Final Draft Mock & Depth Chart Predictions

[The Lone Panther]

Round 1 - Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

I do believe we'll take an offense player in the 1st and Hunter makes the most sense.  Dickson has been a disappointment and we're obviously looking at TE's (i.e Jared Cook, Gates).  Olsen will be retiring soon, so it's time to start grooming his replacement.  So unless someone like Treadwell falls, I see us taking Hunter at #30. 

 

Round 2 (TRADE) - Su'a Cravens, SS, USC

G-Man loves to trade and this draft is no different.  I'm predicting we will trade our 3rd to move up and grab Cravens.  We need depth there and Cravens is someone the Panthers have a "scary" interest in.  

 

Round 4 - Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana 

Let's face it, Norman is done after this season.  He'll be kept for one more year because we're in a prime position for another Superbowl run, so it would be dumb to let him go now, but we need to pick up his replacement.  Miller blew it up at the senior bowl and the Panthers really like the kid.  Not a huge fan of small school players, but I trust G-Man. However, I'm fairly certain we'll still sign a vet CB next FA to give Miller more time to get ready.  Someone also mentioned the idea about resigning Tillman and add him to the PUP list and maybe get him to play late in the season.  I like that idea, makes sense.

 

Round 5 - Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

The guy has very similar size, measurables, and draft profile as Daryl Williams, and from what I keep reading, he's our future RT, so maybe we'll get lucky with Shell.  LT out of the SEC, gone up against some of the games best DE's, like Myles Garrett, Kevin Dodd, Shaq Lawson, Jonathan Bullard, so this guy is no stranger to danger, and the Panthers do have some interest in him.  Being that LT is just a position needed for depth, that will give Shell plenty of time to work on weaknesses and make the transition from college to pro.  

 

Round 7 - Josh Forrest, ILB, Kentucky

Someone I'm really starting to like.  Hell, look at the image I used for him.  That's him laying out a Gamecock receiver and I'm a Gamecock fan.  Anyways, I'm not really a fan of Ben Jacobs,  He's an average special teams player and a below average LB.  It's time to move on from him and give Luke some quality insurance at his position.  Forrest and big, SEC LB that hits hard and the Panthers have expressed interest him.  

 

 

Undrafted Free Agent Predictions (I was a little bias here...)

Terrance Smith, OLB, Florida St.

Johnny Holton, WR, Cincinnati

Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina

Will Monday, P, Duke

Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado St.

Joe Gore, OT, Clemson

Chase Farris, OG, Ohio St.

Isaiah Johnson, SS, South Carolina

Corey Trevon, DT, Florida Atlantic

Arjen Colquhoun, CB, Michigan St.

 

These are players that will simply be camp bodies, battle it out for the PS and/or give others competition.

 

 

 

 

My Projected Depth Chart...

QB: C. Newton / D. Anderson / J. Webb

RB : J. Stewart / F. Whittaker / C. Payne / B. Wegher

FB:  M. Tolbert

TE:  G. Olsen / H. Henry / E. Dickson

WR:  K. Benjamin / D. Funchess / K. Norwood

WR:   T. Ginn / C. Brown

LOT:  M. Oher / B. Shell

LOG:  A. Norwell / A. Silatolu

OC:   R. Kalil / G. Gradkowski

ROG:  T. Turner / D. Yankey

ROT:  M. Remmers / D. Williams

 

Offense depth chart notes:

1. We'll hang onto Dickson for one more season because he does provide experience and decent depth

2. I believe Amini will be resigned.  He does have a problem staying healthy, but he's cheap, knows the offense, and is experienced.

3.  Chris Scott gets beat out by David Yankey

4.  Norwood gets the final receiver spot

                                     

LDE:  K. Ealy / M. Addison

LDT:  S. Lotulelei  / K. Love

RDT:  K. Short / P. Soliai

RDE:  C. Johnson  / R. Cox / R. Delaire  

OLB:  T. Davis / D. Mayo

ILB:  L Kuechly / J. Forrest

OLB:  S. Thompson / A. Klein

LCB:  J. Norman / H. Miller

SS:  T. Boston / S. Cravens / D. Marlowe

FS:   K. Coleman / C. Jones

RCB  B. Benwikere / B. Boykin

 

Defense depth chart notes:

1.  They finally move Ealy over the left side

2.  Cox cracks the 53 man roster

3.  Love will stay behind Star, Soliai slims down a bit and plays #2 behind Short

4.  We'll have three SS since that position could end up being weak early on

5.  Boston will stay and start a SS since he does have some experience there.  Could move back to FS if Cravens gets going fast. 

