Carolina Panthers and Tight End's (Should we draft a Tight End?)

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

The Carolina Panthers have already upgraded at tight end this off-season by signing former New Orleans Saint Jeremy Shockey before the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Dante Rosario and Jeff King are uninspiring and both are unrestricted free agents.

The Panthers need to address the position, whether by re-signing its free agents or looking to the draft.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/661270-2011-nfl-draft-tampa-bay-buccaneers-news-rumors-and-predictions/entry/63887-nfl-draft-2011-will-the-panthers-look-for-a-tight-end-in-the-2011-nfl-draft

First off, I think the Panthers will with the new coaching staff steer away of just a blocking tight end, which really opens up the idea of drafting a tight end.

So right now, the Panthers have two tight end's on their roster in Jeremy Shockey and Gary Barnidge as Dante Rosario and Jeff King are tight ends. The two on the roster seem to be the best two out of the four as Shockey is the best all-around end based on stats and Barnidge is the best all-around tight end based on future potential. However, if now CBA is in place by the draft, do the Panthers go ahead and spend a late round draft pick on a tight end that has potential? Shockey and Barnidge are locks for the team but Rosario and King seem like overthehill players who cannot really get any better or any worse. In my opinion the Panthers should invest in a tight end in one of the mid to late rounds that they can groom to take over for Shockey in the upcoming years and form an impressive one-two combo with Barnidge. Also regarding

Here are the guys I like...

Lance Kendrick's (Wisconsin), in the third. He had an awesome season with the Badgers this year. He had 43 receptions for 663 yards, and 5 touchdowns. He has over 1,000 yards receiving for his career.

Virgil Green (Utah State), in the third or fourth. He has always played well and is one of the most athletic tight ends in the draft. He had 35 receptions for 515 yards, and 5 touchdownds. He had 11 touchdowns in his college career. He also is used as a full back as he had 19 rushing yards this year.

D.J. Williams (Arkansas), in the fourth or fifth. Williams is smaller than most NFL tight ends but he is very athletic. He had 54 receptions for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns. Williams had over 1,800 yards for his career and 10 touchdowns.

Rob Housler (Florida Atlantic), in the fourth, fifth, or sixth. Housler is a tall, thin, but strong tight end. He is very smart and has the assests of his leaping ability with a 37 inch vertical and 4.51, 40 time. Housler had 39 receptions for 629 yards, and 4 touchdowns. In his career he had over 1,200 yards receiving. (He is my personal favorite, and I believe we could get him at the top of the sixth.)

Collin Franklin (Iowa State), in the sixth, seventh, or free agency. Franklin is a tall tight end at 6-5 with great potential. He had 54 receptions for 530 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

[davos]

Julius Thomas

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

He is a former b-ball player but he is not TG.

[davos]

TG?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Tony Gonzalez.

[davos]

What's his comparison Tony Gonzalez got to do with him being good?

Antonio Gates sure isn't a Tony Gonzalez

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Thomas didn't even come close to producing the numbers Tony Gonzalez did in college, and Antonio Gates didn't even play college football and he turned out to be a good NFL football player. Those two tight ends are very rare as tight ends have to be able to block and catch and Gonzalez and Gates were not the most experienced individuals in their respective draft classes they just turned out to be good players. However, players like them rarely come around and I am not willing to take a chance on kid like Thomas who played in a weak division at Portland State, who couldn't put up guady numbers.

[ladypanther]

Rosario might do well in a TE friendly offense.

[Zithers]

I wouldn't mind Luke Stocker (3rd) or Jordan Cameron (3rd/4th).

[CAVSS]

I just don't see it as an area of need. It really is too bad that our coaches will not have an opportunity to look at our guys first hand before the draft. Hopefully they make the right call. I really like what I have seen from Barny.

[davos]

Thomas didn't even come close to producing the numbers Tony Gonzalez did in college, and Antonio Gates didn't even play college football and he turned out to be a good NFL football player. Those two tight ends are very rare as tight ends have to be able to block and catch and Gonzalez and Gates were not the most experienced individuals in their respective draft classes they just turned out to be good players. However, players like them rarely come around and I am not willing to take a chance on kid like Thomas who played in a weak division at Portland State, who couldn't put up guady numbers.

His numbers don't bother me. We have the guy who taught up Gates & Winslow Jr. His athleticism along with Jordan Cameron is awesome and exactly what Chud looks for. If we can get him in the 5th or 6th, its a steal & I think Rob could make him into something special. But that's just like my opinion man :)

[JawnyBlaze]

My preferences go: Julius Thomas in the 4th or 5th, Jordan Cameron with comp pick in 3rd or 4th, and WAAAY behind those two choices, Luke Stocker in the 4th. First two options are the far preferred ones. No thank you to any other TEs (unless we manage a trade down and pick up a 2nd round pick and get Rudolph).

Everyone in the OP is either too short or too small. Don't know anything about the last guy mentioned, though. Green, Kendricks, and Williams are too short for an all-around TE like Rivera wants. Housler is way too skinny. Thomas and Cameron are the right build and size and are very athletic. Thomas really impressed me in his drills at the combine.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

My preferences go: Julius Thomas in the 4th or 5th, Jordan Cameron with comp pick in 3rd or 4th, and WAAAY behind those two choices, Luke Stocker in the 4th. First two options are the far preferred ones. No thank you to any other TEs (unless we manage a trade down and pick up a 2nd round pick and get Rudolph).

Everyone in the OP is either too short or too small. Don't know anything about the last guy mentioned, though. Green, Kendricks, and Williams are too short for an all-around TE like Rivera wants. Housler is way too skinny. Thomas and Cameron are the right build and size and are very athletic. Thomas really impressed me in his drills at the combine.

Kendrick's is not small he is 6-4, 241 lbs. and overall probably one of if not the best tight end in the class just. The Panthers just don't need to use a pick on a tight end that early.

As far as Housler goes, if he can beef up and put on some weight he would be a big asset.

[Ashor]

Jordan Cameron