Wide Receiver Debate

[davos]

Three guys who I think our just special talents and have no problem claiming they'll kill it in the NFL are Doctson, Coleman, and Shepard.  Michael Thomas looks legit as well. 

Good highlight video on Michael Thomas who was mentioned earlier:

*I know they're just highlights, but I'm just a fan so what the hell haha. 

[KB_fan]

3 hours ago, caatfan said:

It's supposed to a be a pretty deep draft for the WR position, so I could see one as BPA at the 30th spot. It all depends on how Gman and Co. rank their BPA list. I think it's much more likely we select a WR in rounds 2 or 3. 

Getting Michael Thomas in the 2nd would be nice. He'd have a good shot as our #2 guy.

After I finish the analysis of CBs and potential draft availability of the top 20ish CBs (over on the NFL draft forum), the next position I plan to target is WRs.  Probably will be Sunday evening and early next week that I can get a chance to work on it. 

In the mocks I've been doing at fanspeak, and that I've read, Shepard doesn't seem to be falling to us nearly as often.  He'd be there most likely when we pick at #30, but to get him in round 2, I think it likely we'd have to trade up. 

(FWIW:  Hunter Henry is still consistently falling to us in round 2 in many mocks..., but I'm still not sure I really trust that.  I think that's just because the computer algorithims don't prioritize TE.  I think a team that strongly wants/needs a TE will grab Hunter late in the 1st or early in the 2nd).

[KB_fan]

Here's how the top 40 WRs are graded and ranked on NFL.com's big board.  (The projected rounds are my own addition, based on their relative grading and ranking, but they don't necessarily mean much, as they are NOT based on mock drafts and team needs.  In my analysis of CBs, so far, I've seen "Round 3" and "Round 4" CBs picked in round 2....)

I'll be putting together a consensus ranking of the top WRs from 10+ Big Boards over the weekend.

[LinvilleGorge]

When I watch Sterling Shepard, I see Steve Smith.  Small WR who plays much bigger than he is due to strength, leaping ability, and just plain toughness.  He's great after the catch and there's a lot of fight in that dog.  He doesn't have Smitty's pure speed, but I think he can be a great NFL WR.

[juliosantos]

3 hours ago, davos said:

I'm surprised there's been little talk about Michael Thomas.  He's fast, tall, uses his quickness to separate, and from Ohio State.  I see great potential in him.  If we're looking slot he doesn't fit the bill but Funch is the wildcard and KB+another legit 1/2 could be a great eventual package.     

Regarding the 1st round, I honestly think there are only 3 guys worth it/who could be BPA and I see them all gone:

Corey Coleman, Treadwell, Doctson...(I'm not a Fuller fan for some reason) 

Michael thomas is one of those guys thats getting underlooked , early mocks had him as one of the top wrs coming off the board 

[mcdougal]

If I did not watch our games last season and just read the Huddle, I would swear up and down that the Panthers had a top 3 WR core, and a front 7 and secondary that was bottom 5 in the NFL.

I would think that KB was prime Randy Moss, Ginn was prime Marvin Harrison, and Funchess was a young Larry Fitzgerald. I would think that the Panthers WR core actually carried this team last year and maybe save for the early 2000 St. Louis Rams, the 2015 Panthers passing game was the greatest thing on grass.

Instead, in reality, in the real world the Panthers passing game ranked in the bottom 1/3 of the NFL, nobody (the Broncos said as much) fears any of our WRs last year, and any informal or formal NFL top WR poll conducted last year or this year doesn't rank KB in the top 20 WRs the NFL. And of course he is coming off an ACL injury.

 

Should the Panthers be in the business of trading away Luke Kuechly for a WR? Of course not. Should the Panthers even not pay Josh Norman in order to bring in an expensive WR. Nope. Should the Panthers be in the business of passing on a top 10 talent on defense in this draft in order to draft even the 3rd best WR this year. Also, no.

But the confidence that the Huddle has in a WR core that--- even next year--- will be dependent on Ted "I couldn't even make it into the rotation of the Cardinals" Ginn Jr. to a large extent...where losing Ted Ginn Jr could possibly have significant consequences to our passing game...is rather disturbing.