 

 

So, what do you guys think?  I know, going back-to-back drafts without drafting a d-lineman, but G-Man does feel good about Miley and Cox, and Delaire has potential, and I do believe Johnson will ball out this season, which will lead us to resign him for a couple more years. 

[Ricky Spanish]

Pie for the effort and because I always enjoy these threads and someone will inevitably bitch about how much of a dumbass you are, but just ignore them, you do you homie. 

[chknwing]

how high u trading up, carolinas 3rd is only gonna get them to pick 18 in the 2nd

[TheSpecialJuan]

I would be thrilled with that draft class. Nice work

[O-Ther]

Nice job taking it next level with the depth charts and notes. That kind of big picture view isn't common.

[JawnyBlaze]

I'd like that draft.

[uscgamecocks]

If we draft Hunter Henry over Sterling Shepard I will be disappointed.  So it's probably going to happen.

The lack of defensive line additions would be odd, given our long-term needs there and the relative strength of this DLine class vs. past years - we will need someone to start opposite Kony in 2017 and we could use a young backup for Short.  But all in all, I could live with this.

[Frank Hollywood]

Trade the OT for that German WR and I'm thrilled.

[Swaggasaurus]

It works for me,

[CarolinaNCSU]

Superb Owl

[TheSpecialJuan]

7 hours ago, The Lone Panther said:

Round 1 - Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

I do believe we'll take an offense player in the 1st and Hunter makes the most sense.  Dickson has been a disappointment and we're obviously looking at TE's (i.e Jared Cook, Gates).  Olsen will be retiring soon, so it's time to start grooming his replacement.  So unless someone like Treadwell falls, I see us taking Hunter at #30. 

 

Round 2 (TRADE) - Su'a Cravens, SS, USC

G-Man loves to trade and this draft is no different.  I'm predicting we will trade our 3rd to move up and grab Cravens.  We need depth there and Cravens is someone the Panthers have a "scary" interest in.  

 

Round 4 - Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana 

Let's face it, Norman is done after this season.  He'll be kept for one more year because we're in a prime position for another Superbowl run, so it would be dumb to let him go now, but we need to pick up his replacement.  Miller blew it up at the senior bowl and the Panthers really like the kid.  Not a huge fan of small school players, but I trust G-Man. However, I'm fairly certain we'll still sign a vet CB next FA to give Miller more time to get ready.  Someone also mentioned the idea about resigning Tillman and add him to the PUP list and maybe get him to play late in the season.  I like that idea, makes sense.

 

Round 5 - Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

The guy has very similar size, measurables, and draft profile as Daryl Williams, and from what I keep reading, he's our future RT, so maybe we'll get lucky with Shell.  LT out of the SEC, gone up against some of the games best DE's, like Myles Garrett, Kevin Dodd, Shaq Lawson, Jonathan Bullard, so this guy is no stranger to danger, and the Panthers do have some interest in him.  Being that LT is just a position needed for depth, that will give Shell plenty of time to work on weaknesses and make the transition from college to pro.  

 

Round 7 - Josh Forrest, ILB, Kentucky

Someone I'm really starting to like.  Hell, look at the image I used for him.  That's him laying out a Gamecock receiver and I'm a Gamecock fan.  Anyways, I'm not really a fan of Ben Jacobs,  He's an average special teams player and a below average LB.  It's time to move on from him and give Luke some quality insurance at his position.  Forrest and big, SEC LB that hits hard and the Panthers have expressed interest him.  

 

 

Undrafted Free Agent Predictions (I was a little bias here...)

Terrance Smith, OLB, Florida St.

Johnny Holton, WR, Cincinnati

Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina

Will Monday, P, Duke

Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado St.

Joe Gore, OT, Clemson

Chase Farris, OG, Ohio St.

