Nic Fairley has got to be our next choice.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

I like Fairley, I think he'll be good in the league, but he's not the elite prospect you'd want as a #1 overall. I don't see him being a dominating perennial pro-bowler or anything. Jenkins you brought up was a 2nd rounder. I'd give him a mid to late 1st round grade so that's a pretty massive reach. If Suh was on the board that's one thing but there's no DT close to that level this year.

Some good DTs will hit free agency this year. Get one of them and get a better prospect as your top pick.

[CatMan72]

so your solution to the QB problem is...just stick with clausen?

a vet does need to be brought in. thats for sure, but not as a franchise QB. we aren't going to find one in FA (none there worth it) and we aren't going to trade for one (far too expensive an option).

at some point we need to quit dicking around and get serious about getting one. clausen isn't it. we've got to find someone. the longer we put it off, the longer we'll be looking at 3 NFCS teams from below.

You know, there's something to be said for a kid being a winner in college like Cam Newton has been... it was the same argument with The Golden Calf of Bristol and right now The Golden Calf of Bristol looks a heck of allot better than Clausen does even though Clausen projected better to the NFL...

Winners find a way to win, Newton is doing what he's been asked to do in college, that doesn't mean he couldn't do anything else. If our QB is going to be running for his life anyways, he might as well be 6'6" and 250 lbs and able to run like a deer. The biggest knocks against Cam is that he plays in a spread offense and as such isn't asked to read through progressions, but this doesn't mean he couldn't take snaps from under center and read through progressions... it could take some time to adjust but I think Newton has a very high potential ceiling.

[Carl Spackler]

We definatley need a presence at DT and Nick Fairley is the best DT available in the draft this year. We're going to have to get used to the idea that we'll probably be using the # 1 pick on a guy who wouldn't ordinarily be worthy of the # 1 pick. Don't think anybody is going to be willing to trade up to # 1 for this draft class.

What I'm wondering about is whether or not Bowers could be drafted and coverted into a DT (UT). He's 6'4" 280 lbs and is known more for his strength than his speed. Here's an excerpt from his Scouts, Inc. report:

"Excellent versatility for his size. Is best-suited to play power end in a 4-3 but is very effective when moved inside, particularly rushing the passer as a 3-technique. Might also be able to fit as a 5-technique in a 3-4. Has some experience dropping into coverage but is most comfortable working up the field."

Scouts, Inc. has both Fairley and Bowers graded at a 97 but I think there are some real character concerns about Fairley which makes it a little scary to spend a high pick on him.

Just food for thought...

No character issues whatsoever with Fairley. It would be a mistake to not pick him if he comes out.

[CatMan72]

No character issues whatsoever with Fairley. It would be a mistake to not pick him if he comes out.

Maybe I'm mistaken, could have sworn I heard something about character issues with him?

If there are no character issues, then it seem obvious we should take Fairley over Bowers since DT is a bigger need than DE for us right now.

[tattoorhino]

The rumor is Fairley is a dirty player. Heck I wouldnt mind someone with a nasty streak on defense. Do you really think Newton is a franchise qb?

[Carl Spackler]

Fairley is a great guy. His only character flaw is he likes to injure quarterbacks. Guess we shouldn't pick him then, he doesn't like to fluff them.

[rayzor]

The rumor is Fairley is a dirty player. Heck I wouldnt mind someone with a nasty streak on defense. Do you really think Newton is a franchise qb?

absolutely. upside is through the roof. it's not a safe pick and without significant risk by any means, but, imo he's worth finding out. every player in the draft this year or any year is a risk for the #1 and just as likely to bust as not.

i'm tired of this team playing it safe in regards to the QB position. either take a risk or settle for a good few years more of mediocrity.

[GritsRgreat]

The rumor is Fairley is a dirty player. Heck I wouldnt mind someone with a nasty streak on defense. Do you really think Newton is a franchise qb?

He does play with a mean streak, but thats a good thing if he's your team-mate. He's the kind of player that panthers fans will love and opposing fans will hate.

[rayzor]

i'd rather have a QB that tears opponents apart that other teams hate.

[HeatCheck]

Yeah Fairley is a dirty player. Watched him against UGA and Murray took some unnecessary hits from him.

I'd still take him over Marcell Dareus. Dareus played in the 3-4 at Bama as a DE. Hopefully he's versatile enough to play DT in a 4-3.

Although neither of them are dominant enough to be a #1 overall pick.

[CatMan72]

You know, if we can't get a QB to compete at the level of the rest of the QB's in our division, then the next best thing is to get defensive players that can give those QB's hell... same theory under which Houston drafted Mario Williams # 1 overall, at the time they knew they couldn't find a QB to compete head to head with Peyton Manning so the next best thing was to find someone that could get after Peyton Manning.

[CatMan72]

LOL, I would love to see this happen to Drew Brees or Matt Ryan... just to be clear I don't want to see anybody injured, just hurt.

[rayzor]

You know, if we can't get a QB to compete at the level of the rest of the QB's in our division, then the next best thing is to get defensive players that can give those QB's hell... same theory under which Houston drafted Mario Williams # 1 overall, at the time they knew they couldn't find a QB to compete head to head with Peyton Manning so the next best thing was to find someone that could get after Peyton Manning.

LOL, I would love to see this happen to Drew Brees or Matt Ryan... just to be clear I don't want to see anybody injured, just hurt.

i guess i could get on board with this. if we are going to go with a DT, i'd rather him be the nastiest SoB around.

[propagandamachine]

i think what we are missing in the Midst of all this is - we are going to have one BEAST of a defense.

ONE BEAST OF A DEFEnse