Seven Round Carolina Panther Mock Draft: 1st Edition.

[MadHatter]

Let's see what is wrong with this draft.....

1. Having another rookie DT on this team is not going to add immediate help. They take too long to develop.

2. I am a big Penn State fan and have watched every game. Still is a very good player, but he is NOT a dominant force that should warrant a Top 5 pick.

3. We DO NOT have a 3rd Rd pick....remember the Olsen trade.

4. Captn should be nothing more than a Nickle Back in the NFL. There is a major defensive playmaker named Mo Caliborne from LSU. Guys is an absolute beast.

Pair Claiborne with Gamble....get Beson back....bring in an OLB in the draft or FA....get Edwards back....maybe add another DT to the mix in FA and Rivera will start to have the tools he needs to build a dominant defense yet again.

[Gin and Juice]

As far as trade partners, if we are in position for Barkley then I'm thinking Seattle could emerge as players

[Lout]

FS is one of the most glaring needs on this team...

I would guess that not many Panthers fans would agree with you. I'd say that most fans would say that FS is not a top 3 need on this team.. and thus should not warrant a 2nd round pick, especially considering we do not currently have a 3rd round pick.

In my opinion, our needs are as followed:

1. DT

2. CB

3. OLB

4. OT

5. WR

6. P

7. FS

And obviously everyone is different, but I don't think many people at all would have FS in their top 3.

[HeatCheck]

FS is one of the most glaring needs on this team...

I can agree with that. It might not be our number 1 priority on defense but it's up there. Martin needs to be replaced and really I don't like Godfrey all that much either besides run support. Good thing he's not a FS.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Let's see what is wrong with this draft.....

1. Having another rookie DT on this team is not going to add immediate help. They take too long to develop.

2. I am a big Penn State fan and have watched every game. Still is a very good player, but he is NOT a dominant force that should warrant a Top 5 pick.

3. We DO NOT have a 3rd Rd pick....remember the Olsen trade.

4. Captn should be nothing more than a Nickle Back in the NFL. There is a major defensive playmaker named Mo Caliborne from LSU. Guys is an absolute beast.

Pair Claiborne with Gamble....get Beson back....bring in an OLB in the draft or FA....get Edwards back....maybe add another DT to the mix in FA and Rivera will start to have the tools he needs to build a dominant defense yet again.

I honestly have no clue how people get through life with this kind of ignorance. It baffles me.

[HeatCheck]

I would guess that not many Panthers fans would agree with you. I'd say that most fans would say that FS is not a top 3 need on this team.. and thus should not warrant a 2nd round pick, especially considering we do not currently have a 3rd round pick.

In my opinion, our needs are as followed:

1. DT

2. CB

3. OLB

4. OT

5. WR

6. P

7. FS

And obviously everyone is different, but I don't think many people at all would have FS in their top 3.

Punter ahead of FS? I know Baker is having a down year but punters (especially with our offense) don't make that much of an impact that I would have them ranked higher than a FS.

[mav1234]

I would be pretty fuging pissed if us trading down from #2/#3 ended up netting us a mid first round pick and a third round pick.

Choices are solid given where we would likely pick, though I am not sold on DT in the first, even in the middle, but I could see a situation where a DT is deemed BPA that fits a need or something

[Cat'sGrowl]

Ahhh, makes sense why you jumped the other thread about what I said! You are the one that has Still in rd. 1! I like your mock, especially Lester! I wouldn't be upset with this, however, we have a glaring hole on defense that isn't filled by starter talent and will not be until we address it. Davis may come back.......but its over! He is not the future, nor should he be.

So, my biggest issue is you addressed our biggest need with a draft pick we do not have and assume we will trade up! I think we will trade for more picks, however, Linebackers(especially WLB) is the team's BIGGEST void to be filled! And we go there within the first two rds!

I think people need to understand that we are not going to be able to fix all of our needs this offseason. That is okay-we can still field a Super Bowl caliber team next season with some weaknesses-all teams have some. That said, to achieve that, it is going to have to start at the anchor of our defense. With a lack of reliable defensive tackles in Free Agency, the Panthers will be forced to trade down and acquire one of the Top DT's. Many teams in recent years have had success doing so, and the Panthers should be no exception.

Anchoring the D-line will improve the defensive unit as a whole, it will protect our LB's from getting smashed on every play (likely a contributor to the insane amount of injuries we have had at the LB position this year) and the additional pressure on opposing QB's will help the Secondary. We go Secondary in the second round courtesy of the depth there in this year's class. The Panthers will be able to snag a first round talent in the second this year, which will go a long way in bolstering a Secondary desperate for talent. Lester is the best available prospect, and with the dire need for an upgrade at FS, it makes too much sense.

