45catfan

Huh? The Bears, Commandos and Cards got some of the best marks and were bad last year too. Unless we purge the scouting department, our drafts are going to continue to be lackluster. It's crazy to me that we keep firing coaching staffs and GMs, but largely keep the scouting department in tact. Sure there's been some turnover, they go on the information provided by the scouts. Coaches coach, scouts scout. I simply think our scouting department blows. That's the only conclusion I can come to as to why year after year, coaching staff after coaching staff and GM after GM, we still suck.

Sanders, Beck and Ewers will be top 10 picks, if healthy. I'm thinking probably two more will go mid-to-late first round. Still, not the draft like this year. Seen some of Leonard since he played in the ACC. Not being lazy because they were to the same school, but I think Leonard is a Daniel Jones type of QB. Middling starter, but a quality backup. I haven't seen enough of Ward yet. He decided to stay in college when I was studying guys, so I didn't waste my time with his film. in my very limited time on his tape, his comp would be a hybrid of Tyrod Taylor and DeShaun Watson (now, not 5 years ago). The rest of the mid round guys are a wide variety of styles and sizes. You have the tall pocket guys (Howard and Ulagalelei). There's the shorter and more mobile QBs with moxie (not running threats though) with Dart, McCall and Rogers. I would definitely take one of these dudes in the mid-rounds. Again, I'm not sure if Milroe comes out. Depending on his season, he could be a late first rounder.

To expand more on the above graphic. We were the ONLY team to get ZERO 'A's and tied with a few other teams with the most 'D's (only Atlanta had more). Even the Falcons got one top mark with their 32nd ranked draft. Again, we hit positions of need--kudos, but the players taken and WHEN they were take is my biggest gripe. Thus a 'C'.

Crazy, 20 sports writers also gave us a 'C'. Only a tic above Cleveland for next to last and third worst overall. Yet, I'm the negative one. I guess all those folks are just miserable S.O.Bs too.

I wouldn't shock me if the try to convert Pickney to TE. They keep holding on to these underweight TEs on the PS like Matthew and Pierce. I think even Sullivan was lite when he first got here and has put on weight since. Problem being we can't find the complete package. We either have blocking TEs that aren't proficient pass catchers (Thomas and Tremble) or guys like I previously mentioned that more like tall WRs, but can't block for nothing.

Scouts scout, they don't make the picks. However, they give the front office their info. Best I can tell, they are told to look for amazing athletes and not worry so much about those pesky production numbers. Based off that, the board is collective built and then the coach and GM make a selection...with Tepper's blessing (for the top picks).

Same... a 'C'. I think we panicked with Legette. While the value was good for Brooks, RB was not the position we needed with that high of a pick. The Wallace pick is a total head-scratcher to me. I thought TE could have waited until round 5. The rest are flier picks, but I'm hopeful about the corner.

He's not wrong about the scouts. Largely the same group of people.

Personally, the team hit most of the positions I wanted. However, not players or, in several instances, the rounds the player was taken. That's my biggest gripe.

The lack of centers on the top 30 official visits list should have been a tip off that it wasn't a priority.

I live in the upstate (actually not far from Clemson) and I run into more people that are Gamecock fans that follow the Panthers than Clemson. Right now, neither fan base of those schools openly support the Panthers, but historically speaking, that's been my experience. It's crazy since we played our first season in Clemson. Granted that's been over 25 years ago. When I asked why over the years, the #1 reason is that we don't draft players from Clemson. Clemson folks follow Clemson players in the League way more so than being loyal to any one NFL team. Bore out by the outdated Texans' Watson jersey's and Jacksonville Lawrence jersey's I see around from time to time.

I wanted Allen, Estime or even Guerendo. I think Brooks will do good if our OL can get it together, but I agree he's not a power back, though.

The real reason most Clemson people can stand the Panthers. That and we don't draft Tigers...well, ones From Clemson anyhow. Auburn, yes, but Clemson has some weird complex about them too stemming from their shared football origins.

If Brooks' knee(s) hold out, he'll probably be the star of this draft class for the Panthers.

So Denver didn't have a first round grade on him? Granted that was rich for pick 12, but he wasn't lasting until round 2 and they knew that.

Well, they have a struggling program too, so maybe Tepper thinks they will fit in well here. Players from winning schools have higher standards and that makes Tepper feel insecure.

Neither is McMillan.

Yup, I don't get paying guys to sit at home unless they are injured or horrible. Sanders is a good RB, just not a #1 guy. Pay him this year and get what production you can, then send him on his way next offseason.

We can do that now unless we have already used our allotment of designated June 1 cuts. After just looking at his cap hit, we hang onto Sanders for a season. There's not a whole lot of difference in cutting him now versus June 1. He's not horrible, just not starter material. That would simply create another hole to fill and have to pay someone else.

True, but the double edge sword being there are several middling guys like Ward and Leonard should be there later in round one. Not sure if Milroe comes out or not after next season. I seriously doubt we move on from Bryce after next season even if he doesn't do well. They will give him 3 seasons at the minimum. However, I do like some project players in the middle of the draft that we take a flyer on for depth at worst or a potential replacement in 2026: Dart, Howard, Ulagalelei, Rogers and yes...McCall.

Yup, nobody hates the kid. Heck, he seems like the kind of guy you want your daughter to merry. Super character guy. However, he's in a line of business that unfortunately necessitates certain physical traits that he simply doesn't have. I wasn't thrilled with last year's QB class and thought we should build the skill positions to help out a rookie QB this draft class. Next year we are looking at Dieon's son, Ewers and several guys that I'm very iffy on. Maybe one or more has as Joe Burrow type of season. Even so, unless Bryce just has a melt down, I highly doubt we are looking to move on until the 2026 draft. Probably by then he'll be just good enough to keep out of the top 10 or 15.

Kinda have to be a jack of all trades when your starting spot just got handed to someone else. You try your best at what is asked of of you by your employer in a different role or be looking for work elsewhere.

Seldomly do.

The last time I gave the team remotely a decent draft grade was the 2020 draft with Brown, YGM and Chinn. I thought some of the late guys could contribute and did in the short term. That actually was Hurney's last draft before getting canned, IIRC.

I've been right more time than not about our drafts. I'm not a visionary, just used to the dumb sh*t every year when the draft rolls around. It's not hard to predict.