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Marty Hurney tried to trade up to get Greg Little as early as the No. 21 overall pick in the first round

TheSpecialJuan

By TheSpecialJuan,
in Carolina Panthers

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panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

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I surely hope that Little is as good as Hurney thinks. Sure could use the next Jordan Gross to anchor the left side after suffering through a turnstile of JAGs that were only serviceable due to Matso's skills as a coach. Gotta give him credit for swinging for the fences and finally trying to fix the O Line.  

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

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Dillard was there at 21...the Panthers knew Philly had a need.  If we tried to move up to 21, the Panthers were even going after Dillard or wanted Little and Philly took the other tackle.

Here is what I said three weeks ago: 

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Haters of the trade up---Lemme  explain as I did on another thread---Marty had no choice, to a degree, when Burns was available in the first.  The underlying concept is this:  We were NEEDS shopping--we HAD to have a starting LT in this draft. Where else are you getting one?  (Please, Moton fans--not now.  We have been over that many times--no signs that they like him at LT--even if you disagree)  Here is what we knew before the draft: 

Proven Left Tackles who can start as Rookies: (throw out Risner, Ford, McGary, Edwards, and Taylor--Right tackles, centers or guards by most opinions)

  • J. Williams (top 15 player--not an option)
  • A.  Dillard (first rounder--not an option)
  • T. Howard (third round grade; doubtful he is ready to start, but he was taken after Dillard was picked in the first round---not an option)
  • G. Little (roughly the 45th player overall)
  • Y. Cajuste (101st player taken at end of third round--after Pipkins was taken.  Ready to start?  probably not.  Taken at the end of the third round suggests he is not ready for starting duties)
  • Max Scharping and T. Pipkins are the only other LTs that were taken early--reaches. Neither are ready to start.  So if you scratch the players who went in the first round, and you eliminate the others without readiness to start, that leaves a very short list and not a need, a necessity.  Could we find another LT later--yes.  We did.  Want him starting? 

REAL TIME:  Marty is sitting there with three tackles on his list:  Greg Little, A. Dillard, and Alabama St.'s T Howard.  He had just picked Burns and was waiting to get that LT in the second.  Then Dillard goes at #22.  No worries, he was probably going soon anyway.  Then another Left Tackle is drafted at 23--Howard goes in the first round.   Marty panics, knowing that the tackle he wanted would not be falling into his lap.  Little, Howard, Evans, Cajusta, Dillard, McGary, Pipkins, Ford, and Taylor (first rounders in bold) had all been in for a private workout.  Undoubtedly, they were looking to see if RTs in college could make the switch.  They  did their homework.  Bobby Evans, for example had 3 contacts with the Panthers.  If they thought he had what it takes, they  probably do not trade up.  Same with Cajusta.  They saw the dropoff and knew they needed a starting LT--something I have been arguing on the Huddle about for months.  THE HAD TO  HAVE A STARTER AT LT, and Little was last on their list.

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Seltzer Mentor

Seltzer

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3 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

All hell would have broken loose on here if that would have happened. 

And rightfully so... Hurney 2.0 has been really good, but giving up a future 1st is almost always bad business, and Hurney certainly has had bad luck with doing so.

I'm glad he seems to have such conviction about Greg Little, and if he develops into a good LT giving up our first 3rd Round pick was certainly worth it.

But yeah it would have been an absolute s**tstorm

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Seltzer Mentor

Seltzer

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I will say this... if Burns develops into a starting OLB/DE and Little develops into the starting LT this would be one of the best drafts all-time by the Panthers given the importance of those 2 positions.

Other than drafting a franchise QB, those are 2 of the most important positions to find starting-caliber players, and finding elite-caliber players at those positions can help your team become a threat long-term.

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

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3 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

And rightfully so... Hurney 2.0 has been really good, but giving up a future 1st is almost always bad business, and Hurney certainly has had bad luck with doing so.

I'm glad he seems to have such conviction about Greg Little, and if he develops into a good LT giving up our first 3rd Round pick was certainly worth it.

But yeah it would have been an absolute s**tstorm

 

Just now, Seltzer said:

I will say this... if Burns develops into a starting OLB/DE and Little develops into the starting LT this would be one of the best drafts all-time by the Panthers given the importance of those 2 positions.

Other than drafting a franchise QB, those are 2 of the most important positions to find starting-caliber players, and finding elite-caliber players at those positions can help your team become a threat long-term.

I agree--not only did you land 2 starters, you landed 2 starters at very key positions.  In addition,  we picked up Christian Miller, who could become a solid rotational player--

. of course, if Grier becomes ready to play by year 2 or 3, we could either use  him or turn a comp third rounder into a first rounder in a trade.

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