This leads us to OLB, which is the position that will likely be "ignored." Waiting until the 3rd to take a solid prospect like Trevathan would leave us with Davis/Gaither/Trevathan?/?? there, which won't be as bad with Beason back in the middle. The only question mark is corner, which is loaded with talent in this year's class.

That means CB is the position that, at this point in time, appears to be a weakness next year, but with an improved front seven, along with some of our young CB's having another year of growth, it won't be as nearly problematic as it is this year. Once we are past that, we can begin drafting BPA. This is just the line of thinking on my draft-but taking a Top 5 offensive player really screws us. It doesn't give us another pick-which we desperately need, it doesn't give us a way to address the DL thanks to the lack of them available on the market, it really abandons us fixing our defense for no other purpose than-really-just to have a sexy high profile pick.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I would be pretty fuging pissed if us trading down from #2/#3 ended up netting us a mid first round pick and a third round pick.

Choices are solid given where we would likely pick, though I am not sold on DT in the first, even in the middle, but I could see a situation where a DT is deemed BPA that fits a need or something

Who wants a Gerald McCoy or Nick Fairley anyways? As I told Gin, the whole "youth" argument against drafting a DT has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in this sub-forum.

Also....A win this weekend could stick us as high as 10th in the draft order. We could feasibly finish the year in the middle of the first easily.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Punter ahead of FS? I know Baker is having a down year but punters (especially with our offense) don't make that much of an impact that I would have them ranked higher than a FS.

I'd move it ahead of WR, OT, and OLB as well. FA market is loaded with WRs. OT isn't as much a need as people want it to be. OLB is important, but not as much as FS. Even if TD were to get hurt again next year, Gaither and a mid round pick aren't going to seem nearly as bad on the outside with Beason back in the middle and a capable DL back in front of them.

[Lout]

I'd move it ahead of WR, OT, and OLB as well. FA market is loaded with WRs. OT isn't as much a need as people want it to be. OLB is important, but not as much as FS. Even if TD were to get hurt again next year, Gaither and a mid round pick aren't going to seem nearly as bad on the outside with Beason back in the middle and a capable DL back in front of them.

I agree with the OT assessment (if Otah can come back healthy) which I fully expect him to do.

I feel Travis Lewis from OU will drop to the 3rd round because of his toe injury and would be a steal for us.

I think it all depends on each individuals fan's tolerance towards the specific position's ineptness. I personally think, if we fix the interior DLine, that will make the DE's more effective in creating pressure, in turn, the opposing QB will need to get the ball out quicker, thus, making our CBs look that much better. If there were a DT worthy of the Top5/10 pick this year, I would be all over him.. just right now, I don't think there is one.

[mav1234]

Also....A win this weekend could stick us as high as 10th in the draft order. We could feasibly finish the year in the middle of the first easily.

a win this weekend would put us at like 5th with our SoS so far. obviously a lot can change, but I would be flat out astounded if we won against the Colts, lost out, and ended up 10th in the draft order, since... yeaaah. ;)

Also if we finish the year in the middle of the first, that would mean that something major happened that likely is going to radically change our draft needs, because that would mean we basically finished the year going 4-2 or better.

[Gin and Juice]

A few things here Cat's,

1. Davis is done! Barring a miracle, he will probably have a 1 to 3 game expiration date if he makes it out of camp in one piece. IMO, you treat him like a non-factor. Bring in a quality player and let him compete with the expectation Davis will be back on IR by at least 6th game of the season!

2. You have a solid mock that I would love if we address WLB in the form of a Rocky McIntosh during FA. If not then WLB has to be addressed and early. I could be wrong but I think its fair to say Zach Brown>Still at there respective positions.

3. What are your thoughts on Garay? He is solid and between him and Ron, our DT's should be upgraded tremendously.....more so than just adding Still. And you are 100% correct about battle is won in the trenches.....which leads me to next thing

4. Gross is aging and Otah has zero reliability. He should also be a non factor. A mere luxury if healthy but have no expectations for him to be healty.....knowing this, OT is just a big of a need as DT in my book.

[Gin and Juice]

A few things here Cat's,

1. Davis is done! Barring a miracle, he will probably have a 1 to 3 game expiration date if he makes it out of camp in one piece. IMO, you treat him like a non-factor. Bring in a quality player and let him compete with the expectation Davis will be back on IR by at least 6th game of the season!

2. You have a solid mock that I would love if we address WLB in the form of a Rocky McIntosh during FA. If not then WLB has to be addressed and early. I could be wrong but I think its fair to say Zach Brown>Still at there respective positions.

3. What are your thoughts on Garay? He is solid and between him and Ron, our DT's should be upgraded tremendously.....more so than just adding Still. And you are 100% correct about battle is won in the trenches.....which leads me to next thing

4. Gross is aging and Otah has zero reliability. He should also be a non factor. A mere luxury if healthy but have no expectations for him to be healty.....knowing this, OT is just a big of a need as DT in my book.