Panther Needs Assessment

[Basbear]

10 hours ago, MHS831 said:

In the weeks prior to the draft, it can get a bit slow.  So I thought I would share.  I decided to analyze each position to the best of my ability. Then I wanted to develop a strategy to enter the draft, based on need.  I do these kinds of things to help me see it more clearly--but I thought I would share since I went to so much trouble.  I realize there will be disagreements, but I wanted to see if we are pretty much on the same page--to me, we have 5 needs we MUST address in the draft, and I would love to see us grab a TE, but I doubt we do.

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

MHS' Ranking of Needs:  Here I considered the difficulty finding a quality player at that position, the impact the expected player would have, the immediate need, and the long-term need.  This gets very difficult, but I settled with the following:

1. QB.  Obviously

2. Edge.  As of now, Burns is the only outside threat to pressure the QB.  I expect Barno to improve and we know that we have depth in Haynes, but YGM ain't a good fit or good player (so far).  Coincidentally, rarely do you have a draft where you can find quality edge players in early round 2--but that is the case this year.  Grab one.

3.  Cornerback.  Horn and Jackson have been injured quite a bit, and Jackson is coming off an injury that could rob him of his best asset--quickness.  Henderson and Taylor are most famous for appearances on Mike Evans' 2022 highlight video. 

4.  Wide Receiver.  The Panthers need a play maker, and the future needs some talent. Some will put this need in front of CB and maybe even OLB/Edge, but I do not see it that way.  Chark is often injured (hopefully that is not the case here) and Thielen is reportedly getting older.  We can't trust Smith or TMJ yet, but I have faith that TMJ showed signs of the light coming on last year and Smith is the player we will upgrade. 

5. Offensive Line:  The Panthers need solid depth at all times, especially if they are going to draft Young.  Personally, I question T depth (Coleman?  not sure if he is there answer there), and I think G could use another player. If we take a hybrid, I would hope for a T/G hybrid as opposed to a C/G hybrid.  C (Bozeman, McCray, Mays, and Tecklenburg is covered)

6. TE.  Hurst is not the long-term solution, but he should be strong in 2023.  Tremble should emerge from the developmental label into a solid TE, and I am high on Ricci as a receiving TE/hback.  Thomas is great as a #3 TE; he just should not start.  Still, with this draft, a solid TE is likely to drop to day 3 and if that happens, you take the BPA and upgrade your TE group.

Based on my assumptions, here is my draft strategy.  It is 100% accurate and it is exactly what the Panthers will do.  That is all.  I have spoken.

(Seriously--it all depends on how things shake out--I could see the Panthers taking a WR or CB with the 39th pick.)

1.	Round 1, pick 1	Quarterback: Bryce or CJ
2.	Round 2, pick 39	OLB/ Edge: There are many ways we can throw players at this situation, but a pure, elite pass rusher is needed to take pressure off Burns and the inside pass rush.  Panthers have had known contact with Ojulari (Edge, LSU) and Hall (Edge, Auburn), which suggests possible round 2 curiosity for an Edge.  NOTE: These players should last throughout the second round, so Fitterer may trade back to the end.  Names to watch:  BJ Ojulari, LSU; Will McDonald IV, Iowa St; Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State; Derek Hall, Auburn….
3.	Round 3, pick 93	Cornerback:  This may be a bigger need than WR because our CBs are often injured and their backups are often burned. The 3-4 will allow more zone in covers 2 and 4, so maybe this is not as big a need as thought. This draft has some talent at CB, and some could fall to late day 2. The Panthers have had Kansas State CB Julius Brents in for a visit, as have many other teams.  That suggests third round curiosity.  Names to Watch: Brents; Turner, Michigan; Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU; Rush, South Carolina; Smith, Minnesota; Ricks, Alabama…
4.	Round 4, pick 114	Wide Receiver:  There are surprising names that could fall past the third round. Charlie Jones and Jonathan Mingo have had visits with the Panthers, which could suggest a WR on day 3.  Names to watch:  Rice, SMU; Dell, Houston; Scott, Cincinnati; Mims, Oklahoma; and Perry, Wake Forest, Jones, Purdue; and Mingo, Mississippi….
5.	Round 4, pick 132	Tight End:  While the Panthers may not show (on paper) an immediate need at TE, the class is deep, and a quality TE can possibly be found at the end of round 4. Perhaps a warning that this won’t happen is the fact that the Panthers do not seem to be showing interest at this time--  No TE are known to have interacted with the Panthers to date. This could be for OL depth and not TE.  Names to Watch: Schoonmaker, Michigan; Wylie, Cincinnati; Latu, Alabama…
6.	Round 5, pick 145	Offensive Line:  With Mays and McCray backing up Christensen, Bozeman, and Corbett, perhaps a swing T to develop is in order. A few players who are injured right now may become a day 3 value, so I am targeting people who could fall.  Names to Watch:  Vorhees (injured G/T), USC; Javon Foster (LT), Missouri; McLendon, (RT/G) Georgia; McFadden (T/G), Clemson; Rouse (swing T), Stanford, Anthony Bradford, OG, LSU …
7.	Undrafted Free Agents	Names to Watch: Bumper Pool, ILB, Oklahoma

another draft banger mhs, thanks brother!

It wasnt until I seen the light on CB need/want two months ago, thats when I believe what you posted above. Its my weak point about DBs, i just dont much care and value them......but that 202_ wrong....get with the times basbear.....

Your lay out is near perfect, only and we are talking some nano nit-picking here maybe move around the 4-6, but only if it clear BPA. in order for a perfect panther draft 1-3 is the way........now it means its will not happen....