Which need can/can't be overlooked during the draft?

[firstdayfan]

Last year the Panther's number one perceived need was defensive tackle, we came out of the draft without using a single pick on an interior defensive linemen.

So...which need this year do you think will be overlooked?

Which need HAS to be addressed?

Which need would you be ok with passing over?

I feel like we could easily come out of this draft without picking a cornerback at any point. Why? Because I feel like they loaded up that position and just hope to hold it down this year while they fill some more pressing needs. Plus we haven't really met with too many corners at this point, or at least it doesn't feel that way. I think if we don't take Rhodes in the first you may not see one at all.

This is kind of obvious but I feel like we HAVE to pick a defensive tackle with the first three picks. I can't wrap my head around the idea of Dwan and Kearse/Fua/Cole starting every week. Especially since Dwan didn't even make it through the year last season.

I would be ok not drafting a wide receiver. I feel like with the signing of Hixon we actually have a decent third receiver. Lafell wasn't terrible and Smitty will be Smitty. I'd love to draft one but it doesn't seem like Austin will be there at 14 and I'm not really sold on Patterson or Hopkins that early. And if we don't go DT in the first then we have to grab one in the second, and if we do go defensive tackle in the first then I[d feel better about snatching a safety or offensive linemen in the second unless somebody falls to us like Keenan Allen.

[Creep59]

O line.

[Carolina Husker]

DT

OG

OT

[firstdayfan]

very in depth answers guys

[RockyTopVol]

OG

Safety

DT

Reason:Because

[rayzor]

i think their view of FA has been to use it to address needs and holes. just because they haven't done much at DT and nothing so far on the OL doesn't mean they aren't going to. there's still a lot of time in FA left and several waves of FA. once the draft comes there's going to be more FA OL and DTs hitting the streets. i think gettleman will take advantage of that.

they don't want to be in a position where they HAVE to take any position in the draft. and i don't think they will be viewing it that way this year. they won't be using this draft to address needs. some needs might be addressed, but i doubt they have this idea that they will be going in and selecting the best RG or whatever regardless of who else is on the board at that point. if RG (just an example) is seen as a must have, but none on the board at that moment is better than other players they are looking at who play different positions then RG would be passed up. i think that's the thing that happened last year. they would have liked to draft a DT, but there was never any good enough to pass over more talented people in their eyes.

that said,

i think OL will be overlooked or at least won't be drafted until late.

i think that CB will be overlooked, and i'd be fine with that.

i think with that increased competition brought in by hixon and ginn that WR would be better than last year and ok if they didn't draft WR, but i think the goal from the FO is to be better than 'ok' at WR. i'd be surprised if they passed that up. they obviously think it's a priority.

i think that safety and NT are positions that should be addressed in the draft. i really don't think that they should pass up either of those, but if there's no right guy at the right spot i'll be disappointed, but ultimately ok with it.

i don't think there is really any position that i'd be pissed we passed over, tho. maybe surprised, but not pissed. ok...maybe WR (just a little) but it just depends on who else they draft.

[firstdayfan]

Great post Rayzor

I agree with you out about FA...I think Gettlemen will find an offensive linemen or two before we start next season, a vet starter or at least some quality depth. Defensive line too.

I also agree with what you said about wide receiver...I absolutely think they will select one with the first or second pick but all I'm saying is that i'd be ok if we passed on one this year. I feel like I'd be pretty shocked if we come out of the draft without a DT, S, and offensive linemen at some point.

Also I feel a couple positions that may be addressed instead of a "need" would be OLB, TE, and DE if a good one falls into our laps.

[rayzor]

yeah, i wouldn't be surprised if we came out with another OLB and DE.

[Thorrez]

My reasoning:

Defense

We have a great pass rush that will help our, bad, secondary and also can be unleached to stop comebacks from other team.

We have Luke in the middle and DTs that will not be abused (not saying they are good but not awful either) so team will not just be able to grind us out on the ground if we fall behind.

Regardless of you opinion on Rivera as a HC noone denies he is a great defensive coach. His defense will never be terrible

Offense

Our o-line was killing us last year, sometime taking away are best asset (Cam). And with another threat at WR other team would have to use a lot more nickel/dime packets that would make the o-line job easier.

So I think our top need is in the order: OT/WR, OG, DT, CB/S

No need is so big that we should reach. However, of course if a much better defensive player on those positions a list are available take him.

