Re-picking the drafts of the past 3 years... Who's still here, who is replaced? A Bye week reflection...

[Bronn]

So, we're all thinking of things to do to occupy us this week. Why not roll back the clock three years and see who could have been Panthers, and who wouldn't be if we had Nostradamus on our scouting team.

We all know hindsight is 50/50, so let's take a look at what could-have-been...

2018:
Rd1: DJ Moore
Status: -unknown-
We've yet to see Moore given a fair shot to contribute. Calvin Ridley is looking pretty good but, until we have more info, this pick is still hard to judge.

Rd2: Donte Jackson
Status: Epic Win
Solid starter, and already playing at a high level. You won't make a good argument for another player in his place here, as he filled a need and is already paying off.

Rd3: Rashaan Gaulden
Status: -unkown-
Much like the Moore pick, it is still too early to tell. One could argue a true safety prospect was still there in Ronnie Harrison, but I'll give Gaulden time.

Rd4: Ian Thomas
Status: Win
First pick in the round, and thrown into the fire early due to Greg's leg. He's done very well so far, and there isn't anyone who came off the board the rest of the round that I would have rather had here.

Rd4: Marquis Haynes
Status: -unknown-
Again, like Moore and Gaulden, we haven't seen enough yet to judge. Tre Flowers was still on the board, but not sure one could argue his merits against Haynes, especially considering our already young DB crew at this point in the draft.

Rd5: Jermaine Carter, Rd7: Andre Smith, Rd7: Kendrick Norton
Status: -unknown-
Ditto. We're pretty late in the draft at this point, and the guys drafted here haven't had much of an opportunity.

Recap: Two wins and a bunch of unknowns at this point.

2017:
Rd1: Christian McCaffrey
Status: Epic Win
He's our newest puzzle piece for the long haul. A threat in multiple phases of the game.

Rd2: Curtis Samuel
Status: Miss, so far
I know I'll get hate for this, but we haven't been able to rely on him. If he can't get on the field and make plays, we would have been better drafting Marcus Williams or Justin Evans here and having a good, young safety right now.

Rd2: Taylor Moton
Status: Win
Looks to be the answer at RT. Needs to keep it up.

Rd3: Daeshon Hall
Status: Bust
So many options here other than him that would have been better for us. I lobbied for John Johnson prior to this draft, and he's doing good things for the Rams secondary. Kareem Hunt could have made a killer duo for CMC. Same with James Conner. Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen, George Kittle, Jake Butt, Jamaal Williams, Josh Dobbs... all came off the board between Hall and our next pick...

Rd5: Corn Elder
Status: -unknown-
He seems to be getting more PT lately, and the injury his rookie season set him back a bit. I'll give him time before I judge.

Rd6: Alex Armah
Status: Imma call it an Epic Win
FB is a lost art. We got us a good one before it becomes a thing again. Extremely good value this late.

Rd7: Harrison Butker
Status: Bust
No value from this pick, really. Gano is solid, and KC profited from our wasted pick. There were a couple undrafted starting LBs out there, as well as Keelan Cole.

Recap: CMC + Armah + Moton - Hall - Butker and a split with Samuel and Elder, I'd say this draft was balanced with hit and miss. Emergence of Samuel and Elder could tip it to win status overall.

2016:

Rd1: Vernon Butler
Status: Bust
He's regressed, and somewhat disappeared. We could be singing the praises of Michael Thomas or Deion Jones, rather than have to play them twice each a year. Instead, we got Star Lotulelei insurance and the company dropped us when we filed the claim. This forced the signing of Poe this past offseason.

Rd2: James Bradberry
Status: Epic Win
He's low-key really good. I said he doesn't have swag, but he sure has skill. I would have still picked him here.

Rd3: Daryl Worley
Status: Bust
Big time miss imho. He did okay for a while and then just lost it all. Joe Thuney would have been a good pick here, as would have Austin Hooper.

Rd5: Zack Sanchez
Status: Bust
Jordan Howard, Alex Collins, Tyreek Hill.. Yeah, give me Sanchez...

