Ideal First Round Pick For Carolina (2015 Edition (v1.0))

[MichaelNewtonII]

First of all I'd like to say, the Panthers had one hell of a season and it was fun to watch. Now that the season has come to an end, I'm going to put out my 2015 version of "Ideal First Round Pick For Carolina" , in last year's final edition, I had said that Kelvin Benjamin would be the ideal First Round Pick For us considering our positions of need and players valued around out draft slot. I will be either updating this thread or I will be Making a v2.0 after Free Agency is addressed and probably the Combine so I can research more accurate draft projections because we all know they change a lot throughout the process. But as of now after reading all of the current draft prospects at OT projected to go mid late 1st-2nd round Profiles, scouting reports, and measureables, I currently think that the ideal first round pick for us would be:

La'El Collins, OT, LSU

First off one thing we all know that the SEC is revered for is those dominating huge front 7s, and La'El has performed great against some of the best D Lines in college football, so that there gives me a confidence boost in him that he's already playing one if not the the highest class of competition in college football, so the transition to the pros will most likely be easier for him than someone coming out of a weaker conference.

Now to his Strengths:

Strength, Collins is arguably the strongest blocker in college football and comes up with a lot of big times blocks because of this

Ex:

http://www.draftmecca.com/newslink.php?id=40

Measureables: At 6'5" 321 Lbs, he's got the size, I know he seems light but his strength definitely makes up for it if you watch/read some of the stuff on the links I post. Projected 40 times:

40 Low: 4.96

40 Time: 5.12

40 High: 5.26

I don't know much about what speed is considered good for an OT or even how much it matters (I assume not too much) but take it how you'd like

http://www.draftmecca.com/newslink.php?id=40

Also can't get an exact measurement from my searching around, but I keep reading he has very long arms. Also I've read he has nimble feet and pretty quick.

Weaknesses:

Read a few places he has some problems occasionally with elite speed rushers, more in depth evaluation here:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824825/lael-collins

Overall I think that La'El Collins could be a steal for us at 25 with desperate need for an Offensive Tackle. He has a lot of upside as well as he seems to be one of the more Pro Ready OTs projected to go some time around our pick.

Some More great articles/breakdowns I read/watched if you're interested:

http://draftbreakdown.com/players/lael-collins/

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015laelcollins.php

now for your take on the pick, what do you think of La'El Collins? And if he is not the right pick, who is?

[CharlottePanther]

As I've said in another thread, I don't follow college at all, but I looked at some mock drafts, what about Sammie Coates? He seems to fit the "speedy playmaker" WR we need and is 6'2 with 4.3 speed

[CharlottePanther]

First of all I'd like to say, the Panthers had one hell of a season and it was fun to watch. Now that the season has come to an end, I'm going to put out my 2015 version of "Ideal First Round Pick For Carolina" , in last year's final edition, I had said that Kelvin Benjamin would be the ideal First Round Pick For us considering our positions of need and players valued around out draft slot. I will be either updating this thread or I will be Making a v2.0 after Free Agency is addressed and probably the Combine so I can research more accurate draft projections because we all know they change a lot throughout the process. But as of now after reading all of the current draft prospects at OT projected to go mid late 1st-2nd round Profiles, scouting reports, and measureables, I currently think that the ideal first round pick for us would be:

La'El Collins, OT, LSU

First off one thing we all know that the SEC is revered for is those dominating huge front 7s, and La'El has performed great against some of the best D Lines in college football, so that there gives me a confidence boost in him that he's already playing one if not the the highest class of competition in college football, so the transition to the pros will most likely be easier for him than someone coming out of a weaker conference.

Now to his Strengths:

Strength, Collins is arguably the strongest blocker in college football and comes up with a lot of big times blocks because of this

Ex:

http://www.draftmecca.com/newslink.php?id=40

Measureables: At 6'5" 321 Lbs, he's got the size, I know he seems light but his strength definitely makes up for it if you watch/read some of the stuff on the links I post. Projected 40 times:

40 Low: 4.96

40 Time: 5.12

40 High: 5.26

I don't know much about what speed is considered good for an OT or even how much it matters (I assume not too much) but take it how you'd like

http://www.draftmecca.com/newslink.php?id=40

Also can't get an exact measurement from my searching around, but I keep reading he has very long arms. Also I've read he has nimble feet and pretty quick.

