Ken's 1st Mock Draft

[Ken]

Warning it's a tad long but you don't have to read all of it. ;)

Pick 1 - #14

Keenan Allen, WR, Cal

Why WR: The Panthers really need to be start thinking about the future at WR and considering the amount of WR’s we've worked out, it’s clearly a priority. I would love to go DT here but unless Star or Floyd falls, I don’t think there is one worth the pick here.

Why Allen: Allen has great size(6-2 with long arms) and good speed to be a very good WR in college. Anyone who watched Cal for just even a couple of games could see that even though he was held back by poor QB play, he’s an excellent talent. He is an experienced crisp route runner and has ran numerous routes(one positive from poor QB play) and showed good quickness with elusiveness and a 2nd gear to get away from defenders. He’s also physical and attacks the ball in the air as well as being a willing competent blocker.

Concern: His knee injury is my main worry. If his workout on April 9th goes well, I’ll be really content with this pick.

Pick 2 - #44

Jesse Williams, NT Alabama

Why NT: Why not NT? The Panthers have a big hole at NT. As much I would love Colin Cole to pan out, he hasn’t played football for a year after being cut by the Seahawks after an ankle injury. The Panthers need a big run stuffer next to Dwan. It’ll also allow us to cut Fua, who just plain sucks.

Why Williams: If Hankins is available board, I would take Hankins but I think he’ll be gone. Williams was a very good run stuffer for Alabama and the solidifier of their D-Line. The guy is massive, he picks up a ton of space and improved his technique each year which shows his work ethic and drive to improve. He has a good motor and power to shed blocks and make a tackle or just occupy multiple blocks. He would be perfect for our scheme and could be just what we wanted from Ron Edwards.

Concern: He really doesn't offer much as a pass rusher. He has plenty of size and power but he doesn't really have the agility of a pass rusher. Most likely he’ll be off the field on throwing 3rd downs but that could allow a front 4 of CJ-Dwan-Kraken-Alexander or CJ-Kearse-Dwan-Kraken

Pick 3 - #108

Jordan Poyer, CB Oregon State

Why CB: With Gamble cut, there is no #1 CB on the roster even with the solid additions Gettleman made. With Roddy White, Julio Jones, Marques Colston, Vincent Jackson in particular in the division, no #1 CB is a real red flag.

Why Poyer: First off I know some of you will say “No way he’s available here!” I thought the same but after looking at some mocks I’ve seen him in the 3rd/4th rounds so it is possible. ;) Anyway, Poyer is 6ft and has long arms and plays the pass really well. From what I’ve seen and read he has shown great instincts and has nice aggression who’s not afraid to be physical and challenge big receivers.Can work in zone or man to man.

Concern: Not a really good tackler and sometimes gets burnt peeking in the backfield. Will also need to add some muscle. Didn't have the greatest combine or Senior Bowl which is probably why he falls to the 4th.

Pick #4 - 148

J.C. Tretter, OG Cornell

Why OG: Hangartner should NOT be a starter next season. If Gettleman doesn't pick up a OG before the draft, I think we pick up one here.

Why Tretter: Honestly I hope someone like Brian Winters is here but since that’s unlikely I’ll go with Tretter. J.C. was an All-Ivy League LT in 2012 but he’ll play OG in the NFL. He’s athletic and showed quick feet and has a bit of nasty to him. As a LT he showed very good mental side the game, as in recognizing blitzes etc. Clearly willing to learn and doing what it takes as he started as he was a back up TE for 2 years before switching to TE and has grown exponentially in that role.

Concern: Needs to add some bulk to be an OG and obviously it will be a new role for him. Playing against weaker competition is also a concern. With some good coaching and NFL weight program, I think he can be a starter for us week 1.

(alt pick: Robert Lester S, Alabama)

Pick 5 - #172

Caleb Sturgis, K Florida

Why K: Panthers need a new Kicker. After Mare sucking, Medlock not panning out and a suspect Gano, this needs to be fixed. People like to say K’s are a dime a dozen but not the ones that can kick long FG’s and put points on the board.

Why Caleb: He’s the best K in the draft IMO. He has made several clutch kicks for Florida and makes kick over 50 yards easily... straight down the middle too. If you watched the East-West Shrine game, you know what I’m talking about. He was 24-28 in ‘12 and 22-26 in ‘11.

Would've liked a S, but not having a 3rd really hurts. Let me know that you guys think!

[C47]

Two things.....

We don't have a third and I doubt Poyer will be there in the third anyway.

Jesse Williams isn't lasting till 44

If we had a third, and this is what our draft looked like I would be pretty stoked....

[Ken]

Two things.....

We don't have a third and I doubt Poyer will be there in the third anyway.

Jesse Williams isn't lasting till 44

If we had a third, and this is what our draft looked like I would be pretty stoked....

Pick 3 =/= Round 3. It's Pick 108. :)

On Jessie, It's possible IMO. He's a great run stuffer but not a pass rusher and mainly teams who really need a NT will pick him in the 1st IMO. I think one of Hankins, Jessie or Jenkins will be there @ #44. I doubt all 3 are gone before then... at least I hope not.

Poyer is the one I'm most unsure about as it's unlikely he last all the way till the 4th but I've seen a couple of drafts were he was there. Players fall all the time after an average combine, senior bowl.

