Riley Reiff, Dre Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Martin, and Luke Kuechly

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

In my opinion, one of the four players above will be in a Panthers uniform next year; simply because all of them can play in our system unlike Still and Upshaw etc...

Offensive Tackle, Riley Reiff, Iowa

Pass blocking: Looks like an athletic NFL left tackle. Most college defenders cannot get the edge against him due to his lateral agility and length. Locks up most ends if they try to bull rush. Has natural knee bend and reach to send shorter edge rushers around the pocket, or to the ground. Recovers nicely to cut off the inside rush lane. Effective cut blocker despite his height, attacks thighs of his man, makes it tough to recover. Tends to bend at the waist and overextend, must maintain upright posture and rely on his length and feet to find targets. Stronger ends can get into his pads to punch or drive him back due to late/inconsistent hand placement and average anchor. Also could play with a wider base more consistently. Inside blitzers run by him at times, as he locks onto one target.

Run blocking: Athletic run blocker with quickness and lateral movement to effectively wall off opponents on the edge. Once in position, even elite players will not get around him. Reaches linebacker easily and gets the angle on them to prevent their reaching the play. Gets fairly low off the snap for his height in short-yardage situations (but could improve), able to combo from lineman to linebacker very quickly. Extends his arms at the end of strong blocks for emphasis. Must keep his feet moving and hands active on runs to his side or NFL defenders will comes off to make plays.

Pulling/trapping: Does not trap or pull in team's zone blocking scheme, but has the feet and flexibility to get the job done on the move. Can get out in front of screens or off-tackle runs, effective open-field blocker who will negate would-be tacklers coming inside-out.

Initial Quickness: Note elite in this category but comes off the ball hard and strong on run plays and rarely gets beat off the snap in pass protection. Quick and long enough to reach-block most linemen on zone plays, though he will give up some penetration to stronger opponents.

Downfield: Possesses good foot work to reach second-level defenders or safeties downfield on run plays. Hip flexibility, arm length, and feet allow him to hit multiple targets, adjust to oncoming defenders, and get the correct angle to wall off the play. Willing to add himself into the fray downfield to push for extra yards.

Intangibles: Plays with the nastiness offensive line coaches love. Willing to back up teammates on the field. Arrested for public intoxiation, avoiding arrest in July 2008 after leading Iowa City police on a 20-minute chase on foot

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Linebacker, Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Read & React: Intelligent player who knows his keys and "feels" his way to the ball. Aggressiveness allows him to be fooled by those keys, like pulling guards, on misdirection and takes a false step forward on play action, but also recovers well and regularly sniffs out reverses and other trick plays to prevent big gains.

Run defense: Constantly around the ball between the tackles, flows through traffic easily and steps into gaps instead of waiting for the play to pass the line of scrimmage. Tracks the ball to either sideline, though he needs the angle to make plays against quicker ballcarriers. Anchors against strong backs with lowered pads, stops them in their track when filling a gap. Does not have elite size to stand up to NFL-caliber lineman inside, but regularly rips off blocks with strong hands and can make plays even if initially knocked backwards a couple of yards.

Pass defense: Not an elite athlete but covers some ground in pass coverage. Gets good drops, takes correct angles to reach the first down marker and can stay with tight ends and bigger slot receivers down the middle. Takes time to reach running backs going into the flat. Reliable tackler in the middle zone to prevent yards after the catch on crossing routes. Follows quarterbacks' eyes and makes easy and difficult interceptions over the middle with good hand-eye coordination. Looks to turn the pick into points by following blockers and running tough.

Tackling: Secure tackler who, while not putting great fear into opponents, plays strong and finds a way to bring down ballcarriers. Drops his hips and keeps his head up to drag down ballcarriers. Makes running backs pay for going out of bounds with a strong shoulder. Occasionally goes for the high tackle in space, allowing the ballcarrier to elude him. Relies on hustle and angles, rather than straight-line speed, to make plays outside the box.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Not asked to blitz often, lacks great closing speed to reach the quarterback from the stack. Difficult for quarterbacks and running backs to evade him, however, once he's in the backfield because he is solid in his tackling technique.

