Rashaan Gaulden and the future at Safety

[WarPanthers89]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.derp/platform/amp/2018/5/8/17329384/carolina-panthers-2018-nfl-draft-review-rashaan-gaulden

Let’s all assume we re sign Reid to play SS for the next three years. How do you all feel about Gaulden? He was a promising project coming out of college, who was out third round pick last year. We all know how Rivera loves his vets and refused to bench Adams no matter how bad he has been, in favor of a rookie. He has shown through his twitter post that he is anxious for an opportunity to start on the team. How do you all feel he will do next year in his second year after being redshirted this year? Will he be the future or just 3 more years of depth for the safety position? 

 

 

[GoPanthers123]

If Adams is not coming back next year,  Gaulden can take his place or continue to be a back up.   With him more evaluation is needed and he should start against the Saints.

[LinvilleGorge]

He was a very good college player who didn't have the measurables to translate to the NFL. And we drafted him in the 3rd round. At least we got Moore and Jackson in the 1st and 2nd then got Thomas in the 4th. That was a baffling 3rd round pick though.

[KSpan]

Not what the team needs at FS.

[TheSpecialJuan]

4 minutes ago, bull123 said:

Gaulden was awful when he did play

Probably why my boi Ron Riviera wont play him over Mike Adams. 

[therealmjl]

He looked horrific during the preseason 

[MillionDollarCam]

This is the one pick I was not happy about.

We drafted a player who played nickel for most of his career to play safety in the NFL because he ran a 4.6 40 yard dash.

He was dominant against the pass at Tennessee in his final year allowing the fourth lowest passer rating among CB’s in the SEC.

Give the guy a shot at being the CB3 behind Bradberry and Jackson, if it doesn’t pan out then just let him go... no sense in trotting him out in a position he doesn’t know how to play.

[ForJimmy]

While I still think he can be ok at FS, I never understood why they didn’t try him at nickel this year. It’s what he played in college and was our biggest weakness with Captain in the game...

[Yaboychris28]

Bust

[Ernesto McGillicuddy]

What was promising about Gaulden? The fact that he was drafted in the third round?

[Darvinsun]

Why not try him at Nickel, CAPT should be gone and Corn is not working let them compete.

[thennek]

The ironic part about Gaulden is he was drafted in the 3rd because Brady Hoke recommended him. 

And Brady Hoke was fired a few weeks ago. I’m not suggesting he was fired due to the Gaulden, but just that he was the big reason why this kid was drafted which was a questionable pick....and he is not even with the team any longer. 

[WarPanthers89]

I’m surprised so many are bashing the kid. How can everyone write him off as a bust if he hasn’t played all year? We gave Butler at least two years to see, and he was a first round draft pick who actually played during the season. I remember Gaulden was bad in preseason but did get praise from coaches and players that he was really picking up things and coming into his own. He could come back next year and surprise people. I definitely do not think he will be moved from safety.

[MillionDollarCam]

1 hour ago, WarPanthers89 said:

I’m surprised so many are bashing the kid. How can everyone write him off as a bust if he hasn’t played all year? We gave Butler at least two years to see, and he was a first round draft pick who actually played during the season. I remember Gaulden was bad in preseason but did get praise from coaches and players that he was really picking up things and coming into his own. He could come back next year and surprise people. I definitely do not think he will be moved from safety.

Sure he’s played in a limited capacity (113 defensive snaps), but it’s not about the quantity of his snaps it’s about the quality and he’s been downright horrible every time he’s seen the field. Heck, he was bad enough that the Panthers went out and signed Reid.

It’s not Gaulden’s fault... he’s played off cover nickel for most of his career and our coaching staff thought they could fit a square peg in a round hole, but for every Thomas Davis there are multiple players who fail at position switches.

He was tried at strong safety but he wasn’t known for his run stopping skills at Tennessee, it was his pass defense that made him a great player. With that said, why is he playing a hybrid linebacker position?

Now we could also try him at free safety but once again, he’s been a nickel most of his career focusing just on one type of receiver. Now you want him to sit back and be the last line of defense and figure out who he needs to cover, that’s not setting Gaulden up for success.

It’s not like we are even trying to take an elite corner and turn him into a safety, we are trying to take a nickel and make him a safety.

As for Butler, look at his contract and you will understand why he is still here. He would have cost us $5M to cut last year and $2M to cut this year. Butler is only here because of his contract. Gaulden can be cut and it actually saves money.