[Growl]

I like Allen a lot and hope he's the pick, but I just can't get that same gut feeling that we're going to take him like a lot of you have. Perhaps I've just got a Hurney sized fear still playing with my heart strings, but I really worry we're gonna do something dumb and mess it up.

[rayzor]

good mock. i almost put down allen as my first round pick in my mock, but i wanted to see what it could look like if we didn't.

Jesse Williams isn't lasting till 44

as deep as this class is, esp. at DT, it's quite possible that jesse will be there.

i don't know if it was you i responded to in another thread or not, but i've seen him mocked everywhere. several in the first, mostly in the second, several at the very end of the second going to the 49ers and such, and then some didn't even have him going in the first two rounds.

this draft class is stacked with good talent throughout several positions so it's very likely that someone like him falls to us.

i just know i'd love it.

[rayzor]

I like Allen a lot and hope he's the pick, but I just can't get that same gut feeling that we're going to take him like a lot of you have. Perhaps I've just got a Hurney sized fear still playing with my heart strings, but I really worry we're gonna do something dumb and mess it up.

ptsd.

it happens.

[Ken]

I like Allen a lot and hope he's the pick, but I just can't get that same gut feeling that we're going to take him like a lot of you have. Perhaps I've just got a Hurney sized fear still playing with my heart strings, but I really worry we're gonna do something dumb and mess it up.

I'm not 100% either, more like 90% If he does well at his workout on the 9th, I think he would be a lock at 14. I'm not buying into the Austin hype and Richardson just doesn't fit for me that high.

@Rayzor

Yeah, he's been mocked all over the place. He's mainly a run stuffer and some teams will definitely shy away from that.

[rayzor]

I'm not 100% either, more like 90% If he does well at his workout on the 9th, I think he would be a lock at 14. I'm not buying into the Austin hype and Richardson just doesn't fit for me that high.

@Rayzor

Yeah, he's been mocked all over the place. He's mainly a run stuffer and some teams will definitely shy away from that.

i don't know about mainly being a run stuffer. he's no sack artist but he's constantly pushing back the pocket and they line him up everywhere on that line.

comparing with richardson...he's a guy you can do a lot of stunts with and who gets lined up at the 3tech or stands up kind of half way to the LBs. sometimes he gets dropped back into coverage so there's a good bit you can do with him in pass D. i mean he almost gets played like a joker. run D just isn't his strength.

meanwhile jesse got moved around and is solid in pass and run D. it just depends on what you're wanting from your DT and DL. i think jesse fits more what we do, but that's just my opinion.

[aussiePanther]

Love this, but... more I think the more I like the idea of a trade with someone like the Vikings (who have 2 1st round picks and are suggested as being a team who'll be looking to jump ahead to get a high WR). Then we get a lower first (21 or 23) and (hopefully) their 2nd round pick.

Then if I had my way I'd get J. Williams in the 1st then BPA of each WR, OG, CB & S with the next 4 picks...

[stirs]

When predicting trades, look at the guys behind us. New Orleans. What are they likely to be picking?

If not a WR, why trade with the Panthers? If you predict the Panthers are wanting a WR, they they should probably trade with the Bucs.

New Orleans, in my opinion, will be a team looking to stock a new 3-4 defense. The top priority in that D is a rush LB. Then the DLineman. If you figure that Jarvis Jones or Mingo is there when we pick, you have to believe one of them is going to NO. This might be a reason for someone like Pittsburgh to move up since their whole LB core is old and some have been released already. One other possiblility is S Richardson, who some predict will be a fantastic DE on a 3-4. He might draw some interest from a SF who has many picks and could move up for a quality guy like Richardson. Doubt anyone in the league sees NO has taking a WR however.

[rayzor]

When predicting trades, look at the guys behind us. New Orleans. What are they likely to be picking?

If not a WR, why trade with the Panthers? If you predict the Panthers are wanting a WR, they they should probably trade with the Bucs.

New Orleans, in my opinion, will be a team looking to stock a new 3-4 defense. The top priority in that D is a rush LB. Then the DLineman. If you figure that Jarvis Jones or Mingo is there when we pick, you have to believe one of them is going to NO. This might be a reason for someone like Pittsburgh to move up since their whole LB core is old and some have been released already. One other possiblility is S Richardson, who some predict will be a fantastic DE on a 3-4. He might draw some interest from a SF who has many picks and could move up for a quality guy like Richardson. Doubt anyone in the league sees NO has taking a WR however.

re: the saints, they lost their LT and also their center, i believe. now center isn't likely to be their first pick, but LT could be. they've got to decide whether to protect brees against the likes of CJ is their top priority and keep their main way of winning games or start their transformation to the 34 by adding parts that don't suck.

i haven't paid attention, but do they have a 2nd round pick this year?

[stirs]

re: the saints, they lost their LT and also their center, i believe. now center isn't likely to be their first pick, but LT could be. they've got to decide whether to protect brees against the likes of CJ is their top priority and keep their main way of winning games or start their transformation to the 34 by adding parts that don't suck.

i haven't paid attention, but do they have a 2nd round pick this year?

Well, as we know, the top three OT's probalby won't make it out of the top 10, so NO has no real LT to pick at 15, thus the defense slant to my post.

I think they do not have a second rounder due to penalty. Having said that, trade down might be an option they hope for to pick up another pick or two.

Like the guy mentioned earlier referencing a WR, we know that the Rams are looking, so NO might get the trade down chance if a great WR is on the board.