People have literally posted on this board that WR is the strength of this team. Dear God, where do I obtain some of that stuff that they are on?

At best, by the end of this season our WR could be viewed as top 10. At BEST. Acting like we are the Cardinals, Jets, or even the Bucs is the definition of insanity.

[caatfan]

10 minutes ago, mcdougal said:

But the confidence that the Huddle has in a WR core that--- even next year--- will be dependent on Ted "I couldn't even make it into the rotation of the Cardinals" Ginn Jr. to a large extent...where losing Ted Ginn Jr could possibly have significant consequences to our passing game...is rather disturbing.

I see posts I strongly disagree with every day, and that goes for any forum, not just this one. But collecting some disagreeable (to you) posts and labeling them as "the Huddle", as if those you differ with are the overwhelming majority, is rather disturbing, to use your own words. 

[motocross_cat]

30 minutes ago, mcdougal said:

If I did not watch our games last season and just read the Huddle, I would swear up and down that the Panthers had a top 3 WR core, and a front 7 and secondary that was bottom 5 in the NFL.

I would think that KB was prime Randy Moss, Ginn was prime Marvin Harrison, and Funchess was a young Larry Fitzgerald. I would think that the Panthers WR core actually carried this team last year and maybe save for the early 2000 St. Louis Rams, the 2015 Panthers passing game was the greatest thing on grass.

Instead, in reality, in the real world the Panthers passing game ranked in the bottom 1/3 of the NFL, nobody (the Broncos said as much) fears any of our WRs last year, and any informal or formal NFL top WR poll conducted last year or this year doesn't rank KB in the top 20 WRs the NFL. And of course he is coming off an ACL injury.

 

Should the Panthers be in the business of trading away Luke Kuechly for a WR? Of course not. Should the Panthers even not pay Josh Norman in order to bring in an expensive WR. Nope. Should the Panthers be in the business of passing on a top 10 talent on defense in this draft in order to draft even the 3rd best WR this year. Also, no.

But the confidence that the Huddle has in a WR core that--- even next year--- will be dependent on Ted "I couldn't even make it into the rotation of the Cardinals" Ginn Jr. to a large extent...where losing Ted Ginn Jr could possibly have significant consequences to our passing game...is rather disturbing.

People have literally posted on this board that WR is the strength of this team. Dear God, where do I obtain some of that stuff that they are on?

At best, by the end of this season our WR could be viewed as top 10. At BEST. Acting like we are the Cardinals, Jets, or even the Bucs is the definition of insanity.

You need to obtain a beer and chillax.

Everyone knows the recivers were suspect at times and cam along with the running game really made up for it.  They were also great at times.  Hell at one point ginn couldnt be covered. However it happened we were the #1 O in the nfl so its ok to think that we should spend time improving other areas.

[davos]

Tajae Sharpe would be a good mid/late round prospect as well. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Solid group. All we need is a slot guy.

[mcdougal]

43 minutes ago, motocross_cat said:

You need to obtain a beer and chillax.

Everyone knows the recivers were suspect at times and cam along with the running game really made up for it.  They were also great at times.  Hell at one point ginn couldnt be covered. However it happened we were the #1 O in the nfl so its ok to think that we should spend time improving other areas.

I don't drink and beer is the worst.

At what point last year was our WRs "great"? Ginn in the 1st game vs Atlanta was great. Then again that was only for the 1st quarter. At what other points was our WRs great?

So our defense was great last season too. Why the hell are we out here signing secondary and DLine for then? Why is everyone (including me) fine with at DE in round one? I mean we were top 5 in almost every meaningful defensive category last year, right.

[IGSaint]

I'd love for us to add to our offense either through OL, WR or TE. Another weapon that will help us continue to be at the top of the league offensively.

[t96]

6 hours ago, davos said:

I've seen lively discussion here and there about the reasoning to add/not add another receiver.  Good arguments on both sides.

There's no good argument for not adding WRs.

[davos]

1 minute ago, thomas96 said:

There's no good argument for not adding WRs.

*Appeasing to make for discussion