OnlyPantherFaninMaine

I could ask the same question for those that prefer Strong: Why was he getting so much hype post-combine? Because he ran fast for a guy his size and jumped really high. If you actually go and watch this kid play, he doesn't play to his timed speed and he's stiff as hell in and out of his breaks. I liked Strong and he was my preference for the majority of this process, but props to FreeFua for really opening my eyes about him. Go and watch him play. Corners are on his hip like glue almost every time he makes a catch. He rarely gets separation. Rarely cleanly beats his man. Almost always catches back shoulder throws because ASU knew that timing route was the only consistent way for Strong to beat his man. Okay... so Strong has superior hands to Perriman. Fair. But he also is going to have an NFL DB attached to his hips everywhere he goes to knock those passes away. Every Kelvin catch for the most part is contested. The same will be true with Strong. I'd rather have Perriman who can actually get space on athletic ability alone. The route running improvements will come with coaching. Give me the guy that can beat his man over the top and run away from the field in the NFL. Literally all the brightest and best minds on prospects and the draft, Mayock, Brandt, Cossell etc. all agree Breshad Perriman's "dropsies" and route running problems are overblown and they all rave about his natural ability. Perriman is Julio Jones lite. Carolina has never had a 6'3 215lb freak at the receiver position that has produced in college and got better every year. Before just joining in on the popular opinion about his hands go watch him and I bet you change your mind.

Lots of misinformation and lazy generalizing/comparisons about Perriman in this thread.

I want absolutely nothing to do with Holliman. I respect your opinion and the guy certainly put up some great takeaway numbers, but he may be one of the worst tacklers I have ever seen. He's instinctive and pretty smooth back there but for a guy to be a safety and have that size and be reluctant to tackle is alarming. On top of that he ran deathly slow for a safety at his pro day and didn't jump particularly well either. I don't think he's an NFL caliber athlete especially as a safety in a passing league where he will need cover ground and tackle. Can't imagine an aggressive Rivera defense with a guy that refuses to tackle out back. I'm almost positive Sample will be taken before him. Troubling that he's said to give minimal effort and won't always play at full speed. That doesn't sound like a Gettleman guy to me.

You want Sample in a Panther's uniform. I promise.

I also saw a statistic that he did not have a single drop the last 4 games of his career. That's a sign to me, along with his stats improving each year, that he is working his craft and was able to build some chemistry with his QB by season's end.

That's one reason I don't worry too much about his route running and needing to improve on that aspect of his game. He's a world class athlete that has the natural ability to sink his hips and get in and out of his breaks without losing speed. He's not stiff but rather is very fluid and a natural runner. Just needs to be coached up.

I thought it would be Lee or Latimer and even thought to myself "please don't pick Benjamin." His success last year has me confident a player like Perriman can have instant success in our offense despite the struggles.

DaCityKats said it best in the draft thread on Perriman: "He's a poor mans Julio Jones." Spot on. I'll take that at 25 all day.

Sample is a savage. He will be a better pro than he is college player. Under Wilks he can be special.

Nobody said he's a can't miss prospect. He's pretty boom or bust and I think most Perriman fans would admit that. I'll take the struggles with route running and some concentration drops along with the explosive plays and big touchdowns down the field. I had to learn to take the good and the bad with Kelvin and Panther fans can learn to do the same with Breshad. Upside and potential is pretty hard to ignore here. It's not like he's an athletic freak that didn't even produce at the college level. He got better every year and had over 1,000 yards and almost ten touchdowns with trash at the QB position prior to entering the draft. If Proehl can make Kelvin a thousand yard rookie receiver with a good touchdown total he can do the same with Perriman. Those two on the field together are match up nightmares and a big play waiting to happen. Both Kelvin and Breshad have similar issues with their game and I think the competition between them and desire to dominate together would bring out the best in both under Proehl's tutelage.

He was mocked/projected as a potential late first or early second guy well before his 40 time at his pro day by quite a few different people and websites and not just random sites operated by fans. Charles Davis in his most recent mock, created prior to his pro day, has Perriman going 32nd to the Patriots.

I'd absolutely love Parker here I was just operating under the assumption he wouldn't be available. I like Strong as well just like Perriman a little better for this offense.

I'd be happy with Abdullah as well. Love his game.

RB isn't necessarily what I want in the 2nd...but looking at who we have brought in and where they are projected to go I think Gettleman wants a back early on and Coleman would be my preference.

