU curse bothers me.   The Dalton comment may not sell him as well as you meant, but I know you are talking skill set, not overall talent or fit.

So here is what I would like:  What is the reason Wilson is ahead of Fields?  Lance ahead of Fields?  Maybe later we can compare the QBs like they do on Cars.com.

I am of the opinion that Brady could covet Jones because he fits the "mold" he seems to prefer. 

Here are options (add / correct these)

• 1. We move up for Wilson (I am guessing Miami has to be the trade.  That means we see Wilson as the face of the franchise because we are going to give up next year's #1 to get him and our second rounder to get him.  If he is a franchise QB, worth it).
• 2. We sit move up a spot or two for Lance.
• 3. We sit at 9 and take Fields.
• 4. We trade back and take Jones.
• 5. We pick from the list you provide (Hearing a lot about Slater and Vera Tucker---draft deep at T )

 

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by MHS831

[Moo Daeng]

I'm not going to be too concerned with what has to be done to get who before the combine, free agency, and pro days. It's too fluid.

[SmittysLawnGuy]

I'm back from the bath tub time machine. In order : 

Lawrence 

Wilson 

Jones 

Fields 

Lance 

"The Ridder" 

Mind you the Patriots took Mac Jones and he has won 4 Super Bowls but is it Mac or Bill?

 

 

 

[Varking]

Justin Fields shredded Clemson on a national stage for 6 touchdown passes and 385 passing yards. Trey Lance has never thrown for 385 yards in a game. Trey Lance has 5 passing touchdowns total in his last 4 games. I’m going to need to hear the reasoning behind ranking Lance above him.