Interesting Mock Draft via NFL.COM

[MountaineerChemist10]

This article was released yesterday morning so someone may have already posted this but meh, why not?

www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000925097/article/fiveround-mock-draft-saints-trade-up-for-baker-mayfield

Five-Round Mock Draft for the Panthers by Chad Reuter:

1. 18) Calvin Ridley - WR, 'Bama (traded our 1st [#24] & 3rd [#85] with the Seahawks for their 1st)
2. 55) Mike Gesicki - TE, Penn State
3. 88) Alex Cappa - OG, Humboldt State
4. 161) John Franklin-Myers - DE, Stephen F. Austin

Overall, I approve. Hurney has said he wants to go with the BPA approach and not so "we need this position filled". I doubt Gesicki will be available that late in the 2nd but he'd i'd take him.

The 'Hawks draft Shaquem Griffin, UCF, with the pick we trade to them. Go figure.

[1989]

I may be in the minority but I think we’re actually set at WR-people thought our 2015 WRs were trash and we went to the Super Bowl. I see a lot of similarities with this group. We need secondary help.

[BrianS]

That's not a fourth round pick, it's our fourth pick.  Notice that the overall player taken  number is 161?  That's a fifth round pick.

[Shocker]

Trading up for WR seems strange.  

[DeSim]

If we get a decent DB, OG, Calvin Ridley or DJ Moore in the 1st round, and Mike Gesicki with our CURRENT 2nd round pick, this draft is a success. 

[Dhagans06]

If we are going to continue to have a mediocre WR corps then we will need to have an ezekiel elliot esq type running back

[RumHam]

Ridley will be there at 24 and i'm very open to that. But if we go in with this secondary group, we are definitely looking at 6-10 territory.

[section543]

2 hours ago, Shocker said:

Trading up for WR seems strange.  

especially with this crop...

[Black&BlueBubba]

Hell no.  We have too many needs.  Trade down if anything.  

[MHS831]

On 4/6/2018 at 9:54 AM, 1989 said:

I may be in the minority but I think we’re actually set at WR-people thought our 2015 WRs were trash and we went to the Super Bowl. I see a lot of similarities with this group. We need secondary help.

WR: I will add to this--There are 2 WRs in this draft that make us immediately better, maybe, but our roster is comprised of guys who were misused or underappreciated a bit.  Smith?  He will do more for us when he is not the target than when he is.   Wright?  Who did we have to work underneath last year?  Samuel coming back healthy could be huge.  We upgraded at WR and we were 11-5 last year, but we had Benjamin for much of the season.  Still, we are better.

CB:  Bradberry was good as a rookie, but he went from being protected (because he was a rookie from a small school having to cover #1 NFL WRs) to being exposed by his own blitz-happy DC.  Bradberry is a solid Zone CB, so if we do not try to make him something he is not, we are fine.  Cockrell is an upgrade over Worley--he played excellent ball last year.  We get Corn Elder back from injury--I expect good things from him.  Seymour was also asked to cover man a lot--he is like 23.  And finally, Gunter is also young.   These guys simply needed time, not replacing.  Just watch--we are find at CB.

So what are our actual needs? 

Safety:  Adams will be 83 in the fall, and Searcy is not that good.  We need a SS and a FS, in my opinion, even though I hear they like Cox as a reserve FS.  Still, 2 average to below average FS is not good.   Ideally, we draft a starting FS and let Searcy and father time battle it out for SS duties.

Tight End:  Realistically, this is our biggest need.  Olsen is 33, contemplating a broadcasting career, and is coming off an injury-prone season.  Man-Hertz is not Enterprise-he does not pick you up.  TE is a big part of the offense--Cam cannot succeed without a good one--or two. 

Offensive Line:  We need a G, unless Moton plays G, then we need a T; unless Moton is the backup T and Silatolu/Sirles take over at G. Regardless, OL is a problem we will have in 2019 that you fix now.  Is Marty looking past the 2018 season?  I doubt it.  I do not trust Ryan Kalil's neck and I am upset that Marty II did not cut that huge salary.  While I think Moton is an excellent choice for LG, I think we need to look at LOT and C now.

Running back:  Personally, I think CAP would be a fine power back with CMC getting most snaps.  He averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year, compared to Stew's 3.4.  However, there are a bunch of quality backs coming out this year, and if you do not think CAP is the answer, NOW is the time to grab one--around round 3.  I predict that we keep CAP as the power back and find a third option as a RB--Like NC State's Samuel, who can shift to TE, play Hback, WR, and even throw passes.  Or there is Ito Smith, the shifty waterbug nobody can touch.

