If Luck doesn't declare, what would you want the team to do?

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I think some on this board are excited at the prospect of getting Andrew Luck, which is super. But if he doesn't come out, what would you want the team to do? There's a few scenarios I can think of:

1. The team stays where it is and takes one of the top prospects available. This is a pretty obvious solution. We could stay at one and take Dareus, Green, Bowers, Amukamara or Peterson. All these players are worth, in my opinion, a top five selection. I think the team would start by looking at Dareus, a premium player at a position of need. The knock on the guy is that he isn't Ndamukong Suh, and I think that's unfair because I had never seen a guy like Suh before last year. Bowers would also make a lot of sense as top flight pass rushers are a very valuable commodity. Of all the guys, I think Green will be the best pro, so I would like to see us get him if we went with this option.

2. The team trades down and gets another quarterback prospect. If Luck doesn't declare, I don't think the trade market would be that great, but the team could still recoup a pick and get a guy that we hope becomes the franchise signal caller. There's a couple of guys that will be available this year. Newton, Locker, Mallet, Ponder, and Gabbert are eligible and have their various strengths and weaknesses. Of them, my favorites are Locker and Newton. They both have great physical tools and intangibles with questions surrounding both of them (system for Newton and lack of production for Locker). Mallet is my least favorite; he has insane physical tools, but I think of Derek Anderson when I watch him play. In this scenario, I would like to see us get Locker or Newton in the 6 to 12 range and pick up something along the lines of a third rounder and a few other picks or a second rounder.

3. The team has a fire sale. We go into this draft trying to turn the first pick into as many picks as possible. This team obviously has a lot of needs and to fill those we are going to need multiple draft picks. The teams that have the most draft picks have, historically, done the best job in the draft. As much as people want to talk about brilliant front offices, it may just boil down to dumb luck a lot of the time, and it doesn't hurt to have as many trys as possible. With this option, we do not get the single silver bullet (Locker, Bowers, Green, etc.) but we gain the ability to stabilize multiple positions on the team (defensive line, offensive line, secondary, and wide receiver). This was my least favorite option at first, but I think I've come around on it a little bit when I consider a lot of the quality players our team has found in the later rounds of the draft. It may also depend on the CBA negotiations and how that effects players declaring for the draft. If it's a deeper pool of talent, this option certainly becomes more enticing.

So there's a few options that I see us having. Do you like any of those ideas, or do you have another way you want to see the team go? All things considered, I would want us to try and get Locker and some extra picks and work it from there.

[Tarheels23]

If Luck doesn't come out I wouldn't mine getting Cam with the first pick or even trading down and getting him depending on what his stock does. I personally think Cam's stock is going to skyrocket after the bowl game and nfl combine.

I'm also cool with trading down and getting any position of need.

[Erik Stall]

Just cause his stock skyrockets doesn't mean his actual ability changes. I think Newton is a fantastic college player but I'm not sure how he's going to translate to the NFL.

I'd look into trading down, not far, and see if you can't get someone to pay through the nose to take Peterson or someone.

[Tarheels23]

Just cause his stock skyrockets doesn't mean his actual ability changes. I think Newton is a fantastic college player but I'm not sure how he's going to translate to the NFL.

I'd look into trading down, not far, and see if you can't get someone to pay through the nose to take Peterson or someone.[/quote

The physical ability is already there, and after watching The Golden Calf of Bristol last night I don't think learning how to play undercenter will be all that hard.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

If Luck doesn't come out I wouldn't mine getting Cam with the first pick or even trading down and getting him depending on what his stock does. I personally think Cam's stock is going to skyrocket after the bowl game and nfl combine.

I'm also cool with trading down and getting any position of need.

That's true. Look what the combine and bowl game did for Vince Young. We may have to stay and take him at one depending on how things go.

Just cause his stock skyrockets doesn't mean his actual ability changes. I think Newton is a fantastic college player but I'm not sure how he's going to translate to the NFL.

I'd look into trading down, not far, and see if you can't get someone to pay through the nose to take Peterson or someone.

I don't know. If we take any of the quarterbacks that are not Luck, we are going to have some horse whisperer head coach to come in and work with him because I don't think any are ready to play right away.

I think Jerry and the Cowboys would give up a pretty nice haul to secure the rights to Peterson.

[blackcat]

Draft Green and trade Smitty to NE for AE!!!

[MHS831]

I think Locker is the second best QB prospect as well. However, he has had such a bad year I see him dropping to the bottom of the first round. With Newton and Mallett projected ahead of him in most everything I have read, he should be there after the middle of the round.

Having said that, I don't see anyone who would certainly be an upgrade of Clausen as a second year pro. Sure he has been bad this year, but you put any of these QBs in his situation, they fail too.

[Mother Grabber]

DT

[GritsRgreat]

If the Panthers are poo out of Luck?

1) Sign Mary Mornhinweg as head coach and acquire Kevin Kolb.

2) Trade down if possible. If not grab the best defensive lineman.

I believe Kolb will be the next Matt Schaub.

[Jangler]

Is it April yet?

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I think Locker is the second best QB prospect as well. However, he has had such a bad year I see him dropping to the bottom of the first round. With Newton and Mallett projected ahead of him in most everything I have read, he should be there after the middle of the round.

Having said that, I don't see anyone who would certainly be an upgrade of Clausen as a second year pro. Sure he has been bad this year, but you put any of these QBs in his situation, they fail too.

Yeah, he has had a nightmare year in a lot of respects, but I think he will do himself a lot of favors at the combine, with the senior bowl being the big question.

I have no idea what to make of Clausen between the supporting cast and coaching staff, but I don't think any incoming staff will feel comfortable with him as a long term option.

If the Panthers are poo out of Luck?

1) Sign Mary Mornhinweg as head coach and acquire Kevin Kolb.

2) Trade down if possible. If not grab the best defensive lineman.

I believe Kolb will be the next Matt Schaub.

We may, in fact, be poo out of Luck. I wonder what Kolb's price would be? But that may be the most cost effective way to get a good long term quarterback to Carolina. And maybe Michael Vick goes on a Brett Favre like stretch of having backups who turn into quality starters. I think we could trade down a bit and still get Fairley which would be nice.

[blackcat]

If the Panthers are poo out of Luck?

1) Sign Mary Mornhinweg as head coach and acquire Kevin Kolb.

2) Trade down if possible. If not grab the best defensive lineman.

I believe Kolb will be the next Matt Schaub.

Matt Schaub of the Texans? Man, with all the plyoff appearences he's led the texans to, we can only hope our next qb is half as good as Schaub.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Start Clausen all year, only to draft Luck number 1 the following year.

[GritsRgreat]

Matt Schaub of the Texans? Man, with all the plyoff appearences he's led the texans to, we can only hope our next qb is half as good as Schaub.

Schaub puts up huge numbers, its the Houston D that sucks ass.