Matthias' 2016 Mock

[Matthias]

This is probably the most optimistic mock draft I've done yet, and it has nothing to do with the draft itself.  I'm going out on a limb and say, someway, somehow, Josh Norman returns to the Panthers, signing a long term deal at 10-11 million a year. (With big incentives if possible)  This is Josh's home and he wants to be here.  Ultimately he knew he wasn't going to get the 16 million, but perhaps he thought his agent could bargain around 13-14 million which of course was around his tag money.  Never did he imagine and nor did we, that Getts would take the tag off the table like he did.  I think what ultimately happened was Norman's agent being strict with 15-16 million dollar range, and wasn't moving off of that an inch.  With that kind of stance, the Panther front office probably felt Norman wouldn't play like he's been playing, knowing the tag was absolutely going to be his last year.  If that is what happened, I completely understand why they took the tag off the table!  Now that J-No has a new agent, I believe there will be one last round of talks to get him locked up long term with high incentives.  Again, this is Norman's home, he belongs here.

With that, on to the draft.........

 

 

Trade:

 

Browns get- Panthers 2016 1st round pick

Panthers get- Browns 2016 2nd round pick, Browns early 2016 3rd round pick

 

If we actually traded down with the Browns, I'm confident we would actually get more than what I listed.  I believe Paxton Lynch will be available at our 30th slot, and the Browns would fall head over heels for him.  He has been compared to Cam in playing style and to be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing if he could eventually be a good QB for the Browns.  Though he is raw, and that makes it even more perfect for the Browns to take him, letting him sit behind RG3 to develop.  That's not to say RG3 would help him develop, but there is the perfect excuse for the Browns to take a QB and not let the move be seen as a lack of confidence in RG3 as a starter.  It is simply the perfect scenario for all parties involved for the Browns, making the trade perfect for us to get possibly more picks.

 

 

2nd Round Pick: (Browns 32nd Pick)

 

Jason Spriggs

 

 

 

I really hope this guy falls to the 2nd round.  Most talk about our needs or where we want to draft this year is going toward DE, CB, and S.  However, we promptly forget our OTs are pure-d-crap.  Last year was a testament to how good our team was overall, because both Oher and Remmers are not qualified enough protect our guy Cam on a consistent basis.  They also couldn't open up running lanes for that matter.  Most of the work was done in the middle when it comes to the O-line.  We put off finding a DT to replace Kris Jenkins for many years, let's not do the same with Jordan Gross when it comes to OT.  Spriggs is a guy that should go in the first, but a lot of other OTs are getting more love at this point.  So he should slip, but every year guys who are consistently mocked to later rounds, actually end up in the first when the big day comes.  So Spriggs will likely go in the first, yet if he slips, we are right there with the Browns pick.

 

 

Trade:

 

Some team in the early to mid 2nd round gets- Panthers late 2016 2nd round pick, Panthers early 2016 3rd round pick (from Cleveland)

Panthers get- early to mid 2016 2nd round pick

 

 

2nd Round Pick: (Traded Pick)

 

Derrick Henry

 

 

It seems you either love him or are meh about him.  I believe we would be unstoppable with him.  All I can do at this point is just dream about the idea of Henry breaking off long runs for touchdowns and nobody wanting to tackle him.  The only draw back I can see with taking him, is how well he would be able to work with Stew?  Yet I'm not too worried about that prospect.  Henry is our kind of player and in Carolina, he will be great.  Plus with Spriggs and hopefully/confidently with Williams, our O-line will maul guys at the line of scrimmage, freeing both Stew and Henry to wreak pure havoc on the league.  If we don't get 19-0 with these guys, I might say the league is rigged against us heehee!

 

 

Round 3:

 

Charles Tapper

 

 

I really like the skills and size Tapper has.  He's not overly tall, but man does he have arm length.  If you look at his combine profile, he has some of the best measurements I've ever seen.  On top of all that, the dude can run like a 4-3 outside linebacker.  Tapper can play anywhere along the D-line and can be an excellent rotation guy like you wouldn't believe.

 

 

Round 4:

 

Eric Murray

 

 

 

Here's a corner who really fits the scheme we employ.  Somebody to challenge Bene at the other corner spot.

 

 

Round 5:

 

Deiondre" Hall

 

 

This safety prospect has potential, but you can tell he needs an offseason or two to grow into a good frame to put in an NFL work load.  I like the fire he displays.  Definitely the best player on his team.

 

 

Round 7:

 

Brandon Shell

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/brandon-shell?id=2555193#

 

More competition to beef up our line.

 

 

Starters:

 

QB- Cam Newton

RB- Derrick Henry (R)

FB- Mike Tolbert

WR- Kelvin Benjamin

WR- Tedd Ginn

TE- Greg Olsen

LT- Jason Spriggs (R)

LG- Andrew Norwell

C- Ryan Kalil

RG- Trai Turner

RT- Daryl Williams

 

DE- Kony Ealy

DT- Kawann Short

DT- Star Lotulelei

DE- Charles Johnson

OLB- Thomas Davis

ILB- Luke Kuechly

OLB- Shaq Thompson

CB- Bene Benwikere

FS- Kurt Coleman

SS- Tre Boston

CB- Josh Norman

 

[JawnyBlaze]

I'd be fine with Spriggs and Henry, but ugh do not want Tapper at ALL.  He's quick, but that's it.  He gets stonewalled by below average college OTs.  Dunno much about the other guys.

[Matthias]

I'm going to re-do my draft a bit now that Norman is gone for good.  I'd be interested if Tapper could play a pass rushing DT, but I do believe I could go with a better guy in the third round.

[Toker Smurf]

I don't see Spriggs being BPA but I wouldn't hate the pick. I love Deiondre Hall. I agree he needs a little seasoning but he has potential.