Top 5 draft targets for positions of need

[TD alt]

BPA. BPA. BPA. I don't care what position it is. I know some don't agree, but that's life.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

1 hour ago, TD alt said:

BPA. BPA. BPA. I don't care what position it is. I know some don't agree, but that's life.

I understand and agree with the sentiment. That said I think the definition of “BPA” differs from one person/team to the next.  

I know people say they draft BPA but have a feeling there is some rationalization to getting to that point.

Personally I would have a formula based on raw assessment then look at other criteria such as team fit and roster impact (forecast number of expected game play, starts snaps etc…). 
 

Otherwise u could end up with 4RBs  backs and 3 CBs. 

[strato]

1 hour ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

I understand and agree with the sentiment. That said I think the definition of “BPA” differs from one person/team to the next.  

I know people say they draft BPA but have a feeling there is some rationalization to getting to that point.

Personally I would have a formula based on raw assessment then look at other criteria such as team fit and roster impact (forecast number of expected game play, starts snaps etc…). 
 

Otherwise u could end up with 4RBs  backs and 3 CBs. 

I think you look at needs. The you get to the spot… if some guy fell and is there, and is so much better than your need options you can do two things. Take him, or trade back if possible to better match your need guy to his value. 
Last year we didn’t see the right value in our needs at our spot, and went BPA because we had room for a WR. Worked out great. If it were a LOT there who was BPA? May not have worked so great 

Edited 23 hours ago by strato

[WhoKnows]

On 1/24/2026 at 2:31 PM, Johnstonny said:

Tired of wasting picks on TE's...damn no in first round.

No kidding. 3 drafts and the only OL drafted was Zavala. We’ve drafted 8 WR/TE/RBs in the same 3 drafts and only 1 of the 8 has been an impact starter.

[TD alt]

2 hours ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

I understand and agree with the sentiment. That said I think the definition of “BPA” differs from one person/team to the next.  

I know people say they draft BPA but have a feeling there is some rationalization to getting to that point.

Personally I would have a formula based on raw assessment then look at other criteria such as team fit and roster impact (forecast number of expected game play, starts snaps etc…). 
 

Otherwise u could end up with 4RBs  backs and 3 CBs. 

I agree. The "problem" is that we'll never know exactly what the formula is. There is undoubtedly a "need" component in the calculus, but I seriously doubt that elite teams are in the business of drafting needs at the expense of drafting generational guys, or even guys they suspect will be good or solid players for years to come. And, as you suggested, "fit" plays a big part of that calculus as well. 

At this point, there are several positions that we could justify using day one and two picks on. I'm looking forward to see what they come up with. Moreover, the plan is always to use FA to set up the draft, so that one doesn't feel compelled to do something stupid based upon needs.

[heel31ok]

On 2/18/2026 at 10:28 AM, strato said:

Well I look at the option of a bust. Seen people burned too many times on these small school guys. The competition they face matters.  
 

I am better taking them later when the stakes are lower. 

Maybe...but that should be according to scouting them not the school.

[heel31ok]

18 hours ago, TD alt said:

I agree. The "problem" is that we'll never know exactly what the formula is. There is undoubtedly a "need" component in the calculus, but I seriously doubt that elite teams are in the business of drafting needs at the expense of drafting generational guys, or even guys they suspect will be good or solid players for years to come. And, as you suggested, "fit" plays a big part of that calculus as well. 

At this point, there are several positions that we could justify using day one and two picks on. I'm looking forward to see what they come up with. Moreover, the plan is always to use FA to set up the draft, so that one doesn't feel compelled to do something stupid based upon needs.

Yeah well thats after they drafted for need to build up to elite.Its quite a luxury to aspire to.

[heel31ok]

You draft bpa according to need 

[SmokinwithWilly]

19 hours ago, TD alt said:

I agree. The "problem" is that we'll never know exactly what the formula is. There is undoubtedly a "need" component in the calculus, but I seriously doubt that elite teams are in the business of drafting needs at the expense of drafting generational guys, or even guys they suspect will be good or solid players for years to come. And, as you suggested, "fit" plays a big part of that calculus as well. 

At this point, there are several positions that we could justify using day one and two picks on. I'm looking forward to see what they come up with. Moreover, the plan is always to use FA to set up the draft, so that one doesn't feel compelled to do something stupid based upon needs.

I think there actually is a strategy to dealing with the "problem." At least IMO. Figure out the success rate of position by round, where the average of each is drafted, and which colleges produce contributing position players regardless of draft position. Then build your draft board like you always would based off talent. See how players fit into the draft predictor, and then track how it unfolds. All those little pieces can help you figure out who to take and where they might fall and get you on the front end of runs instead of chasing scraps. Fitterer could never figure this out and was the worst at reading a draft I have ever seen. 

[XClown1986]

1 hour ago, heel31ok said:

You draft bpa according to need 

I hope not. Needs change year to year. 

If we get to the 3rd round and there is a wide receiver we had graded in the 2nd, but our "need positions" are graded as 4th round or lower, I would really hope we draft the receiver. The fan base may flip out, but the goal is to bring in the best players and look out for the long term success of the team. 

[LinvilleGorge]

On 1/26/2026 at 9:30 AM, NAS said:

JT Sanders has been such a disappointment.  I really thought he'd be good after his promising start to the rookie season. 

Guys being as good as they're ever gonna be on day one of their rookie seasons is quite a trend for a lot of Panthers draft picks.

Our drafting has sucked, but so has our talent development.