Private workout for Hakeem Nicks

[rayzor]

I would love to have Brandon Tate but I think that Kenny Moore can be just as explosive and does not cost a draft pick in a year that we don't have that many. (I think we still have him don't we)

I do not see Nicks coming here. I think he'll go late first and if NYG sees him sitting there he will be a Giant.

yeah, we still have moore. we have a lot of depth and potential in our WR corps and some good return options as well. competition at TC is going to be fierce there. between robinson, moore, carter, and even birmingham we could find someone who can be a good return guy. i do think that they are probably wanting someone who can be both a solid returner and provide solid depth at a position. maybe trying to find the next steve smith.

oh yeah...draftcountdown.com has the giants picking up nicks.

[mr beauxjangles]

I'm thinking smokescreen.

In my humble opinion, the smokescreen talk is always a bit over-hyped. Sure, some teams hold workouts or leak supposed interest on draft day to try to gain a little leverage. But it's every teams' coaches and scouts jobs to evaluate players at every position, to look for talent and determine value, to see if a certain player could fit well with the organization, etc. etc. etc.

My point is, in some limited number of cases it may be a "smokescreen" but in the vast majority of cases it's called doing your job. You may be right here - this may be one of those smokescreens - but I think it's just covering your bases. Last year was a good example; it was pretty much the consensus that the Panthers would go after an OT. We had the chance to take Stewart and then move back up and take Otah. Would our scouting and interviews with Stewart have been called a smokescreen? It was just our staff doing it's job. In my opinion - and granted that there's only been one year to evaluate - this may go down as one of the organization's best moves in its short history.

It is also worth noting that our draft position is far from being decided. Obviously there's the Peppers situation - that's one factor. There's the possibility that we'll try to get into this years first round if we don't make a deal for Peppers before draft day - that's a second factor. And then there's the possibility that we'll attempt to trade for more picks in lower rounds.

So to call something a smokescreen at this point seems a bit premature to me. Again, you could be right.

Creating a draft board for an NFL team must be one of the most difficult and tedious tasks in all of sports. But damn, I bet it's fun.

[Gscottnc5]

whats wrong with ding dongs?

Do you like fishsticks? Do you like to put fishsticks in your mouth? haha, you must be a gay fish!!!!

[monstercat]

Tate in the 4th would be orgasm producing.

Yep. There is no doubt in my mind that Tate would have been at least a 2nd rounder, if he had stayed healthy. He was really becoming a great route runner before he got hurt, plus he has good hands to go with good speed. His injury was really devastating for UNC.

BTW, I've been told that Nicks gained weight because a hamstring injury kept him from working out like he needed to. If the Panthers did somehow end up drafting him, which I doubt will happen, I wouldn't worry one bit about his work ethic. What you saw on Saturdays, is exactly what his teammates saw during every practice.

[mantal]

i'd much rather take Tate later on in the draft *dies a little bit more on the inside*

Wha????

[panthersphan]

He won't be available...but we may move up...we have bigger needs though...

[PowerlessDan]

In my humble opinion, the smokescreen talk is always a bit over-hyped. Sure, some teams hold workouts or leak supposed interest on draft day to try to gain a little leverage. But it's every teams' coaches and scouts jobs to evaluate players at every position, to look for talent and determine value, to see if a certain player could fit well with the organization, etc. etc. etc.

My point is, in some limited number of cases it may be a "smokescreen" but in the vast majority of cases it's called doing your job. You may be right here - this may be one of those smokescreens - but I think it's just covering your bases. Last year was a good example; it was pretty much the consensus that the Panthers would go after an OT. We had the chance to take Stewart and then move back up and take Otah. Would our scouting and interviews with Stewart have been called a smokescreen? It was just our staff doing it's job. In my opinion - and granted that there's only been one year to evaluate - this may go down as one of the organization's best moves in its short history.

It is also worth noting that our draft position is far from being decided. Obviously there's the Peppers situation - that's one factor. There's the possibility that we'll try to get into this years first round if we don't make a deal for Peppers before draft day - that's a second factor. And then there's the possibility that we'll attempt to trade for more picks in lower rounds.

So to call something a smokescreen at this point seems a bit premature to me. Again, you could be right.

Creating a draft board for an NFL team must be one of the most difficult and tedious tasks in all of sports. But damn, I bet it's fun.

You put up one hell of an argument I'll give you that. Plus you gave me something to think about.

The reason I said smokescreen is because he is at a local school and maybe it was easier, perhaps even cheaper access. Plus it isn't a pressing need for us right now. However he certainly could fall into that best player available category and I could see him coming to us. If that happens than certainly the smokescreen idea would turn out to be BS I suppose, but if it doesn't than nobody truly knows but the FO.

[mantal]

You put up one hell of an argument I'll give you that. Plus you gave me something to think about.

The reason I said smokescreen is because he is at a local school and maybe it was easier, perhaps even cheaper access. Plus it isn't a pressing need for us right now. However he certainly could fall into that best player available category and I could see him coming to us. If that happens than certainly the smokescreen idea would turn out to be BS I suppose, but if it doesn't than nobody truly knows but the FO.

Fox is a "best play available" type of guy. If there is no player of need rated anywhere near then he won't reach too far to get that need. Having said that, I pretty sure there will be that needed player in the vicinity.

[CatMan72]

WR is a need for us, but I'd hate to see us use anything higher than a 3rd round pick on a WR since drafting a WR is such a big gamble.

[PowerlessDan]

Fox is a "best play available" type of guy. If there is no player of need rated anywhere near then he won't reach too far to get that need. Having said that, I pretty sure there will be that needed player in the vicinity.

I kind of hate to pay too much for lower quality myself. Kind of like when I buy a 20 dollar steak; I want it cooked to order and be a decent cut of meat.

[Panthro]

In 4 years Tate and Jarrett could be our #1 and #2

[R0CKnR0LLA]

In 4 years Tate and Jarrett could be our #1 and #2

I think Tate has the potential to be a very good #1 receiver. Nicks would be a better fit and value for a team that needs a WR to make an impact right away. IMO Tate will have a better NFL career than Nicks though I don't expect him to do much at all his first 2 years. But he has tremendous upside and made huge strides from his junior to senior year before being injured. He's reported to be a 3rd-4th round pick and I'll be overjoyed if we can get him late 4th.

[1789Cardiac Cats9020]

Right...like a WR is even an early round need for us....but then again, there aren't many good DTs in this year's draft nor DE's for the second round.

[kornicova]

Lots of the mocks ive seen have us taking a DT in the second which i don't think would be a bad idea. I had a look at the other BC tackle i think his name is ron brace who played Raji and he looks pretty good. Granted no one knows if the presence of Raji had a large impact on how the opposition played Brace.

I think DT is our most pressing need though and something we need to sort out this offseason much more important than WR.