How do you grade the 2017 draft?

[truthjuice]

3 minutes ago, juliosantos said:

ross?

I included everybody but being technical...with who we drafted, I think we did okay. Still. Is that better?

[LinvilleGorge]

Ask me in a few years. Hardly a pick was made that would've been THE guy I wanted there, but let's be honest, that's almost always the case. I am excited to see what the offense will look like with these new weapons.

[uncfan888]

2 hours ago, Chardee MacDennis said:

Initial reaction: B+

Why? While I love McCaffrey and evolution, and the positionless draft we had, I feel like the strategy every year is not BPA. Rather, DG finds his fav targets, and falls in love with them, and then grades them higher than anyone else. That way when he reaches on every single pick, he can say "We got the guy highest on our board". Well, when you are the only one who rates the kid that high, of course he's still available at your pick. This way, DG is never disappointed with his draft picks. While others are left scratching their heads at why we picked these guys so high, or even traded up for them.

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Lol

[Moorgan]

3 hours ago, KB_fan said:

The level of enthusiasm I'm seeing is indeed really surprising.  

I think there's just general shock still that so much of what many of us desperately HOPED would happen (offensive weapons & playmakers, O line help, a high-ceiling young DE, better CB depth, and yes, even a kicker!) actually happened.

I think Gettleman has been listening a lot...

• To his coaches
• To Big Cat Mr Richardson
• and, perhaps, even to fans....

He is no fool and he saw the lack of enthusiasm the team generated last year.  Not only because of the record, but just the stagnant play of offense.  The team seemed so stale.  Fan interest dropped amazingly sharply following the Super Bowl loss. 

One way to help fire up the team is to have the fans fired up.   How to help fire up the fans?  Dynamic playmakers on offense, and it doesn't hurt to bring back a HoF Panther legend like Peppers, and another team alum in Captain, either.

Last year most of us (myself included) were overconfident & complacent, just assumed the team would be pretty good... predicted silly win totals (I think my final prediction was 12-4 or 13-3).  The excitement going into the season was all based on what we'd done the prior year.

This year the excitement is about wanting to see THIS SEASON, these players.  It's a very different feeling.

Also, the approval of the draft here isn't merely a rote "In Gettleman I trust,"  I guess these players will be good,, kind of sentiment.  It really seems much more based on liking THESE players, not just merely believing that DG knows what he's doing and got some good guys.

I'm SO bummed that I won't be in the States at all the entire season - and not even training camp!   I'll be in Charlotte all of June & July, but then it's back to Africa for another 18 months without a break, at least, that's the current plan.

Though, how's this.  If the Panthers make the Super Bowl, come hell or high water, I'll find a way to fly to the States and be there!

At some point, further down the road, when I've matured a bit...

...I may ask you to marry me. :)

 

Just kidding...I'm gonna ask Christian McCaffrey...I think he's the one. :)

[Shocker]

A - McCaffrey is an awesome pick and Samuel was the perfect slot pick we needed.  Samuel will get nothing but better.  Moton was a major need pick and we got a good one.  Honestly LOVE the Hall pick.  So much room to grow with him and he is pretty good now.  Corn looks tough, Armah too, and Gano getting comp works for me.  Great draft.

[Devin]

3 hours ago, KB_fan said:

This may be my favorite post-draft analysis of all the dozens I've read over the past few days!

A draft that confuses your own head coach so that he can't figure out how to defend against your own offense. 

Just love it!  

But yes. it was pretty fun to hear Ron talking in the post-draft presser about "As a defensive coordinator, what am I gonna do if...."

It's clear he's very excited about the challenge our O can present to other defenses and all the different looks and mismatches to throw against opposing Defenses.   So cool.  When a defensive guy like Ron gets this excited about OFFENSE, it's a very good thing in my book!

You da real MVP

[Toker Smurf]

[Devin]

1 hour ago, MountaineerChemist10 said:

A-, simply b/c I would've preferred anyone else than a kicker at 7th round. Overall, very good draft. I'm excited.

I think DG went K in round 7 because it's really one of the only positions that has a reasonable chance to make the roster.   Drafting any other position here just means that you're cutting this guy when the final 53 is set 

[Bronn]

8. Christian McCaffrey - Ranking on my board (10) - I'm happy with this pick. CMC was the only top tier offensive player left on the board, and just slightly behind OJ Howard in my eyes. We have a stud TE already and I think we like Manhertz a lot more than is currently known. We needed help in the quick/short passing game due to our lack of strength in pass protection. McCaffrey gives us immediate explosiveness and potential breathing room because he'll always be a threat when he is on the field, and will thus demand an extra set of eyes (meaning one less potential rusher vs. strong pass rushing teams.)

