The Case Against Drafting a Tackle in the 1st or 2nd Round

[t96]

How can every other team (correct me if I'm wrong) have a former first or second rounder at RT or LT and we don't and we expect to protect our franchise???

 

Oher was a former first rounder.

[Lumps]

Same used to be said of QBs, DTs, and WRs, but we debunked those theories and/or bucked the long term trend.  Hopefully it's not too much to ask one more time at OT, as long we we take who we like at #25 or even move up within reason to get him (above the Bengals who may take OT @21 for example). 

 

QBs, I can agree a little bit. Tried Clausen, may thought Delhomme was good enough. And he was for a few years, a lot shorter than what people thought.

 

DTs were drafted in high rounds. DT FAs were brought in as well. Didn't work out but we tried.

 

WRs were also drafted, didn't work out but we tried. I agree with this though, should have done better.

 

Otah and Gross were the only tackles drafted highly that worked out for us for a while (unless I'm missing someone?). ANd I am giving us Otah, he worked for a year or two? Can't remember.

 

Of corse, with gross and smitty and even with Delhomme we could ignore the positions. Just seems OT has really be ignored. Finally got a QB, and just last year got a WR...an OT is needed soon, like now.

[top dawg]

I love this thread, as somone who strongly dislikes this class of OTs, this is my kind of thread. I truely believe that this WR class is so strong that the 2nd tier of WRs are just as good if not better than most of these 1st tier OTs. Breshad Perriman, Nelson Agolohr (i know. I spelled his name wrong) and Phillip Dorsett oh and Jaelen Strong, I would be completely ok with any of those WRs over any OT in the 1st round.

Almost every description I read of all the OTs are pretty much the same, something alomg the lines " might or not be a good fit at LT but would make a great guard or RT tho!" Meh, forget all that mess. If im taking one of these guys in the 1st round he better be a sure fire starter at LT with pro bowl potential. I dont think Remmers is a world beater but he sure as hell showed he was good enough so we dont have to draft a RT early.

At the risk of sounding cliche, if im in the Panthers war room on draft day, im banging the table for a WR in the 1st round,

I am going to withhold final judgment until his pro day (and maybe beyond ), but right now Perriman is not a first round grade. Neither is Agholor, Smith, Hardy or anyone else that will probably drop to 25. In fact, some or all of them may not even deserve a second round grade. It's a myth that this year's receiving corps is anywhere near as solid as last year's in reference to depth.

No one knows what will happen draft day, but if I had to bet I would say that we are going to be in a pickle. All the true first round talent at OT, WR, CB and safety are going to be gone.

[t96]

I love this thread, as somone who strongly dislikes this class of OTs, this is my kind of thread. I truely believe that this WR class is so strong that the 2nd tier of WRs are just as good if not better than most of these 1st tier OTs. Breshad Perriman, Nelson Agolohr (i know. I spelled his name wrong) and Phillip Dorsett oh and Jaelen Strong, I would be completely ok with any of those WRs over any OT in the 1st round.

Almost every description I read of all the OTs are pretty much the same, something alomg the lines " might or not be a good fit at LT but would make a great guard or RT tho!" Meh, forget all that mess. If im taking one of these guys in the 1st round he better be a sure fire starter at LT with pro bowl potential. I dont think Remmers is a world beater but he sure as hell showed he was good enough so we dont have to draft a RT early.

At the risk of sounding cliche, if im in the Panthers war room on draft day, im banging the table for a WR in the 1st round,

 

You would take Dorsett over any OT in the first? Come on man, at least try to sound like you know what you're talking about.

[top dawg]

You would take Dorsett over any OT in the first? Come on man, at least try to sound like you know what you're talking about.

LOL. He may not be drafted until the 4th or 5th round.

[ctrcat]

I love this thread, as somone who strongly dislikes this class of OTs, this is my kind of thread. I truely believe that this WR class is so strong that the 2nd tier of WRs are just as good if not better than most of these 1st tier OTs. Breshad Perriman, Nelson Agolohr (i know. I spelled his name wrong) and Phillip Dorsett oh and Jaelen Strong, I would be completely ok with any of those WRs over any OT in the 1st round.

Almost every description I read of all the OTs are pretty much the same, something alomg the lines " might or not be a good fit at LT but would make a great guard or RT tho!" Meh, forget all that mess. If im taking one of these guys in the 1st round he better be a sure fire starter at LT with pro bowl potential. I dont think Remmers is a world beater but he sure as hell showed he was good enough so we dont have to draft a RT early.

At the risk of sounding cliche, if im in the Panthers war room on draft day, im banging the table for a WR in the 1st round,

 

Humphries has drawn many comparisons to Ryan Clady.  I'll take that!!

[top dawg]

People need to understand that once you dive in below the hype, the 2015 NFL draft may be very underwhelming from a plug and play perspective.

[gettlemanjack]

some people just don't like tackles period. It's a boring position to watch on tv

[ctrcat]

People need to understand that once you dive in below the hype, the 2015 NFL draft may be very underwhelming from a plug and play perspective.

Maybe, but if so at least it's that way for everyone. Glad we have GMan. And even if Humphries is not Ryan Clady, I just want something north of god-awful. Is middle of the road too much to ask?

[csx]

QBs, I can agree a little bit. Tried Clausen, may thought Delhomme was good enough. And he was for a few years, a lot shorter than what people thought.

DTs were drafted in high rounds. DT FAs were brought in as well. Didn't work out but we tried.

WRs were also drafted, didn't work out but we tried. I agree with this though, should have done better.