I wanted to post this in the main forum rather than the draft page to get more feedback and have a larger discussion on some of the prospects mentioned below. I wanted to take a tackle earlier but with the additions of Oher and Martin, I just do not think Gettleman is targeting a tackle very early this year. The majority of players in this mock have already met with the Panthers this off-season. I recommended visiting Ken's thread "Prospect Meetings by Position" in the NFL Draft section of this message board to see the extensive list of guys we have been interested in since the draft process began. He does a great job of keeping it updated. No mock draft will satisfy everyone but I think this draft would go a long way towards locking up a third straight division title for the 2015 Carolina Panthers. (1) 25th Breshad Perriman, WR Central Florida 6'2" 212lbs. I know what you're thinking..."workout warrior/late riser", "suspect hands", "poor route running" etc. I get all that. Prior to running somewhere in the 4.2-4.3 range at his pro day, Perriman was seen by many as a fringe first round talent but was more likely going to be an early second round selection. He improved every year at UCF despite poor quarterback play his final year in school. He displays the ideal size and athleticism to be a number one receiver in the National Football League. His struggles to consistently catch the football but when you watch the film cut-ups available on him, you will notice it is not so much a technique issue. He is a willing hands catcher and like Kelvin Benjamin, the drops seem to stem more from lapses in concentration. In fact, poor route running and suspect hands did not stop us from drafting Kelvin Benjamin in the first round last season. Perriman is a better athlete than Kelvin Benjamin and has the speed, size, and hops to get vertical on even the best corners in the NFL. He is a threat to go the distance every time the ball is in his hands. The KB and Perriman pair in Carolina would come with its share of frustrating drops and WTF moments, but the upside and explosive plays and mismatches outweigh the risk in my eyes. With Coach Proehl working with him, Perriman could be another stellar rookie. (2) 57th Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana 5'11" 206lbs. It is no secret Gettleman wants another back this upcoming draft. BPA meets need in Indiana's Tevin Coleman, one of my favorite players in the draft. This kid is a powerful and explosive north-south runner that hits holes harder than most backs I've watched. In fact, some of his detractors say he runs almost too hard: shows some lack of patience in his game as he looks to get up to full speed as fast as possible and hits holes that may not even be open. Coleman can carry the load on his own and would be a great option out of the backfield with Stewart and company. Needs to work on running lower behind his pads, but the bottom line is Coleman is a home run threat with the ball in his hands and is a serviceable pass-catcher as well. With Stewart potentially out in Carolina after this year, Coleman could step in and be a workhorse for us going forward. He is a one cut and go back with big play ability this offense has lacked. Has met with the Panthers already this off-season. (3) 89th James Sample, S Louisville 6'2" 209lbs. Big, physical, safety prospect that is relatively inexperienced due to injury and transferring from Washington. NFL body-type and gets downhill quickly in run support. Will likely need to sit and wait behind Harper but I could really see him pushing Harper or Boston as a starter by mid-season. Inexperience hurts his game right now, but Sample would have Coach Wilks salivating to get his hands on him and get him coached up. I believe he could be one of the better safeties from this draft when it is all said and done. Patience would be key with Sample but he'd be an immediate upgrade somewhere on special teams. (4) 124th Laurence Gibson, OT Virginia Tech 6'6" 305lbs. Possesses ideal length and hand size for the position. Shows good foot-speed and lateral quickness but has some bad habits in his game that can be coached up. Would provide valuable depth at the position and potentially could become a solid starter a year or two down the line if he can add strength. Will need to get stronger and improve his technique, but he has the physical traits and quickness to excel in the National Football League. Has met already with the Panthers this off-season. (5) 161st Za'Darius Smith, DE Kentucky 6'4" 274lbs. Big and powerful defensive end that is a good fit inside or outside in our 4-3 defense. Reportedly is a great team player and is an all-effort all the time type player that "plays like his hair is on fire." Not a great athlete and struggles getting low and bending, but he would be a good rotational piece with Ealy, Alexander, Addison, and Horton and could potentially develop into a situational pass-rusher. Has met already with the Panthers and seems like a Gettleman guy that will do the dirty work in the trenches for the betterment of his team. (5) 169th Justin Coleman, CB Tennessee 5'11" 185lbs. Here is the Bene Benwikere of the 2015 draft. Undersized but tough nickel corner prospect that didn't run particularly well but repped 225 on the bench 20 times and was a combine top performer in the 3-come and shuttle drills. Aggressive corner that is physical at the point of attack and excels in zone coverage because of his instincts. Displayed the ball skills we covet with 10 passes defended and 4 interceptions in his 2014 college campaign. Played special teams in college as well. Has met already with the Panthers this off-season and if I had to guess one player that would end up in a Panther uniform from this draft, it is Coleman. Lacks ideal athleticism for the position but "the game is not played in underwear". (5) 174th Chris Conley, WR Georgia 6'2" 213lbs. Freak athlete. One of the combine's top performers after running a 4.35 and posting a 45-inch vertical. Didn't have great college production on a run-heavy Georgia team but has the size and speed combo that may be too hard to ignore at this juncture of the draft. Would instantly come in and compete with the likes of Bersin, Boykin, Brown, and Ginn for a roster spot and playing time. Hands-catcher that shows the ability to adjust in the air and has good body control. Needs work as a route runner and too easily gets redirected and tossed around when corners get their hands on him. He may get drafted higher than he should because of his measurables. The Panthers recently met with Conley on campus. (6) 201st Quayshawn Nealy, LB Georgia Tech 6'1" 235lbs. Below average athlete but a very productive and experienced player in the ACC. Plays with good instincts and actually had quite a few interceptions throughout his career and could potentially succeed in a zone defense in the NFL. Always around the ball and may find a home on special teams if he can make the roster. Will struggle to get off blocks. Has met with the Panthers twice this off-season so interest may be there. (7) 242nd Martin Ifedi, DE Memphis 6'3" 275lbs. Big and powerful end that should fit in a 4-3 defense if he can make a roster. Sub-par athlete by NFL standards but displays power and could be a solid run defender if he can latch on. Works hard and plays through the whistle. Effort guy that Gettleman may like. Diagnoses run plays quickly, possesses a good football acumen, and is coachable.

