I Hate to Burst Your Bubble (Fairley)

[Catalyst]

But there's no way we draft Nick Fairley. Here are all the reasons why:

1. He has a reputation as a dirty player...

As well as an immature on. You all know as well as I do that when you're picking 1st overall it's not just a typical draft pick; Jerry's going to want someone who can represent the team in public and do public appearances and charity work and such and a guy with the reputation of Fairley just doesn't fit the bill.

2. He has conditioning issues...

This is a bigger deal than most realize. It means he's lazy - to add to that he has a reputation as a guy who takes plays off, which only confirms the fact. Sure, we can get the trainers to stay on his ass, but do you really think Hurney is going to use the 1st overall pick on a guy who has trouble staying in shape. Just look at Andre Smith in Cincy. He's about eaten himself out of the league and had the exact same reputation going into the draft in '09.

3. Glenn Dorsey...

The last non-Suh DT to have the hype that Fairley does was LSU's Glenn Dorsey in '08 and he's been a bust in KC. Sure, he's playing out of position as a 3-4 DE, but even when Herm Edwards was there running a 4-3 he wasn't playing well. He's a bust and is VERY similar to Fairley in SO many ways. In fact, Dorsey was probably a better overall prospect than Fairley in '08. History shows that taking a DT with a top-5 pick is VERY risky; perhaps the most risky pick you can make, even moreso than a QB.

4. We're 2-14 because of our offense...

Not our defense. This is key, especially due to the fact that there's a good chance free agency doesn't begin until AFTER the draft this year. Basically, we won't know who/if we can get to help the offense out until after we've made the pick. Depending on what the CBA says there would be very few options to improve the passing game available in FA and we simply can't go into 2011 with the same offensive roster in place as last year.

5. Steve Smith...

Isn't getting any younger. Even if he doesn't want to be traded, it's the right decision for the franchise for many reasons. First off, it's going to help Clausen's development. He never gelled with Smith for whatever reason; they just don't like each other or get along. Clausen can't focus on making his reads if he's worried about how Smith is going to blow up on the sidelines/in the huddle if he doesn't throw the ball his way enough. On top of this, Smith's contract expires in 2 years and we all know he won't be re-signed then regardless. So we can trade him now while he still has some value and draft his replacement or we can go defense and stick with Smith, which will stunt Clausen's development and put us in the position of desperately needing a true #1 WR in a year or two when we really need to be using those picks to trade up for a franchise QB.

6. A.J. Green...

Has been called the best WR prospect since Calvin Johnson. Nobody's calling Fairley the next anyone. Nobody's calling Bowers the next Peppers or Peterson the next Revis. Frankly, Fairley reminds me of Glenn Dorsey, as I mentioned already and - not to speak ill of the dead - but Bowers reminds me of another Clemson standout DE picked in the top-5 recently: Gaines Adams. The fact of the matter is Fairley jumped up draft boards during December while there weren't even any games being played. Then the Ducks forget to block him a few times in the championship and all of a sudden he goes from being a top-10 pick to 1st overall? He's no better now than he was 3 months ago, folks. Matter of fact, this was his first and only year that he produced at Auburn. Green's been tearing it up at UGA from DAY ONE.

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I'm sorry, but I just don't see Fairley being the pick. Even if I wanted him to be, he's not the kind of player that fits this organization very well. A.J. Green is and that matters with the 1st overall pick. This is the kind of pick the owner gets involved in. Not only is A.J. Green the best player available, but he's the best player in the eyes of ownership - an owner who has publically expressed his desire to open up the passing game and bring more excitement to the team.

A.J. Green is the pick. Whether you like it or not - and I know many of you don't - he WILL be our pick come April. There are just WAY too many question marks surrounding Fairley for us to risk using the top pick on him. Green has no questions; he's to the WR position what Andrew Luck was/is to the QB position. He's the only 'can't miss' player left on the board.

We have to take him. We will take him. Mark it down.

[Zod]

Don't want.

