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

[DaveThePanther2008]

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?

I remember after the playoff loss someone mentioning KB.

Seems alot of tackles available. I Think we need to get a LT starter in the Free Agent market and groom a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

Use round one on a Safety or another WR.

I usually don't jump on a bandwagon until after the combine and the first wave of free agency.

[IamSoClutch]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/left-tackle/

Here is a list of available LT in free agency. Only one I feel would help the line is King Dunlap. 6' 9" 330lbs and plenty of experience. A quick article about King Dunlap:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/19/chargers-king-dunlap-contract-philip-rivers/

What's the chances that the chargers resign him? Are they having cap trouble? If not he likely stays. Teams just don't give away talkes

[MedellinHeel]

Some prospects im looking at

 

CB - Trae Waynes

 

CB - Kevin Johnson

 

OLB - Shaq Thompson

 

WR - Sammie Coates

 

OT-  Cedric Ogbuhei

[Fox007]

Right now its looking like 7 OT(with 2 ogish). One or two should be there, but will it be the BPA? I've seen some calling collins and sherf OGs, if not now soon in the future.

I've seen stanely all over form top 5 to 60th pick.

I do know this, GM are sick and tired of the bust-rate for OT in the first. That could help a couple more fall to 25th.

I believe (right now, could change) the talent drop starts around 13, 14-28 are close in rating imo.

Lastly prepare your huddle anuses, cause the BPA at 25 should be a DLman. So you know what dave will do.......

 

Wouldn't it be some ish if Gurley is there and we draft him then dump Stew and Dwill....

 

Might not even be a bad move if that happened...(not that it's what I would want just sayin)

[tiger7_88]

Lol at Coates in the 1st...

Give your head a shake

 

Its possible.  Dude is gonna blow up the Combine.

 

But, no, I'd prefer the Panthers not spend their 1st round pick on Coates... I know him too well. 

 

I'd be thrilled if he was still there in the bottom of the 2nd round though, but I don't think he will be.  SOMEONE will take a flyer on him at the bottom of the 1st/top of the 2nd.

[tiger7_88]

The thing with Coates and the go routes that he ran at Auburn, I can't draw any specific conclusions about his ability to run a full route tree.  I think it was more the system, that dictated he run nothing but go routes. (Also we have to remember he came into the season injured).  That system at Auburn sucks, it wasn't a real offense.  In fact, it wasn't quarterbacked by a real QB either, not to mention it was a run heavy offense.  I would probably question Coates more on his hands than his ability to run routes.

 

Coates ran more than just go-routes, of course.

 

 

 

He's very strong.

[Chief_Chokeaho]

I'm telling you guys Justin Hardy is going to be a very good WR. Runs a 4.4 - 4.5 has ELITE hands and is an above average route runner and has a high football I.Q....He could probably be picked up in the mid rounds. Dude is legit. I'm expecting him to rise on the draft boards though but would love to see him in CAR. 

[PantherFanOne]

Compares closely to Cordarrelle Paterson (I watch a lot of auburn games ) not a good route runner only runs two patterns has speed but we already have one Steven hill

 

 

Exactly. Ron Rivera said that the Panthers had hope and regards for WR stephen Hill and were going to work with him in training camp and preseason ,hoping he would fit in their plans.

[t_bone034]

Speaking of LBs, I'd love to draft Shaq Thompson if he was still available.  

 

He's raw, but an elite athlete and would fit perfectly on the field beside Davis and Kuechly.

 

I've seen him on mocks from pick 10 to pick 20-something, though, so I doubt he'd be there. 

Shaq makes a lot of sense if he's still there.

 

Replacement for TD eventually, and we all know that Rivera loves his LBs. Plus, I have to believe our team has some great teachers at LB.

 

Let him learn for a couple years from TD and Luke, and watch Jimmy Graham soil himself for the next decade.

[rayzor]

is he right handed or left handed because that's important!

[Pox 08]

Is he a LT or RT?

 

That depends.  Is he left handed or right handed?

 

 

 

Edit: That's what I get for not reading through the posts.  Rayzor beat me to it.    I will not change my post .  I will live with my shame.

[Brothergrim427]

Exactly. Ron Rivera said that the Panthers had hope and regards for WR stephen Hill and were going to work with him in training camp and preseason ,hoping he would fit in their plans.

my big question is it just that we were saving hill (which I doubt because if we were we would've played that trump card in the play offs) is he coming along at all or just completely un salvageable ? I'd like to know what we have

[MCC]

Shaq makes a lot of sense if he's still there.

 

Replacement for TD eventually, and we all know that Rivera loves his LBs. Plus, I have to believe our team has some great teachers at LB.

 

Let him learn for a couple years from TD and Luke, and watch Jimmy Graham soil himself for the next decade.

 

 

I think he could transition to a Kam Chancellor type safety as well.  

[MCC]

But seriously, if Shaq is still there at 25 I'd make the pick in a second. 

 

Playing him at SS behind Kuechly and Davis would be so awesome.