We can't have all the best guys on our lists... So... Get to know some similar alternative targets for later rounds...

[Bronn]

In a fantasy world, the Panthers would be able to draft a combination of everyone's favorite players. Imagine injecting our offense with both Leonard Fournette AND OJ Howard... or somehow getting Jamal Adams AND Derek Barnett or Solomon Thomas to reinforce our beastly defense.

There's a remote chance that we could mortgage the future a bit (if Gettleman and Rivera's seats are getting warm) and make this fantasy a reality this year, with some folks thinking we're going to want to move around a bit in the draft.

I don't think it will happen, at this point, so I think we all need to take a step back towards a more realistic scenario, and look at some later round players that bring some of the same skills to the table as some of the players we're currently drooling over in the first round.

At DE, our first round targets likely include Solomon Thomas (my #3 overall player) and Derek Barnett (my #9.)  DE is kind of a sticky spot this year, as we could really use another starting caliber guy to add to our rotation, but there is a big dropoff after the first 5 or so players in the first round. Lots of people like known later-round guys like Tanoh Kpassagnon, but here are a couple guys I have my eyes on.

Trey Hendrickson pretty much showed up at both the Shrine Game and the Combine. His stock is probably going to be higher than most people think. He might even be a second or third rounder on some teams' boards, and I could see him taken in the third. He's comparable to Barnett, without the pass rush flashiness shown, but with the capability of generating it.
 

 

Another DE I am watching is Keionta Davis, from Chatanooga. He has all the tools to be a great 4-3 DE, much like Solomon Thomas does. But Davis is way more raw and unrefined. If you watch Davis' tape vs. Alabama (Cam Robinson) and Thomas' tape vs. UNC, you can see some eerie similarities. Davis is another late rounder, most likely going in the 5th. Some teams would take him earlier, though.
 

To round out the DL prospects people have us taking at #8, we have Jonathan Allen. Once thought to be in play for #1 or #2 overall (may still be,) he's already experienced a projected fall in most prognosticators' eyes. A late round guy I like with a similar frame and flexibility I like is Isaac Rochell, from Notre Dame. He's a rotational guy who can play any spot on the front four, which is something I think teams like the Panthers will covet. He's raw and needs some time, but he could be a gem as well. I think he's creeping up some boards because teams see the tools and the potential there.
 

My favorite player in the draft this year is Jamal Adams. I don't really think that the Panthers will have a chance to get him, so I have tried not to get too hyped. There is also a lot of talent at Safety in this year's draft, so I expect us to devalue the ones behind Adams a bit anyways. I've sung it here a bunch already, and most sites are still clueless, but the closest player to Jamal Adams in this draft, in my book, is Donald Payne from Stetson. Adams is more an all-over-the field roaming safety that is strong in run support. Payne is more of the same with a little more lean towards outside rusher than inside-the-box, although I believe the ability is there. Payne is a tackling monster, and had over 500 of them in four years. If he gets his hands on you, you're probably going down. At this point, he's probably a 7th rounder or UDFA due to sheer non-media coverage and depth of bigger school guys in front of him, but he is a guy I want on my football team.
 

Also in the defensive backfield, I think Marlon Humphrey is a guy I and a few others here respect more than the mainstream media. He's up there in the discussion with the best CBs in this draft. I've seen some drafts mock him to us at #8. I doubt it happens with us triple dipping the position last draft, but we could get a comparable DB in the later rounds. Here's another guy I have sung the praises of in the past. John Johnson out of Boston College is more of a CB in my eyes than a Safety, but I'd like to bring him in to possibly play either. He has pretty good coverage skills, and is a great tackler and in run support. IIRC he played both positions at BC and did well. Mechanics wise, he reminds me a bit of Josh Norman. He's very athletic, and has a lot of potential. He could come off the board as early as round 4.
 

 

OJ Howard has been one of the main hype-trains in these parts, and rightfully so. He has great size and speed, and everything you ask for in the perfect TE in our offense. A guy I think has a similar skillset that is being overlooked by some is Jeremy Sprinkle. He has the size and the hands and, almost as importantly, the blocking skills. He's a little slower than Howard, but Sprinkle would be almost as good in our offense. He might slide to the 4th or 5th due to the talent ahead of him, so he could be a steal if we got him even later.
 