Weaknesses:

Read a few places he has some problems occasionally with elite speed rushers, more in depth evaluation here:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824825/lael-collins

Overall I think that La'El Collins could be a steal for us at 25 with desperate need for an Offensive Tackle. He has a lot of upside as well as he seems to be one of the more Pro Ready OTs projected to go some time around our pick.

Some More great articles/breakdowns I read/watched if you're interested:

http://draftbreakdown.com/players/lael-collins/

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015laelcollins.php

Know for your take on the pick, what do you think of La'El Collins? And if he is not the right pick, who is?

Is he a LT or RT?

[MichaelNewtonII]

As I've said in another thread, I don't follow college at all, but I looked at some mock drafts, what about Sammie Coates? He seems to fit the "speedy playmaker" WR we need and is 6'2 with 4.3 speed

i haven't really looked at any WR because I think that LT is with out a doubt the biggest need, especially if we don't re-sign Bell (don't think we should)

[MichaelNewtonII]

Is he a LT or RT?

Left Tackle

[UNCrules2187]

Collins projects as a RT in the league I believe. I wouldn't mind him, although I do not think he would be BPA.  The WR class is very deep, some guys who should be available at 25 that I'd like to get: Jaelen Strong (ASU) and Sammie Coates (AUB). Good second round prospects would be Devin Smith (tOSU), Ty Montgomery (Stanford - could be our PR as well), and Nelson Agohlor (USC).

 

Collins could be best suited at OG in the league:

 

In speaking with multiple NFL teams, one says Collins has a second-round grade and views him as a guard. Another feels Collins can be a very good guard who plays right away and possibly develops into a tackle, while a third team feels Collins is a right tackle who could go late first, but more likely in the second round. They all feel he needs to improve his technique. Collins could help himself by performing well at the Senior Bowl. 

 

 

[MichaelNewtonII]

Collins projects as a RT in the league I believe. I wouldn't mind him, although I do not think he would be BPA. The WR class is very deep, some guys who should be available at 25 that I'd like to get: Jaelen Strong (ASU) and Sammie Coates (AUB). Good second round prospects would be Devin Smith (tOSU), Ty Montgomery (Stanford - could be our PR as well), and Nelson Agohlor (USC).

Collins could be best suited at OG in the league:

I didn't read anything about him as a RT, I've read he's a LT with the ability to shift to OG if needed

Edit: once the draft process is gone through I think he'll show ability to hold it down at LT

[UNCrules2187]

I didn't read anything about him as a RT, I've read he's a LT with the ability to shift to OG if needed

 

Everything I've read about this OT class is that none project to be long-term NFL starters at LT. All guys who are best suited to RT and OG. Not sure I want to waste a first round pick on that. I would rather try to sign a FA LT like King Dunlap and spend the #1 pick on another WR or a cover CB (Kevin Johnson from WF or Marcus Peters of Washington). Norman and a Johnson/Peters on the outside with Bene in the slot would really upgrade our secondary. 

 

Like I said, I wouldn't be mad with Collins (or a guy like Ereck Flowers from Miami), but I don't think there's a true LT, and definitely not one at #25, in this draft. Would prefer WR or CB honestly.

[*FreeFua*]

Lol at Coates in the 1st...

Give your head a shake

[Jackofalltrades]

BPA

[*FreeFua*]

As it stands right now Collins may very well be BPA at 25. I expect guys like Flowers and Stanley to be long gone by then

[Kuech the Sneak]

Collins is one of my favourite olineman, nasty as hell and an amazing run blocker

[*FreeFua*]

Marcus Peters or Cedric Ogbuehi

Love Peters, but we both know that damn fossil would never allow it. Choir boys>winning

[AU-panther]

The idea that we need to find a rookie LT that can be productive and start from day in the draft is quite scary considering recent history. 

 

Hopefully the list of available FA tackles increases as the off season continues.