RD7: Beau Sandland
Status: Bust
We should have found a way to keep him around, but meh. Hard to hit on a 7th rounder. Rob Kelley, Peyton Barber, and a few decent CBs went undrafted, though.

Recap: Whole lot of bust going on. Could be one of the worst Panthers drafts ever.



IN SUMMATION:

Still here:
All of the 2018 draft, CMC, Moton, Elder, Armah and Bradberry

Could have been:
Justin Evans, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson at Safety
Kareem Hunt, James Conner, Jamaal Williams, Jordan Howard, Alex Collins, or Tarik Cohen at RB
George Kittle, Jake Butt, or Austin Hooper at TE
Michael Thomas or Tyreek Hill at WR
Deion Jones at LB
Joe Thuney at G

As you can see, we've had opportunities to bring in some good safeties, TE backups, etc. in the past, but poor draft picks cost us those picks.

Now, I know every team misses out on guys, save the ones they draft. Obviously, players like Tyreek Hill would probably never be Panthers then or now.

But, I just thought it would be interesting to go back a few years and see what we could have right now. To be honest, I think we've done okay overall, but those hits and misses in April contribute to making and breaking teams in the long run.

 

[*FreeFua*]

Good post.

I wanted JuJu really bad in the 2nd last year and hated the fact we went with Samuel.

 

[TheCasillas]

Man, this bye week came too early.

Tarik Cohen is the same as CMC so pass. But CMC is better.

JuJu

[TheRumGone]

Moton is an epic win

[Bronn]

2 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

Man, this bye week came too early.

Tarik Cohen was undrafted and we got CMC so pass.

JuJu

Cohen was certainly drafted. In the fourth round, no less...

Yes, it was awesome to get CMC, but if we'd have gotten another guy I listed in addition, it would have been cool.

[Bronn]

Just now, TheRumGone said:

Moton is an epic win

Not sure if it was the staff holding him back or if the need brought out his emergence, but I think you'll be right sooner rather than later. I'm still calling it a win, but I hope it continues to be and permanently becomes epic.

[electro's horse]

hunter henry over vernon butler and you don't fuging look back

[*FreeFua*]

1 minute ago, TheRumGone said:

Moton is an epic win

During a time where it’s becoming extremely difficult to find a tackle (due to defensive ends becoming more and more freakishly athletic) it’s amazing this dude has been able to play both RT and LT this season and look more than good. 

I’d really like to see us stop jerking him around all over the place and let him settle in at a spot and own it.

[Bronn]

edited to make Bradberry an Epic Win instead of simply Hit. I just want him to swag out a bit more lol.

[TheRumGone]

1 minute ago, Bronn said:

Not sure if it was the staff holding him back or if the need brought out his emergence, but I think you'll be right sooner rather than later. I'm still calling it a win, but I hope it continues to be and permanently becomes epic.

For all the poo dg had gotten about tackles he more than likely drafted two franchises with Williams and Moton. 

This is an epic win mostly because there just aren’t many talented tackles coming up in the league anymore. Obviously Kalil was a massive mistake though. 

[hepcat]

3 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

During a time where it’s becoming extremely difficult to find a tackle (due to defensive ends becoming more and more freakishly athletic) it’s amazing this dude has been able to play both RT and LT this season and look more than good. 

I’d really like to see us stop jerking him around all over the place and let him settle in at a spot and own it.

Very unlikely Daryl Williams makes it back this season, I have a feeling he'll stay at RT as long as Clark looks semi serviceable at LT. I hope Matt Kalil never dons a Panthers jersey again.

[TheRumGone]

I think moton needs to be moved to LT next year IF we resign Williams. 

[*FreeFua*]

It would be interesting to see what Michael Thomas would be like on a different team/system. I wasn’t a fan of his in college so I would’ve completely overlooked him during the draft as well. I probably would’ve gone Derrick Henry

 

[ericr0319]

Our tackle situation becomes odd. Kalil I cannot see playing again unless Clark goes down, which means he is cut next year (lots of dead money). Then do we resign D.Williams to a one year prove it, put him at RT and Moton at LT. Or do we just move on from Williams completely, keep Moton at RT and find a new LT next year? WIll prob have to go cheap FA or through the draft until Kalil is off the books.