The Panthers will select one of these four prospects in round one of the NFL Draft.

[Bartin]

9 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

as a matter of fact i would make an absolute poo GM because i would draft players based entirely on how amusing i found their names

Pass on Tunsil because it is too similar to turnstile

[ctrcat]

9 hours ago, Jeremy Igo said:

So, who will the Carolina Panthers select in the first round of the NFL draft? Last year I named Shaq Thompson as one of four first round possibilities.  

This year, I believe it comes down to these four players, and I will explain why....

First, I believe both Clemson defensive ends will be off the board by pick thirty. If either are still there for some strange reason, they are in play. 

Second, I believe any wide receiver prospects the Panthers would consider in the first will also be off the board. But again, if a guy like Baylor's Corey Coleman somehow drops to 30.... he is the BPA and would not be passed up. 

So who does that leave? Here are the four guys I feel could be available and fit the Gettleman mold. Two on defense, two on offense.  

 

Vernon Butler 

Defensive Tackle - Louisiana Tech

6'4 323lbs

With a first round run made on receivers and defensive ends, Butler could possibly fall to 30, and if so may be far too enticing for Dave Gettleman to pass up. Afterall, big men allow you to compete, and Butler is a big big man. 

Butler's availability would truly put Gettleman's "Best Player Available" convictions to the test. Defensive tackle is not a pressing need for 2016, but could be seasons to come. It is unclear if the Panthers can afford to keep the KK Short / Star Lotulelei combo in tact long term. 

Additionally, the Carolina Panthers know that their pass rush must improve this season, and Butler would be one way to help that happen. Vernon Butler lined up next to KK Short on third and long would be an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses. The Panthers defensive ends would also benefit from such a pairing, reducing the likelihood of double teams. 

I like it. I like it alot. 

 

Emmanuel Ogbah 

Defensive End - Oklahoma St

6'4 273lbs

Here is a case where the BPA could also be in a huge area of need, ala Kelvin Benjamin a couple of seasons ago. Ogbah has been mocked anywhere from early twenties to early second round, landing him squarely in the Panthers draft territory. 

The Panthers are in desperate need of a pass rush from the defensive ends this season. Ogbah would make an immediate impact, exactly what Dave Gettleman likes to see from a round one selection. 

 

Derrick Henry

Running Back - Alabama

6'3 247lbs

I don't recall a more controversial draft prospect than Derrick Henry. Some love the idea, others loath it. 

What I can tell you is that Henry would fit in very well on the Panthers offense. Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert are on the later end of their Panthers careers. The need is absolutely there for a bigger bodied runner, and you don't get any bigger bodied in a runningback than Derrick Henry. 

Recently, the Panthers have been unable to "impose their will" at times on short yardage situations. Often, they resort to incomplete passes or being stuffed at the line on 3rd or 4th and one. Derrick Henry could help remedy those ills. 

 

Hunter Henry 

Tight End - Arkansas 

6'5 250lbs

I have been preaching Hunter Henry for a while now. He is a first round talent that may not be taken in the first round. If not, I have a feeling a second round trade up could happen to grab him as the Panthers did for Devin Funchess.

Still, there is a chance the Panthers do not risk losing him and pull the trigger at 30 where he would still be a good value. 

Henry would finally give the Panthers the personnel to have an intimidating two tight end package, something fans have missed since the Olsen - Shockey 2011 season.  Sure would be nice to see that again, wouldn't it? 

 

So there you have it. One of the above players is your next Carolina Panthers first round draft pick. 

 

 

 

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Post for Soul Rebel above..

 

John Schneider had three straight fantastic drafts, but since GMan was hired in 2013 he's run circles around Schneider.  Thomas is his only first round pick still on the roster.  Looking at the ages, bios, stats, and now salaries of Jeremy Lane and Brandon Boykin shows who the better GM is.  Exhibit A.

That said, Henry is a stud IMO but they have SUCH a weak OL, interior OL in particular, that it'd be all for naught.  They desperately need Ryan Kelly at Center, Leonard Floyd to replace Irvin, or Butler to replace Mebane.

Edited April 19, 2016 by ctrcat

[Chief Keek]

Methinks the pick is going to come down between D-line or S.

[davos]

I think it may end up being who many originally thought it was going to be before a bunch of hype trains rolled around:

Ogbah

 

Watch Henry go to SEA/DET and Hunter Henry go to Bears/Colts/etc...then it gets interesting. 

[jdpanther5]

Hard to really argue with any of those guys. We have a second meeting coming up with Ogbah, and that seems pretty significant being that we're only about a week away from the draft. My best guess for the pick would be whoever is left out of the DE trio of Lawson, Dodd, and Ogbah. We've met with all 3 at twice. Dark horse would be Noah Spence. 

For all the talented DTs at the top of this draft, we've really only met with 4 of them (reportedly): Butler, Robinson, Reed, and Jones. The Alabama duo are both likely gone, but even still we've shown the most interest in Butler among that group. So again I agree with that call. 