Intangibles: Last name pronounced "Keek-ly." Exceptional on-field hustle and instincts, as well as off-field work ethic. Has gained significant muscle in the weight room. Shoulder garner top general and football character and intelligence grades. Serves as back-up long snapper. Unassuming young man learning to be more vocal on the field to lead his teammates.

He would be better than Upshaw/Still in my opinion cause he can actually play in our system.

[Ruff]

When I was doing my mock, these are the exact four I had us pegged at. But, I think that Reiff or Martin could be gone when we pick, leaving us with the other one, Kirkpatrick, and Kuechly.

[HeatCheck]

Don't see Luke Kuechly as an option for us at all. Where does he fit and not sure he is going to do much in the NFL anyways. He'll be another Dan Connor, not first round material.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Don't see Luke Kuechly as an option for us at all. Where does he fit and not sure he is going to do much in the NFL anyways. He'll be another Dan Connor, not first round material.

Kuechly is the most underrated player in the draft in my opinion. I'm an ACC fan and happened to catch a few BC games this year and though he spent the majority of his time at MLB, they did move him around time to time as you can see in the video above there are different segments that show him at the weak and strong side. I think Kuechly is the last option but still an option nonetheless. Also even though trading back seems to not be an option to many on this board, if we do trade back I believe Kuechly is our man, because trust me I even realize that Kuechly would be a reach at pick eight or nine. However, there is simply no way that Upshaw or Still can fit in our system, we have tried it before with Everette Brown and it just doesn't work.

[Lout]

Lol at Still not fitting our scheme. Still is scheme diverse. He can play the 43 or the 34. He plays in a 43 in college. And I don't think Kuechly will be a target for us either.. Beason is our MLB of the future.. I don't think we are moving him.

[GamecockSmitty4]

Don't see Luke Kuechly as an option for us at all. Where does he fit and not sure he is going to do much in the NFL anyways. He'll be another Dan Connor, not first round material.

What makes you say that? Is it the fact that he had almost 200 total tackles for the second straight season and had 516 tackles in 3 years? His 2.5 sacks, 7 INTs, and 2 FFs?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Lol at Still not fitting our scheme. Still is scheme diverse. He can play the 43 or the 34. He plays in a 43 in college. And I don't think Kuechly will be a target for us either.. Beason is our MLB of the future.. I don't think we are moving him.

Still is not fast enough to play defensive end in the NFL.

I can nearly guarantee you that the Panthers will stay away from someone that does not 100% fit with their scheme.

Kuechly is more diverse than Still because Kueckly has spent time at the weak side, strong side, and inside.

[Panthro]

Or the fact we have Jon Beason

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Or the fact we have Jon Beason

What part of Kuechly has spent time at weak, strong, and inside linebacker to people not understand. I have said it three times. LOL

I am not arguing for the move of Jon Beason, what you do is you move Kuechly to the strong side (once Thomas Davis tears his ACL again) and have Anderson on the weak side.

And once again, this would be the last option; this is only if Reiff, Kirkpatrick, and Martin are gone in my opinion.

[CPF4LIFE]

Who said Upshaw wouldnt fit in our scheme??

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Who said Upshaw wouldnt fit in our scheme??

Most everyone that realizes that we don't play the same defense as Alabama.

[JawnyBlaze]

I don't understand how Still doesn't fit our scheme. What part of a 6-5 310 lbs DT doesn't fit our 4-3? I could understand the argument against Upshaw (but don't completely agree with it) but it's ludicrous to think Still wouldn't fit our scheme...there's no scheme a guy like him doesn't fit.

And while Keuchley has been a great MLB, just because he played OLB some doesn't mean he can do it in the pros. He looks too slow to play OLB. If ANYONE doesn't fit our scheme it's Keuchley because he ain't taking Beason's job, and moving Beason outside is stupid.

[HeatCheck]

What makes you say that? Is it the fact that he had almost 200 total tackles for the second straight season and had 516 tackles in 3 years? His 2.5 sacks, 7 INTs, and 2 FFs?

Stats are overrated, people should know that by now. Dan Connor was also the leading tackler at Linebacker U.

Having a nose for the ball and having great reaction times are dandy. But what you can't teach is athleticism, strength, and agility.