Grade: 98 - A+

40. Curtis Samuel - Ranking on my board (94) - This one was a bit of a reach for me, but hindsight allows me to view it for what it was. This is another weapon, more on the WR/slot side than McCaffrey, that will demand acknowledgement from defenders. We'll use him to open up the middle of the field, and dampen some pressure from the middle and outside rush. He's more of a Ted Ginn replacement than McCaffrey, but I believe we might have been able to get him later on in the second (I could be wrong, though.) He should be able to stretch the field, but also help out in slants and drags. Both he and CMC should offer a lot of flexibility in our gimmick play game.

I really liked Zach Cunningham at this pick, but the signing of Ben Boulware eases my fears about LB depth/health/age.

Grade: 90 - B

64: Taylor Moton - Ranking on my board (54) - I really like this pick. Not only did we get good value in my eyes at this spot, but we got a guy that offers flexibility and depth, as well as being a potential starter at RT or LG. Moton is pretty strong in the hand game, and physically bullying opposing lineman, and he does very well and keeping his guy out of the pocket or from being a threat.

Grade: 94 - A

77: Daeshon Hall - Ranking on my board (73) - This is another pick I love. I targeted Hall for the Panthers way back in my offseason primer thread in December, and he was my first guy in the "2nd round and beyond" section.

So yeah, I have been high on the kid for a while. Moving up to get him was a smart move. He has a natural ability and frame, and if we can bulk him up and teach him a few new tricks and things to look for, and he can retain it all, he could be the second coming of a Greg Hardy type talent, hopefully without the crazy character and off-field antics. Hall strikes me more of a Pep type temperament, where he is a little on the quiet/shy side but wants to be a beast on the field. Garrett had more natural/freakish ability, but Hall had way more motor/every down give.

Grade: 97 - A+

152: Corn Elder - Ranking on my board (89) - I couldn't believe he was still on the board at this point, and was so happy we took him. I was away from the TV all day Saturday, so I was constantly checking my phone for updates. When I saw Corn's name pop up, I couldn't help but smile. He is a perfect fit for what we do. He's got all the tools you want in a zone corner, and he loves to hit guys. He has good recovery skills, reads the QBs eyes well, delivers punishment when someone enters his zone, and he has the versatility and athleticism to contribute on special teams. By far, at this point, this appears to be the pick in which we got the most value. We basically got him two rounds after I thought he could go.

Grade: 100 - A+

192: Alex Armah - Ranking on my board (NR) - To be fair, my board only went to 152. I'm a scout hobbyist, and don't have time to look at guys like this that aren't on the somewhat mainstream radar. Post-pick, though, I love the kid. All indicators are that we are going to plug him into the FB spot, but I still see more OLB in him. Either way, he has the athleticism you want in a good football player. I have to wonder, though, if he could have been there later or via UDFA, but I won't question the organization. I would have loved to have a safety here (Donald Payne) but it is what it is. I didn't know much about him until Sunday, so I can't fairly give this pick too high of a grade. Other than the potential I see, the optimism about his athleticism, and trusting the Panthers front office, I don't have too much to go on.

Grade: 84 - C+

233: Harrison Butker - Ranking on my board (NR) - Like Armah, I didn't do any homework on this kid. First off, he's a kicker. Who cares about kickers? Apparently the Panthers do, and this would make me a little nervous if I were Graham Gano. Some had us parting ways with Gano because of his down year and his salary, and this tells me that it could still be a possibility. Butker looks solid from the limited stuff I have seen. But again... Who cares about kickers?

Grade: 80 - C

Average: 92 - B+

Depending on how Armah and Butker pan out, this could be one of our better drafts. I think we got studs at at least 4 picks.

(Of note, I'm old school and use a 7 point scale)

[grimesgoat]

I liked this draft very much.  Great value all around.  We picked 7 guys who could legitimately start in the future.

And congrats to the huddle, who managed to make it all the way to the 11th post before the usual 'Shula won't know what to do with this...' comment.

[Cpt slay a ho]

B-, damn near C+ if it wasn't for grabbing a cb in the 5th


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[uncfan888]

1 minute ago, Cpt slay a ho said:

B-, damn near C+ if it wasn't for grabbing a cb in the 5th


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Why didn't you like the draft? 

[Cpt slay a ho]

2 hours ago, uncfan888 said:

Why didn't you like the draft? 

Not sure if CmC was bpa at 8 with hooker and lattimore still on the board,Not sold on Samuel as a receiver yet, and passing on a Te in this deep draft was disappointing. I liked the draft don't get me wrong, I just need to see how these players will be used first offensively. Also i think we were dead set on drafting offense with the first 3 picks 

[DeeJay]

A-

99/100