Now, to the position everyone has been waiting for... RB! Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey have arguably been the talk of the town for Carolina in the first round. Both backs bring different tools to the table, but I think both will have success in the NFL. Fournette is the more punishing, all around back while McCaffrey is more of an athletic hybrid that is a threat to catch out of the slot or backfield or rip off a long run when nobody's expecting it. I've touted both the following guys before, but I think folks are still sleeping on them. Both could go anywhere from rounds 3-7, and I would love for us to have either (or both!) if we miss out on one of our top choices. Brian Hill is more the all around-punishing/cutting back (I think he cuts better than Fournette but lacks some of the power) and Logan is more of a RB than McCaffrey's WR.

:36 seconds into this one and you've got a Fournette-clone run over

 

Logan is a little smaller than McCaffrey, but offers similar agility and elusiveness, and good hands out of the backfield.
 

So... There you have it. Even if we miss out on your personal favorite round one target, take comfort in knowing that there are other options out there later in the draft. While they may not offer the notoriety or star power that the big name guys do, there are guys out there that will be good football players in the NFL.

[chknwing]

dafuq is with leading off with a cock tease.

[Bronn]

3 minutes ago, chknwing said:

dafuq is with leading off with a cock tease.

Hey... There's a remote chance we could make a move like that to land two of the guys on everyone's list.

I really don't think we're that desperate, though, which makes knowing some of the later round guys even better.

[stan786]

Sprinkle is the one who got caught shoplifting at Belk in Charlotte right? Big fan of him, wonder if that does anything to knock him out of contention for us though.

[LinvilleGorge]

It's a Gettleman draft. It's almost guaranteed that we're drafting guy at some point - likely earlier than any of us think - that makes 99% of us go

 

[top dawg]

13 minutes ago, stan786 said:

Sprinkle is the one who got caught shoplifting at Belk in Charlotte right? Big fan of him, wonder if that does anything to knock him out of contention for us though.

I doubt it. Cam had the laptop thing...

[imminent rogaine]

Good post. The Stetson safety kind of reminds me a little bit of Harper. Putting up tackle numbers like that is impressive. That dude can shed a block for sure.

I see the Norman similarities with the BC guy; especially when he is laying out to break up a pass.

 

[stan786]

4 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I doubt it. Cam had the laptop thing...

Yeah Cam's just happened a few years before, Sprinkle did it in Charlotte less than 6 months ago on a trip he was already given a substantial gift card for.  Not that it really makes a big difference in the scheme of things but recency bias could be an issue.

[Catufb85]

great write up.  I like the DE Hendrickson and either of the running backs you listed.  The TE Sprinkle is in question for me with his stunt at the Belk Bowl (stealing situation).  Really like the Safety from Boston College in the later rounds like you mentioned. 

overall good job.

[therealmjl]

1 minute ago, 15 said:

jesus christ. Cam bought a laptop off of some dude and later found it was stolen, then tried to hide it like 99% of most 18 year olds would do. 

when will some of you let that go?

Remember half of this inbred fanbase wish cam were a little how do I say this- whiter

[top dawg]

2 minutes ago, 15 said:

jesus christ. Cam bought a laptop off of some dude and later found it was stolen, then tried to hide it like 99% of most 18 year olds would do. 

when will some of you let that go?

Gee whiz, man. I was just bringing it up as a point of reference in an attempt to answer a question. No need to go uber homer.

[dcpanther89]

Why are you guys so worried about specific players in no draft in recent memory outside of the one we drafted cam and pep it's been random or no where near what we expected ei star and shaq but kelvin was the only one that had been mocked to us multiple times so I say sit back be patient and trust the process


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[heel31ok]

1 minute ago, dcpanther89 said:

Why are you guys so worried about specific players in no draft in recent memory outside of the one we drafted cam and pep it's been random or no where near what we expected ei star and shaq but kelvin was the only one that had been mocked to us multiple times so I say sit back be patient and trust the process


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

that's not very reassuring...I think the point is this is a deep draft with some talent through all rds...

[heel31ok]

3 minutes ago, 15 said:

you're trying to compare shoplifting to buying a stolen laptop without knowledge of it being stolen and then trying to cover it up.

 

I'm pretty sure you were also one of the guys trying to justify what Joe Mixon did. that's all that needs to be said to show where your heads at. 

i bet you he was speeding too!