Otah and Gross were the only tackles drafted highly that worked out for us for a while (unless I'm missing someone?). ANd I am giving us Otah, he worked for a year or two? Can't remember.

Of corse, with gross and smitty and even with Delhomme we could ignore the positions. Just seems OT has really be ignored. Finally got a QB, and just last year got a WR...an OT is needed soon, like now.

Not sure if the 3rd is considered high but Wharton worked out. Though likely doesn't really qualify as a tackle.....but that was his college position. I miss that guy.

[ctrcat]

some people just don't like tackles period. It's a boring position to watch on tv

That used to be me many moons ago. But no OT, no healthy Cam.

[top dawg]

Maybe, but if so at least it's that way for everyone. Glad we have GMan. And even if Humphries is not Ryan Clady, I just want something north of god-awful. Is middle of the road too much to ask?

I hear you. If G-man picks Humphries you won't hear me complaining. You're not going to hear me complain about anyone though.

I am even good with dropping down for a second and a third provided that Strong is gone (which he likely will be in my estimation).

[MedellinHeel]

Id take Humphries and Peat at 25 if on the board assuming no top 10 type talent guy fell. 

[Jeremy Igo]

For the last few weeks I've begun to lean toward the idea of us not drafting a tackle in the 1st round. Or, for that matter, in the 2nd round either. While doing my usual research into prospects at our positions of need, I've come to the conclusion that this year's tackle class is massively overrated and there may not be one worthy of the 25th overall pick.

Now, I'm no scout obviously, but I do a fair bit of research every year and everything I've seen/heard/read/watched about the 1st round talents at OT have me feeling pretty underwhelmed. The consensus 1st round tackles seem to be:

- Andrus Peat, Stanford

- Ereck Flowers, Miami

- Brandon Scherff, Iowa

- La'el Collins, LSU

The borderline 1st/2nd round prospects appear to be:

- T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh

- D.J. Humphries, Florida

- Jake Fisher, Oregon

Looking at that list, Brandon Scherff is not a left tackle in the NFL. He's a right tackle/guard prospect - basically, he might help us, but he's not what we really need. And he'll likely be gone before we pick regardless. Andrus Peat has the physical attributes we're looking for, but by no means is this guy a plug & play tackle on either side at the pro level. Ereck Flowers has a ton of upside, but needs a ton of development to reach it and even with that may only ever be a right tackle in the NFL.

T.J. Clemmings is extremely raw and while his ceiling may be very high, he's not a guy we'd be able to draft and start day one. That leaves us with three prospects: La'el Collins, Jake Fisher, and D.J. Humphries. Good prospects to be sure, but Collins is a tackle/guard tweener who may fit best inside or at right tackle; not to mention he'll likely be gone before our pick anyway, Humphries has had his share of struggles from time to time, but does have big-time potential, and while I like Jake Fisher, both players would be a reach at 25 overall.

Therein lies the problem. Do we really take Humphries in the 1st round and ignore a better player at another position? I don't think we should and I'm fairly certain that Gettleman wouldn't either.

There are at least 10 prospects that could well be available to us that I like better than any of the tackles I listed above:

- Shaq Thompson, SS/OLB

- Jaelen Strong, WR

- Melvin Gordon, RB

- Landon Collins, SS

- Kevin Johnson, CB

- Jalen Collins, CB

- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE

- Todd Gurley, RB

- Preston Smith, DE

- Devante Parker, WR

If we do decide to go another direction in the 1st round, it's entirely possible we won't address the tackle position until the 3rd round. If you really look at the prospects, there aren't many 2nd round options that are likely to be available to us late in the 2nd round. Jake Fisher and D.J. Humphries will both likely be gone by our 2nd rounder, and then you've got Cedric Ogbuehi out of Texas A&M, who comes with a torn ACL. I'd take him in a second if he fells to us in the 3rd, but in the 2nd? That's quite a risk, IMO.

Once you got past those three, there really aren't that many 2nd round options that are likely to be that much better than what we'd find if we wait until the 3rd round. Ty Sambrailo out of Colorado State is about the only one who fits the range and while we have shown interest in him, there is likely to be better talent at other positions. Imagine getting Jaelen Strong in the 1st round and having a stud pass rusher like Preston Smith sitting there in the 2nd, or a RB like Tevin Coleman or a corner like Quinten Rollins. Or if we take someone like Shaq Thompson in the 1st and we have a shot at Justin Hardy or Breshad Perriman or Phillip Dorsett in the 2nd. Again, the value just isn't there at tackle over what could be there at other positions.

Now, once we get into the 3rd round, that changes. Guys like Donovan Smith out of Penn State, Cedric Ogbuehi (who could fall due to his injury), Daryl Williams & Tyrus Thompson from Oklahoma, and Jeremiah Poutasi out of Utah all offer similar talent and will likely be available in the 3rd despite being the same options we'd be choosing from in the 2nd.

Then you have mid-round guys like Chaz Green (Florida) and Laurence Gibson (VT) who all have a significant amount of upside without the risk of investing a 1st or 2nd round pick in someone like T.J. Clemmings or Ty Sambrailo.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that not only should we not be surprised if Gettleman opts to stay away from the tackles in the 1st round, but that perhaps if he does we'd be smart to wait another round as opposed to taking one in the 2nd. There's a natural knee-jerk reaction to fill the hole we have at left tackle with a 1st round pick, but I'm not sure the talent available to us makes that a very smart decision.

Good post. You are on target with more than one guy that the panthers like.