The Panthers biggest dilemmas at #8 - A good team, a deep draft, and uncertainty in the top seven picks... Or "The case for trading down"

[Panthers8969]

the trade down would happen during the draft, not before. I agree it will be unpredictable, but once we are on the clock we already know who is gone and who is available

[pantherclaw]

Gettleman isn't a trade back dude. He'd rather sit there, and get a player.

[RoosterCockburn1]

Well here is another out of the box thought. (Seeing how too many have jumped on the McCaffery wagon causing my anti-conformity to act up.)

We take Reuben Foster or Hassan Reddick at #8. Our Linebacker core is thin now. Esp with Luke's concussions and Thomas is nearing the end. The draft is deep at RB and D line. Not the case for linebackers who can cover.

[gmonjimbo]

I rather just take Reuben Foster or Marshon Lattimore at 8 if Fournette, Adams, Howard, Allen, Thomas, etc are gone 

[Car123]

17 minutes ago, RoosterCockburn1 said:

Well here is another out of the box thought. (Seeing how too many have jumped on the McCaffery wagon causing my anti-conformity to act up.)

We take Reuben Foster or Hassan Reddick at #8. Our Linebacker core is thin now. Esp with Luke's concussions and Thomas is nearing the end. The draft is deep at RB and D line. Not the case for linebackers who can cover.

God no

[RoosterCockburn1]

10 hours ago, Car123 said:

God no

Well you've gone and done it now. Now it's a definite.

[Saca312]

Just now, RoosterCockburn1 said:

Well here is another out of the box thought. (Seeing how too many have jumped on the McCaffery wagon causing my anti-conformity to act up.)

We take Reuben Foster or Hassan Reddick at #8. Our Linebacker core is thin now. Esp with Luke's concussions and Thomas is nearing the end. The draft is deep at RB and D line. Not the case for linebackers who can cover.

Thin? Goodness, that's a stretch.

David Mayo's better than AJ Klein as a backup. Jeremy Cash is also showing to be a solid backup as well, and Shaq Thompson will eventually take on TD's role and a current back.

Foster is overrated, and scared half to death to trust his instincts more often than not and uses what's in front of him to do most of the heavy lifting. 

[NCBlu]

There is 4 DEs, 1 SS, 1Fs, And a RB if and only if all r gone then trade down. I think 1 will be there or more. Then best WR u can find when ever our 2nd pick comes up...

K

[RoosterCockburn1]

13 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Thin? Goodness, that's a stretch.

David Mayo's better than AJ Klein as a backup. Jeremy Cash is also showing to be a solid backup as well, and Shaq Thompson will eventually take on TD's role and a current back.

Foster is overrated, and scared half to death to trust his instincts more often than not and uses what's in front of him to do most of the heavy lifting. 

Speaking of a stretch, David Mayo a better backup than Klein?  Is that why Klein played 350 to Mayo's 31 def snaps last season? That's because they thought he was better. And Cash? Unproven. I think thin is accurate.

 

[Saca312]

Just now, RoosterCockburn1 said:

Speaking of a stretch, David Mayo a better backup than Klein?  Is that why Klein played 350 to Mayo's 31 def snaps last season? That's because they thought he was better. And Cash? Unproven. I think thin is accurate.

 

Since snap counts are the answer, and preseason impact doesn't show any potential, you'd be right.

Now, consider for a moment Ron's love to have veterans/his players play before actual young talent that can play far better. Everyone knows Ron rarely gives chances to those with potential and opts for vets.

During the preseason, Jeremy Cash made quite a bit of plays that looked real good. Reason he doesn't have any snaps is because our LB corps are so deep.

Klein got a lower rating in nearly most of his games by PFF this season. When Mayo played for a full game, he made that spot his own against a solid TB offense.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-car-tb-grades/

Quote

grades:

LB David Mayo, 87.2

S Michael Griffin, 84.6

CB James Bradberry, 83.2

DT Kawann Short, 80.6

DT Star Lotulelei, 79.0

Big plays bottled up the Bucs — and has Carolina been using the wrong linebacker to back up Kuechly?

The Panthers’ defense were able to force a few big plays to end Bucs drives, but the play of LB David Mayo was most notable, flashing the kind of ability he showed in college and suggesting that maybe the Panthers have had the wrong linebacker starting in place of Luke Kuechly with A.J Klein. Mayo had a team-high four defensive stops despite playing just 21 snaps, and allowed only five yards in coverage, while Klein has a season grade of 44.6. James Bradberry’s pick continued a rookie season of flashing big-time potential.

 

[KB_fan]

Lots of interesting discussion here.

One thing I haven't seen discussed much in any of the many draft scenario threads is the fact that DG often seems to be looking 1-2 years ahead in his draft picks.  I'd say he's done this with players like Shaq (prepping us for TD's departure), Butler (insurance in case we don't re-sign KK) and David Mayo (knowing we'd likely let Klein walk so that he could start elsewhere).

So, with that idea in mind, are there really any positions that are off the board for us at #8?  Obviously QBs, LBs and DTs would seem to be very very low priorities for us at #8, and CB isn't an urgent need either.  But DA will be on the last year of his contract.   Klein left and TD is a year older.  KK's contract status is still unclear...

I as much as anyone want us to draft a major impact player who will start immediately at #8, and I think DG probably hopes that is what will happen.  I will probably scream & curse for days if we draft a QB or LB at #8... and probably laugh hysterically if we draft another DT (all your DTs are belong to us).  But I'm not sure we can rule out DG doing something like that if he really truly believes in and follows BPA.  That in my mind would make the likelihood of a trade down nearly 0%

The only way I could see it, really, is if by trading down a few spots (e.g. to Cleveland's #12) we gain enough draft capital that Dave can then immediately trade UP again and get back in the later part of the 1st to get another 1st round pick.

Getting two 1st round picks in this deep a draft and with both of them having 5th year options might make up for giving away #8 for a slightly lower pick. Lots of ifs in that scenario though, and you'd have to find TWO trading partners...

 

[TheRed]

While trading back sounds intriguing in theory, the reality is we aren't going to keep every drafted player come September.

Personally I'd rather stay where we are, and rack em'. Plenty of opportunity to improve regardless.

[RoosterCockburn1]

2 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Since snap counts are the answer, and preseason impact doesn't show any potential, you'd be right.

Now, consider for a moment Ron's love to have veterans/his players play before actual young talent that can play far better. Everyone knows Ron rarely gives chances to those with potential and opts for vets.

During the preseason, Jeremy Cash made quite a bit of plays that looked real good. Reason he doesn't have any snaps is because our LB corps are so deep.

Klein got a lower rating in nearly most of his games by PFF this season. When Mayo played for a full game, he made that spot his own against a solid TB offense.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-car-tb-grades/

 

According to PFF's most recent mock we're taking Mike Williams...Preseason flashes and PFF. I think we can agree to disagree from here.