Isaiah Johnson, SS, South Carolina

Corey Trevon, DT, Florida Atlantic

Arjen Colquhoun, CB, Michigan St.

 

These are players that will simply be camp bodies, battle it out for the PS and/or give others competition.

 

 

 

 

My Projected Depth Chart...

QB: C. Newton / D. Anderson / J. Webb

RB : J. Stewart / F. Whittaker / C. Payne / B. Wegher

FB:  M. Tolbert

TE:  G. Olsen / H. Henry / E. Dickson

WR:  K. Benjamin / D. Funchess / K. Norwood

WR:   T. Ginn / C. Brown

LOT:  M. Oher / B. Shell

LOG:  A. Norwell / A. Silatolu

OC:   R. Kalil / G. Gradkowski

ROG:  T. Turner / D. Yankey

ROT:  M. Remmers / D. Williams

 

Offense depth chart notes:

1. We'll hang onto Dickson for one more season because he does provide experience and decent depth

2. I believe Amini will be resigned.  He does have a problem staying healthy, but he's cheap, knows the offense, and is experienced.

3.  Chris Scott gets beat out by David Yankey

4.  Norwood gets the final receiver spot

                                     

LDE:  K. Ealy / M. Addison

LDT:  S. Lotulelei  / K. Love

RDT:  K. Short / P. Soliai

RDE:  C. Johnson  / R. Cox / R. Delaire  

OLB:  T. Davis / D. Mayo

ILB:  L Kuechly / J. Forrest

OLB:  S. Thompson / A. Klein

LCB:  J. Norman / H. Miller

SS:  T. Boston / S. Cravens / D. Marlowe

FS:   K. Coleman / C. Jones

RCB  B. Benwikere / B. Boykin

 

Defense depth chart notes:

1.  They finally move Ealy over the left side

2.  Cox cracks the 53 man roster

3.  Love will stay behind Star, Soliai slims down a bit and plays #2 behind Short

4.  We'll have three SS since that position could end up being weak early on

5.  Boston will stay and start a SS since he does have some experience there.  Could move back to FS if Cravens gets going fast. 

 

 

So, what do you guys think?  I know, going back-to-back drafts without drafting a d-lineman, but G-Man does feel good about Miley and Cox, and Delaire has potential, and I do believe Johnson will ball out this season, which will lead us to resign him for a couple more years. 

Nice work. I like the cut of your jib.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

5 hours ago, uscgamecocks said:

If we draft Hunter Henry over Sterling Shepard I will be disappointed.  So it's probably going to happen.

See, I like Shepard more as a player, but I think adding a second good TE would give our offense new dynamics that Shepard just couldn't. 

[GoobyPls]

So we have worked out all these receivers, not to draft a single one? 

 

And Olsen is retiring soon, says who? How can Dickson be a disappointment, if he hardly gets any snaps and has been the same player since he's been drafted.

 

Every mock draft I've seen has Henry going in the 2nd round, when did he become a first round talent?

[uscgamecocks]

3 hours ago, Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior) said:

See, I like Shepard more as a player, but I think adding a second good TE would give our offense new dynamics that Shepard just couldn't. 

I can't argue there from a formation diversity perspective - we know Shula love his 2TE sets.  My argument for Shepard is that we would be able to play more 11 personnel (spreading the field) and, more importantly, Shepard would be the one guy on the team who has proven his ability to quickly shake defenders, beat press coverage if necessary, and present himself for a quick target (and catch reliably, with a 2% drop rate).

One of the things that struck me about the SB is just how long it was taking for our WRs to get open.  KB wasn't active, but that's never been a strong suit of his.  I think a player like Shepard - that could be counted on to quickly beat his man most every time - could make the offense much more efficient (keeping the chains moving) and protect the O Line by giving Cam a reliable outlet against blitzes (or when Von Miller is having his way with our tackles).

Obviously Henry would more directly benefit the running game - enabling us to run 12 sets at a higher frequency.  He would also offer more in the play action passing game than Shepard and is a reliable target himself, with zero drops last year.   I think the argument can be made that we actually run better out of spread personnel than heavy sets, but that's just my gut feeling - I have no data to back that up.  And it sounds like Henry is a better blocker than Dickson, so he would certainly help there.