[Cavscout]

Hate to burst your bubble...but...With Smith, LaFell, and Gettis, I don't think we take Adriel Jeremiah Green with the first pick.

No, I don't think we take Fairley either

We will likely trade down to get extra picks...this team needs a lot of help

[Catalyst]

Good lord, who the hell do you think is going to be stupid enough to trade for this pick? You see the situation we're in, don't you? There's nobody to take 1st overall. Why would any other team give up more picks to be in the same situation? Especially if the rookie wage scale doesn't go into effect until 2012.

I'd love to trade down, too, but it's not going to happen. Nobody wants the pick. If Luck were available it'd be different, but he's not.

[SuperLego5]

Hate to burst your bubble...but...With Smith, LaFell, and Gettis, I don't think we take Adriel Jeremiah Green with the first pick.

No, I don't think we take Fairley either

We will likely trade down to get extra picks...this team needs a lot of help

Trade with who? Who will trade up and give us fair compensation?

[Catalyst]

I don't think anyone would trade up even if we asked for less than it's worth. We might be able to get a 4th rounder out of it to move down to 4th or 5th overall, but is that even worth it?

[cookinbrak]

Give Denver the #1 and Goodson for the #3 and Orton. Then draft a QB.

[Jackofalltrades]

I want either Fairley or Green.

[Jackofalltrades]

Give Denver the #1 and Goodson for the #3 and Orton. Then draft a QB.

As far as QB goes there's no better value two whole spots later. Send them Sutton, we need to hold on to Goody.

I still don't think we draft a QB this year and I'm fine with it.

[Drithe]

I KNOW! Let us give our first round pick and Williams to Arizona for Larry Fitz?

End of Line.

[mj4life]

it's to early in the process to know what teams would be willing to trade. if no cba is reached by the draft then alot of teams may be willing to trade up since ther will be so many questions about free agency( who's available etc,etc)

[JawnyBlaze]

Agree with 90% of the original post. Only disagreement is the Smitty talk...Smitty will be a Panther until he's 40. If Jimmah is too worried about what Smitty thinks, he'll never develop anyway. Smitty can do no wrong. This team should be named the Carolina Smitties.

[Urrymonster]

1. I agree with having issues at taking a dirty player, as some of the hits really were pretty bad. However I would not jump to conclusions on this, as the hits amount to around 10 plays in the season.

2. The weight issues is purely a forum created rumour as there is absolutely no substantial (or any) news on it whatsoever. Almost every reputable draft site has stated he has no off field issues.

3. Glen Dorsey came out his shell this year, in low and behold his 3rd season. Was he worthy of his pick? No, but to label him a bust is over the top and to use a prior player as a reason not to pick someone else is paranoia.

4. Spot on and pretty good reasoning. I honestly wouldn't be upset if AJ Green were picked. However you have to remember that Rivera picked out Gettis and LaFell specifically to comment on how they had played.

5. Torn on this because Smith clearly has lost a step and I haven't seen him break a tackle for a long time. Even the plays specifically designed to get him a run at a cornerback failed. However I think we can get a 4th round for him at best, is it really worth it?

6. Nick Fairley only transferred to Auburn for the 2009 season and wasn't given the starts, although played decently in the time he was given (3.5 TFL). This year he starts and the numbers were darn impressive. Before 2009 he was at Copiah-Lincoln Community College where he redshirted in 2007, then he played in seven games in 2008 recording 63 tackles and seven sacks.

[Davis83]

Now that Cam newton officially declared, there might be a team out there that wants to trade up to ensure they get him. With little difference between 1 thru 5 at any position (maybe other than WR), I would only trade with a top 10 team. We won't get much for the trade since the movement will be minimal - but I think if any trade can include a 2nd round pick - then all beyond would be a bonus.

I feel like AZ is the best bet for a trade. maybe the Bills.

Lke I said, we won't get much for it - but if we can trade it for some additional picks or value player, then we should trade it to increase our # of picks.

Lots of discussion about how many pieces we need - honestly we are not that far off of being competitive again. Improved QB play either thru coaching (Clausen) or FA will go a long way to helping us.