Defensive End:  They take time to develop.  Frankly, we are expecting Hall to do too much this year.  I think all of our DEs (except the unknown Hall) are situational.  That is fine, but you probably need five if that is the case.  Do not be surprised to see another one added.  By the way, I think Cox Jr. could surprise this season.  Heard it here first.

What I would like to see:

Rounds 1-3:  S, TE, DE, RB

Rounds 5-7: OC, OT, QB, OG

[ncfan]

Also has Justin Reid falling to 42. 

Our comp 3rd pick is worth 150 points on the draft pick value scale.  Which is enough to move up from our 2nd round pick at 55 up to #40

https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

[ecu88]

38 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

WR: I will add to this--There are 2 WRs in this draft that make us immediately better, maybe, but our roster is comprised of guys who were misused or underappreciated a bit.  Smith?  He will do more for us when he is not the target than when he is.   Wright?  Who did we have to work underneath last year?  Samuel coming back healthy could be huge.  We upgraded at WR and we were 11-5 last year, but we had Benjamin for much of the season.  Still, we are better.

CB:  Bradberry was good as a rookie, but he went from being protected (because he was a rookie from a small school having to cover #1 NFL WRs) to being exposed by his own blitz-happy DC.  Bradberry is a solid Zone CB, so if we do not try to make him something he is not, we are fine.  Cockrell is an upgrade over Worley--he played excellent ball last year.  We get Corn Elder back from injury--I expect good things from him.  Seymour was also asked to cover man a lot--he is like 23.  And finally, Gunter is also young.   These guys simply needed time, not replacing.  Just watch--we are find at CB.

So what are our actual needs? 

Safety:  Adams will be 83 in the fall, and Searcy is not that good.  We need a SS and a FS, in my opinion, even though I hear they like Cox as a reserve FS.  Still, 2 average to below average FS is not good.   Ideally, we draft a starting FS and let Searcy and father time battle it out for SS duties.

Tight End:  Realistically, this is our biggest need.  Olsen is 33, contemplating a broadcasting career, and is coming off an injury-prone season.  Man-Hertz is not Enterprise-he does not pick you up.  TE is a big part of the offense--Cam cannot succeed without a good one--or two. 

Offensive Line:  We need a G, unless Moton plays G, then we need a T; unless Moton is the backup T and Silatolu/Sirles take over at G. Regardless, OL is a problem we will have in 2019 that you fix now.  Is Marty looking past the 2018 season?  I doubt it.  I do not trust Ryan Kalil's neck and I am upset that Marty II did not cut that huge salary.  While I think Moton is an excellent choice for LG, I think we need to look at LOT and C now.

Running back:  Personally, I think CAP would be a fine power back with CMC getting most snaps.  He averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year, compared to Stew's 3.4.  However, there are a bunch of quality backs coming out this year, and if you do not think CAP is the answer, NOW is the time to grab one--around round 3.  I predict that we keep CAP as the power back and find a third option as a RB--Like NC State's Samuel, who can shift to TE, play Hback, WR, and even throw passes.  Or there is Ito Smith, the shifty waterbug nobody can touch.

Defensive End:  They take time to develop.  Frankly, we are expecting Hall to do too much this year.  I think all of our DEs (except the unknown Hall) are situational.  That is fine, but you probably need five if that is the case.  Do not be surprised to see another one added.  By the way, I think Cox Jr. could surprise this season.  Heard it here first.

What I would like to see:

Rounds 1-3:  S, TE, DE, RB

Rounds 5-7: OC, OT, QB, OG

I am ready to see how Obada progressed. Dude has some serious bend, burst and speed for a greenie. I can see him take off like Addison.

http://cowboysnation.com/2015/06/efe-obada.html

Those measurables and his performance in the time he had in preseason screams future situational pass rusher (kinda like Addison).

[ecu88]

1 minute ago, ncfan said:

Also has Justin Reid falling to 42. 

Our comp 3rd pick is worth 150 points on the draft pick value scale.  Which is enough to move up from our 2nd round pick at 55 up to #40

https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

Hurst in the first (I know many frown at his age but he is a ready now TE which is rare plus Norv would be running 2 TE sets for offense instead of just Shula block schemes; plus, cheap future extension/5th yr pick up).

Trade the second 3rd rd pick with our 2nd to move up for Reid.

Draft Penny in the 3rd and we have an awesome 1st 3 rds 

[ncfan]

18 minutes ago, ecu88 said:

Hurst in the first (I know many frown at his age but he is a ready now TE which is rare plus Norv would be running 2 TE sets for offense instead of just Shula block schemes; plus, cheap future extension/5th yr pick up).

Trade the second 3rd rd pick with our 2nd to move up for Reid.

Draft Penny in the 3rd and we have an awesome 1st 3 rds 

Id love that scenario with Hurst Or Goedert 

 

But if Ridley falls itd just be to hard to pass up