Evan Silva's 7-round Panthers mock draft extravaganza

[TheSpecialJuan]

Panthers Team Need No. 1: Offensive Line

 

Silva’s Analysis

 

33-year-old C Ryan Kalil’s body has broken down, and he intends to retire after the season. Vikings castoff Jeremiah Sirles is not an adequate starting left guard. LT Matt Kalil was a predictable flop free-agent signing by ex-GM Dave Gettleman. RT Daryl Williams is in a contract year.

 

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Panthers Team Need No. 2: Pass Catcher

 

Silva’s Analysis

 

There are indications this could be 33-year-old TE Greg Olsen’s final NFL season. Top WR Devin Funchess is in a contract year. Torrey Smith is not a solution to Carolina’s deep-threat void, and Curtis Samuel can’t be counted on after last year’s devastating leg injury.

 

Panthers Team Need No. 3: Secondary

 

Silva’s Analysis

 

Running back qualifies as a lower-value need after Christian McCaffrey looked more like a space player/slot receiver than foundation back as a rookie. Secondary is a higher-value and more pressing need with mediocrity at virtually every position on Carolina’s back end. Top CB James Bradberry took a step back as a sophomore. FS Mike Adamsturned 37 in March.

 

 

Norris’ Mock Draft

 

Round 1 (24): WR D.J. Moore, Maryland - If the Panthers want Moore, they’ll have to select him in the first round (barring a trade back). He would (potentially) add a new dimension to the offense, explosion with the ball in his hands and true playmaking ability on the outside and inside. I could totally see corner or safety at this pick as well, but at some point, the Panthers must invest in more talent around Cam Newton, specifically at receiver.

Round 2 (55): S Jessie Bates, Wake Forest - It might be a stretch to think Bates would be available this late, but even recent years have seen a run on safeties take place in round two. Bates can handle a variety of alignments and might be a piece for the Panthers to build around in their secondary.

Round 3 (85): G Braden Smith, Auburn - The Panthers reportedly brought Smith in on a visit. He’s an outstanding athlete inside, exploding into his blocks or when getting to the second level. If the Panthers miss out on Frank Ragnow, Smith could be the target on day two.

Round 3 (88): EDGE Chad Thomas, Miami - At EDGE, the Panthers need something beyond band aids. Maybe that’s Daeshon Hall, but that can’t be relied upon entering the 2018 season. Thomas has plenty of size to play on the outside and is still developing his counters if his initial move is stopped.

Round 5 (161): CB Quenton Meeks, Stanford - It’s clear the Panthers like corners who aren’t afraid to come up and tackle, even on the edge. That is definitely Meeks. It does not appear their length “threshold” has carried over with Marty Hurney as GM.

Round 6 (197): TE Andrew Vollert, Weber State - The Panthers have some real questions beyond 2018, including replacements for Ryan Kalil and potentially Greg Olsen. Vollert is more of a move/receiving tight end, but his athleticism and production are great.

Round 7 (234): RB Jordan Wilkins, Ole Miss - I would love for the pick to be John Kelly here, and although some evaluators label him with an UDFA tag, I think he’s off the board. Enter Wilkins who fits the “hammer” role the team is apparently looking for.

Round 7 (242): QB Logan Woodside, Toledo - The Panthers still don’t have a real backup quarterback on their roster.

[TheSpecialJuan]

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/79357/71/nfl-draft-needs-panthers

[TheSpecialJuan]

UPDATE: The mock draft is actually by our boy Josh Norris

[4Corners]

Yikes

[PantherBrew]

Sign me up.

[La Pantera]

I like Moore, but idk if he's my first option at 24. I like Bates in the 3rd or beyond. With that said, what an fugly looking draft.

[Lemory]

I dont see any problems with this draft. We get Cam a legit WR in Moore, Jessie Bates is an instant starter at S, Smith is a great value at G in the 3rd and so is Thomas. Not sure about rounds 6-7 but you're usually hard pressed to find contributors in those rounds. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Best mock yet

[electro's horse]

wake forest DB good god no

[XClown1986]

I don't understand the hype over Bates. I really don't. He is a shoddy tackler and isn't reliable against the run. I see a 4th round guy that's no better than Tre Boston honestly. Maybe it's just me...

[The Lobo]

56 minutes ago, La Pantera said:

I like Moore, but idk if he's my first option at 24. I like Bates in the 3rd or beyond. With that said, what an fugly looking draft.

That’s my stance on Moore as well. Plus, isn’t he more a slot wr, which he have more than enough with CMC in the mix. I know he played more outside this last year, but I’ve heard numerous talking heads say he’d be a lot. I like him, I just don’t know if he’s be the right pick at 24. If he is, then welcome. I really like Reid but many don’t view him as being worthy of 24 either. 

[FuFuLamePoo]

I'm iffy on Moore, I'd give that pick like a B-. The picks following that would be amazing though.

[MHS831]

Ok everyone, I agree with many of you, but by now we have fallen in love with players and are not thinking objectively.  That is where I come in, because thinking has never been something that holds me back.

Here is how I see the needs by position:

WR: First or second round ONLY.  After 2 rounds, we have mediocre.  we need a game changer.  Moore is our next steve Smith, if you ask me.  Why people would not like him is a mystery.  If he is there at 24, take him.  Look at his stats at Maryland.  Maryland had no QBs and they are Maryland.

CB: Rounds One-three.  Yes, we need a CB, but decent CBs will be there in the third round.  We need someone to compete with Bradberry and Cockrell.  After round 3, not likely.

S: Third round or later.  Because I expect we will focus on offense early in this draft, I am not sure a S in the second is a ton better than one in the third.  I like some of the late Safeties--we have a year behind Adams and Searcy is OK.  We need depth to develop for starting roles next year.  Sure, a S before the third is ideal, but so is TE, OL, CB, and WR--we have 2 veterans---not happy about it.

TE: Second round through fifth round:  I do not see an early TE with Olsen back and healthy, unless Hurst falls to the second round.  If we miss a TE on days 1 and 2, I trade up if I can to grab Dalton Shultz from Stanford  in the fifth if he is there.

OL:  Second through seventh:  Ragnow in the second round makes sense.  I do not know why nobody is acknowledging the liklihood of Moton at LG, but even if that happens, we need depth at LG and a future center.  Let's say, heaven forbid, Kalil gets a bone spur at LT and needs a few weeks off.  If Moton is at LG, we move him to LT and move Ragnow to LG.  Of course, if Ragnow and Price are not there in round 2, we will pick up another inside G/C in the third.

Here are the windows:

WR.....1.....2

CB.....1.....2.....3

S.......1.....2......3.......5

TE............2......3......5......6......7

OG/C.......2......3

DE............2......3

QB....................3......5.......6......7

RB............................5.......6.......7

So, here is what I would do, if positions and not players were the focus:

1. WR

2. CB or OC/G

3. OC/G or CB, DE

5. S  (This bothers me, but we have 2 veterans at S and some decent depth at S in draft)

6. TE

7. RB, OT

 

[Black&BlueBubba]

I would take that draft.  But I would like to switch up our 6th for TE Will Dissly. If we are gonna wait that long, Dissly is probably one of the best blocking TE’s in the draft.  He won’t light it up in the passing game but he is serviceable. And for running back like I have said before give me Darrel Williams from LSU for short yardage/ goal line help.