@RapSheet: Hard not to like what #Panthers have done at tackle: Signed Oher, claimed Martin. Good value, won’t affect comp picks, creates competition Even Ian Rapoport sees the big picture.

He's human.

One year deal.

Who the heck were the three 1,000 yard receivers Cam had in 2013? Greg Olsen was tops on the team in receiving yards in 2013 with 816. Top 10 rushing attack? With Cam's rushing totals added in the ground game ranked 11th in the league but if we are talking strictly production from the running backs...without Cam's 500+ yards on the ground that year we come in a single yard ahead of Miami for the 25th ranked rushing attack in the league. Are you just hoping no one would check your statistics at this point or was it an honest mistake thinking we had three 1,000 yard receivers in 2013 and a rushing attack in the top 10?

Once again the whole weapons around a young quarterback debate really goes back to effort to me more than anything. The Dolphins brought in a pro bowl left tackle. Drafted a tackle early on the same year. Drafted a highly touted WR... brought in another in Wallace although he had mixed results. I'm just waiting for this team to make an honest effort to really set Cam up in position to succeed. Let's hope we draft a receiver early this year and a tackle and running back couldn't hurt. Heck, let's get two tackles with our 9 picks.

Well then we can't discount Miami drafting Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner at the guard position either I suppose. What good does comparing two pretty horrendous offensive lines do? You want to talk about results? About the only memory I have of our offensive line is them getting beat to the tune of 9 sacks on Monday Night Football. We will see what happens this season. Miami will be fine with their pro bowl center, pro bowl left tackle, and 1st round talented right tackle along with a couple young guards getting a chance to gel together and make strides of their own. Our interior looks okay at the moment but we, much like the Dolphins are counting on some young guards to take the next step. Forgive me if I'm not sold on Mike Remmers and Michael Oher as the future or even protecting our quarterback this season. Thankfully there is still a draft coming up but after Gettleman's comments about Oher I don't expect us to bring in a top tackle prospect. We saw how his faith in Bell and Chandler worked out last year.

Albert was playing at an all-pro level before he tore both his MCL and ACL. Remember last night when you couldn't count 2014 when comparing the rushing attacks of the Bengals and Panthers because of injury? And lol at our strategy "proving better" than theirs. As far as I know they actually have two very promising tackles on either side of their line in Albert and James going into this season. Carolina has neither.

Also don't forget to mention that the Dolphins went out and signed the best tackle in free agency last year in Branden Albert and followed that up by drafting another stud tackle in the first. Would be nice to see this team get serious about protecting their quarterback.

Ah yes now I remember that they tendered him. I bet he stays in Cleveland.

Tashaun Gipson is a free agent still? He's a pro bowl safety and young. Must have a price tag on himself that's just not doable.