Current Draft Position & Potential Prospects

[Bear Hands]

Starting to see more prospect discussion and figured to drop in a few lines:

DRAFT POSITION

The short: We currently stand at #5 and I think this is about where we land. 

We are 1 game separated from 1OA (currently JAX) all the way back to pick 11 (currently CHI).

https://www.tankathon.com/nfl

My Reasoning:  

• JAX is simply a wildcard - I think their remaining schedule is all winnable, but it's a faltering situation.
• NYG could very well lose out, tough schedule, terrible team.  They would still be ahead even if we lose out and they win 1 remaining.  They seem like the highly likely Cam Ward destination/Can't see Deion supporting his long time nemesis.    
• NE is playing AZ, BUF (twice) and LAC to close out the year.  If we both lose out, they're still ahead of us.  Hunter is an easy pick here.  
• LVR have some winnable games, also play JAX week 16.  You never know what Raiders team you're getting weekly, but Shedeur makes too much sense for them - question is - where do they land?  
• CLE has a BRUTAL stretch coming up and could easily lose out, moving ahead of us.    

With this in mind, I think highest pick here for us is #3 unless Drake Maye or Drew Lock pull off some stunners.  Lowest pick is in that #10/11 range. 

If we get just 1+ win (which seems likely), I think we end up at #5.  So, okay, there's my reasoning.  

 

MINI-BIG BOARD

And now the big board talent - more/less consensus from what I'm seeing (minus QBs who's value pushes them up):

1. Travis Hunter DB/WR Colorado

2. Will Johnson DB Michigan

3. Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona

4. Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State (talent is this high, but doubt he goes top-5 in the current climate)

After this...it's really hard to sort bc they all start to have warts, the EDGE talent is not good, but names you'll see:

Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado

Cam Ward QB Miami

Mason Graham DT Michigan

Malaki Starks DB UGA

Abdul Carter OLB PSU
 

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Where we benefit: Ward & Shedeur will be going to QB needy spots and early. This brings Hunter, McMillan, & Johnson into contention.  With that being said, as mentioned, New England seems a likely landing spot for Travis Hunter. 

So long story short: Johnson DB v. McMillan WR v. Graham DT is the debate I foresee having as things escalate.  The EDGE class is simply not worthy in the top-5 (I need a hard sell on those guys) and don't really see the value elsewhere unless we really like Starks.  

Many are already talking McMillan and I think it makes a lot of sense. Seems like a situation where staying in that top-5 helps. So maybe yesterday was a blessing in disguise.  

If we drop much further, there may be a prospect commonly ranked in the 20s right now that rises into consideration with how this draft class is muddled.  That top-4 is clear and it's just a big field of late 1st/early 2nd rounders IMO. 

Put Bowers, heck Amarius Mims in this draft class, they're both going top-5.   

[JawnyBlaze]

Appreciate the early analysis. 

[chknwing]

It might be me but I think there are better fits for Carolina in the middle of the 1st.  Tmac looks slow.  Carter looks lanky.  Kinda like to trade down and pic up Jalon Walker.

[Captain Morgan]

we'll get a great player that fits our many needs.  Spent the last few weeks debating which to go with, and I ended up with McMillan.  That and another TE in the 4th (we have 2 picks in that round) will complete our offense for Bryce.

   If he's not there I'll ecstatic with the DT or Edge.  I heard Carter is still raw, but Johnson is about the safest pick in the draft.  He's an island.  Matched with Horn, our rushers will have more time.   Not wild about another corner in the first, but it is a need.

[ImfromClayton]

I really am not as concerned about position as I am concerned that we get a really good pro bowl caliber player. It is critical that we hit with this pick. 

The good news is, the positions that this draft seems to have an abundance of talent appear to be our deficiencies. 

I think travis hunter will be gone, but I'd love a good CB, DT, or Edge. I could see the top player at any of those positions reaching us except travis hunter. 

T-Mac is the type of talent that I would be thrilled if we drafted. While I'm not sure WR is where I want to spend this draft capital, he looks like a guy that's going to play for a long time and break some records. Reminds me a lot of Mike Evans.  

[trucpfan]

29 minutes ago, chknwing said:

It might be me but I think there are better fits for Carolina in the middle of the 1st.  Tmac looks slow.  Carter looks lanky.  Kinda like to trade down and pic up Jalon Walker.

Trading back seems like it could give us the pieces we need to put this rebuild in its final stages. Adding another 2nd rounder by trading back with Cin/Browns/Dallas putting us around 9-12 still with a chance to add T M WR-AZ or Graham if he falls or even James P Tenn end who we thought we wanted after last season but he’s dropped a little in from last year to this one but a mid first might be a great place for him to be drafted. Two twos give us a chance to get a stud WR still and a stud DB or safety we’d be young and talented across the board with this kind of drafting but we’ll see in due time.

[*FreeFua*]

For me it’s either Abdul Carter or Luther Burden

[Basbear]

2 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

For me it’s either Abdul Carter or Luther Burden

 

I feel no one has a grasp on who the top edge or even top 3 are. The pre-season top 10 forgotten they had to play this yr. 

[mrcompletely11]

3 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

For me it’s either Abdul Carter or Luther Burden

Carter is a smaller version of brian burns.  Or think of him as everette brown.  

[SmokinwithWilly]

I'm a Michigan guy and I admit I haven't watched much of Johnson or Graham this year because Michigan has been so bad this year. Saturday was the biggest game of the season, but man it was that painful. Defense was fun to watch, but that offense. That was just a kick in the boys over and over again. 

[CamWhoaaCam]

I'm convinced Hunter is going to be the first non QB off the board.

 

Right now Jacksonville seems like they will take Hunter #1 overall. If we can jump New England that sets us up for Tmac in the top 3. Not sure anyone else outside of New England takes Tmac top 5.

[pdub0702]

I like the idea of trading back into the mid 1st round while gaining an additional 2nd. Just load up on DT/Edges/S/CB.
 

[Basbear]

14 minutes ago, pdub0702 said:

I like the idea of trading back into the mid 1st round while gaining an additional 2nd. Just load up on DT/Edges/S/CB.
 

 

I don't know think this is the draft to pull that classic move.

As for a great reason to do so- there should be about 10 DLmen in the overall top 20-22 with what I feel will be vastly different in ranking among teams.

I feel if they get a top 4 pick or 5, take the best edge unless Tmac is there and ran like a 4.3. 

Not to fall for "This team is one player away", but I feel with Dbrown back 100% and you hit on a big nasty edge....that would take the Panthers defense to like 12th alone. 

Fairly can play CB he was a former mid 1st not long ago.

Wallace is still playing well enough.

I do not draft safety that high unless they are Sean Taylor clones. 

Edited December 3, 2024 by Basbear

[countryboi]

Tetairoa McMillan or Mason Graham; I really want Trav, but I'm trying to be realistic. We really need one of the teams ahead of us to fall in love with one of the top QBs.