As for the Henrys...I like them, but I'm not as sure on them as picks for us. Though I think Derrick is more likely. We actually worked him out, and we didn't meet with many RBs, plus he's basically the prototypical Gettleman player. Hunter I like, but I'm not so sure he's much better than Austin Hooper, who should be available in the third or so. Plus we met with Hooper, and there's really been nothing linking us to Hunter. 

I'll add one more, Germain Ifedi. Though at this point so many people are predicting it they it probably won't happen, it really does make sense. He won't be much of a contributor this year, but he's probably the highest-ranking tackle that could be available to us. Could see us rolling with Oher and Remmers one more year before giving way to Ifedi and Williams. Plus we've met with Ifedi more than any other prospect we know of (3 times).

Basically my list would be some order of Lawson, Dodd, Ogbah, Butler, and Ifedi. Maybe in that order, actually. 

Edited April 19, 2016 by jdpanther5

[ctrcat]

Interesting tidbit.  If it is Ogbah, he may possibly be going up against his mentor Russell Okung in his first game at some point, who is also from Nigeria, and attended the same high school and college at Okung's advice.

[PhillyB]

1 hour ago, Bartin said:

Pass on Tunsil because it is too similar to turnstile

i would've drafted nick toon in the first round a few years back

[Kevin Greene]

Meh, hope we don't go into Day 1 with tunnel vision. (I know we won't)

[davos]

I've been thinking the DTs that are more balanced will be gone (Butler, Rankins, & Chris dickflop Jones) and the others that are more one-dimensional (the Bama boys with their run-defense) could fall a bit.  Robinson's potential however is pretty significant so I think he's gone early.  I actually think a some teams could consider Willie Henry, Kenny Clark or Ridgeway over Jarran Reed. 

Basically--If Jarran Reed is available, I wonder if how we'd rank him.  I'd still consider Ogbah over him.  Maybe even Neal or Joseph. 

[brandon_87]

not trying to be a downer, but that TE is garbage, in this O, he's gonna have to be able to block, those catches are what you expect from a high school player, nothing in that entire video stood out as something that would even come close to first round talent, for fugs sake, the first highlight was a busted lateral play... c'mon man....

[Bartin]

1 hour ago, jdpanther5 said:

Hard to really argue with any of those guys. We have a second meeting coming up with Ogbah, and that seems pretty significant being that we're only about a week away from the draft. My best guess for the pick would be whoever is left out of the DE trio of Lawson, Dodd, and Ogbah. We've met with all 3 at twice. Dark horse would be Noah Spence. 

For all the talented DTs at the top of this draft, we've really only met with 4 of them (reportedly): Butler, Robinson, Reed, and Jones. The Alabama duo are both likely gone, but even still we've shown the most interest in Butler among that group. So again I agree with that call. 

As for the Henrys...I like them, but I'm not as sure on them as picks for us. Though I think Derrick is more likely. We actually worked him out, and we didn't meet with many RBs, plus he's basically the prototypical Gettleman player. Hunter I like, but I'm not so sure he's much better than Austin Hooper, who should be available in the third or so. Plus we met with Hooper, and there's really been nothing linking us to Hunter. 

I'll add one more, Germain Ifedi. Though at this point so many people are predicting it they it probably won't happen, it really does make sense. He won't be much of a contributor this year, but he's probably the highest-ranking tackle that could be available to us. Could see us rolling with Oher and Remmers one more year before giving way to Ifedi and Williams. Plus we've met with Ifedi more than any other prospect we know of (3 times).

Basically my list would be some order of Lawson, Dodd, Ogbah, Butler, and Ifedi. Maybe in that order, actually. 

Good analysis.

Although I would be absolutely floored if we took Spence. I'd guess it was borderline we would draft him in the first place just because he really isn't a scheme fit for us. He fits a 3-4 best with his size and Gettleman seems to love the size prototypes. Add in the character red flags and I can't imagine him even being a consideration for us.

[ctrcat]

10 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

not trying to be a downer, but that TE is garbage, in this O, he's gonna have to be able to block, those catches are what you expect from a high school player, nothing in that entire video stood out as something that would even come close to first round talent, for fugs sake, the first highlight was a busted lateral play... c'mon man....

As I said in another thread in as many words, he is slightly underwhelming for such praise, but at least he CAN catch, and appears on the surface at least to have good intangibles.

[MV%doe]

My source who knows a guy that knows a guy that's friends with blogging transgender that knows a former High School coach that knows the guy that cleans JRs' toilet ......... Told me the pick will be-

 

Keanu Neal

Edited April 20, 2016 by MV%doe

[Woodie]

30 minutes ago, MV%doe said:

My source who knows a guy that knows a guy that's friends with blogging transgender that know a former High School coach that knows the guy that cleans JRs' toilet ......... Told me the pick will be-

 

Keanu Neal

Not if Arizona grabs him first, and I've heard they are very high on him.