[JawnyBlaze]

Must need: DT, OG

On the fence: S, WR

Could get by without addressing: CB

[MHS831]

Razor is reading my mind. How would everyone react if we drafted Bjourn Werner in the first round? There would be outrage, the streets would not be safe. Aside from the fact that he is a FSU DE, people here are used to drafting for need. (If you think that works, see Fua, McClain). Werner might make Rivera mad, but long term, he could be the BPA and the smart pick. I do not want Werner and I am not advocating for him, but I would understand it. Here is why:

Johnson makes a ton of $$. He is a good player, but he underperforms his contract a bit. Hardy is more valuable to this team because he can rush from the 3 tech or outside. He will want Johnson $$. Will we have 20% of our cap room tied up in 2 DEs one year before going into the Cam second contract? That would mean in 2015, it is possible that we have about $50 million per season invested in three players.

Werner is not your typical FSU DE. Drafting him makes negotiating with Hardy so much easier. We could trade Charles Johnson for a second round pick, Re-sign Hardy to a more reasonable deal, and with Alexander and Werner, we are young, cheap and dynamic at DE.

Taking Werner, therefore, allows us to add a draft pick in 2014 (if we trade CJ) and create cap space without sacrificing production. Considering we have filled most needs, this could be a Gettlemen move. (I have not looked into the CJ deal to see if that idiot Hurney gave him too much money after 1 good season to even be able to trade him, but this is just an example anyway).

Most readers will not have read this far, and they will respond by accusing me of trying to trade CJ or they will bellow something about FSU DEs.

[panthers55]

Razor is reading my mind. How would everyone react if we drafted Bjourn Werner in the first round? There would be outrage, the streets would not be safe. Aside from the fact that he is a FSU DE, people here are used to drafting for need. (If you think that works, see Fua, McClain). Werner might make Rivera mad, but long term, he could be the BPA and the smart pick. I do not want Werner and I am not advocating for him, but I would understand it. Here is why:

Johnson makes a ton of $$. He is a good player, but he underperforms his contract a bit. Hardy is more valuable to this team because he can rush from the 3 tech or outside. He will want Johnson $$. Will we have 20% of our cap room tied up in 2 DEs one year before going into the Cam second contract? That would mean in 2015, it is possible that we have about $50 million per season invested in three players.

Werner is not your typical FSU DE. Drafting him makes negotiating with Hardy so much easier. We could trade Charles Johnson for a second round pick, Re-sign Hardy to a more reasonable deal, and with Alexander and Werner, we are young, cheap and dynamic at DE.

Taking Werner, therefore, allows us to add a draft pick in 2014 (if we trade CJ) and create cap space without sacrificing production. Considering we have filled most needs, this could be a Gettlemen move. (I have not looked into the CJ deal to see if that idiot Hurney gave him too much money after 1 good season to even be able to trade him, but this is just an example anyway).

Most readers will not have read this far, and they will respond by accusing me of trying to trade CJ or they will bellow something about FSU DEs.

Bjoern Werner actually could make sense given he could be BPA at 14. Most folks have him going around 17-22. With a few drafts saying the Giants will take him at 19.

But before you think we would trade Johnson consider the dead cap space we would lose if we traded him. This year the dead cap hit would be 18,000,000. Next year it would be 12,000,000. That scenario won't happen at all.

However, if you drafted him because you wanted leverage with Hardy then it could make sense. Or if you were afraid you couldn't afford Hardy next year then you might bring in insurance this year. Particularly given he seems like somewhat of a flake.

But I doubt that Johnson is going anywhere before 2015 unless he gets hurt or his production drops off precipitously.

[L-TownCat]

Need will shape BPA but I can see us neglecting the oline through the draft. It looks as though we will go with some combo of WR DT CB S. then pick up some vets and udfa's after the draft. We won't get everything we need in one draft but we can knock out a few needs and buy some band aids to make us really competitive this year. Think '96.

[MHS831]

Bjoern Werner actually could make sense given he could be BPA at 14. Most folks have him going around 17-22. With a few drafts saying the Giants will take him at 19.

But before you think we would trade Johnson consider the dead cap space we would lose if we traded him. This year the dead cap hit would be 18,000,000. Next year it would be 12,000,000. That scenario won't happen at all.

However, if you drafted him because you wanted leverage with Hardy then it could make sense. Or if you were afraid you couldn't afford Hardy next year then you might bring in insurance this year. Particularly given he seems like somewhat of a flake.

But I doubt that Johnson is going anywhere before 2015 unless he gets hurt or his production drops off precipitously.

I agree. This was merely an example of immediate needs vs. BPA. I said that I am not getting into the contract mess with CJ, but it does make sense with Hardy. (I meant to make a radical statement--What if thy have Hardy play 3 tech DT and draft DE?)

o

Some were saying, "Why draft a LT? We have one!!"when we were talking about LJohnson. Gotta look down the road to play this game well. Rivera is playing the Falcons and Saints, Gettlemen is playing the cap and Agents.