What do you see going on in the draft next year?

[skarbar001]

That's an excuse that works until you consider the Colts and the Packers...both bottom feeders as far as pressure on the QB, yet they allow very little through the air on a consistent basis. The problem is our secondary consists of Gamble, a rookie roamer, a hard hitting safety that couldn't catch a cold, and the kind but feeble ken Lucas. If we want to win the Super Bowl, I trust at some point in the playoffs, we're going to give Dante Wesley a shot at Lucas' spot.

Don't be surprised if Ricky Manning Jr. makes a return to Carolina next year either

Ricky Manning Jr???? Are you talking out of your ass just for the fun of it or are you that much of a dumbass? Dante Wesley over Lucas and Marshall? Do I even need to explain how dumb ALL of this sounds? This is easily the worst post I've ever read on any forum.

[Fiz]

A fug Lion

[pantherclaw]

I can see us going DT, CB, and DE.

[Rock_Steady]

I can see us going DT, CB, and DE.

And QB. Not necessarily in that order.

[mountainpantherfan]

I actually like what we currently have at DE. I really don't think DE will be a concern in the offseason unless Peppers leaves for whatever reason.

DT and CB are the two postitions of need. I feel that DT is a bigger need but a case can be made for CB as well. The problem I see is that not only do we need a new starter at both positions but we also need some more solid depth at both positions as well.

This is our current roster at DT and CB/S

Kemoeatu - starter

Lewis - can be a starter but better suited as a rotation guy

Gibson - average backup

Hayden - below average backup

Walker - rotation guy, not good in a starter role

Gamble - starter

Lucas - starter but on the decline

Marshall - average NB, great on ST

Wesley - average backup, good on ST

Wilson - below average backup

Harris - starter but struggles in coverage

Godfrey - played above average as a starting rookie, still has lots of room for improvement

Salley - below average backup

Teal - average backup, average on ST

I think we can get by with one more year of Lucas starting at corner with an improved interior D-Line. Because he restructured last year, cutting him probably wouldn't save that much cap wise. Marshall has been a weakness in the secondary this season and that hurts a lot. Many thought he could be a starter and now it looks as though we might not even work as a NB.

Getting a starting DT would allow Lewis to excell in the rotation spot which he is more suited for. Don't forget that when the Panthers first signed him they paid him starter money at the time to be a backup behind Kemo and Jenkins. With the makeup of the line, paying him that kind of money is probably worth it. Then Gibson or Walker would be okay in the role of just a backup.

That leaves depth in the secondary. They need to get a CB in FA that can compete with Marshall for the NB position for the 09 season. Then you can use a 1st or 2nd in 2010 on a replacement for Lucas. FA would also be the best place to find some competition for safety across the board. I really like Harris but I don't think he is the type of player that I can say that his position is set. However, his leadership provides a lot that most 2nd teir FA won't provide...but you never know.

As for Godfrey, he has the makings of a really good safety but I don't want him thinking his job is safe. Much like Harris, that position isn't set IMO.

[Guenhwyvar]

Draft: DT, DT, DE, CB, FB, QB (diamond in the rough)

In that order.

[Edward Teach]

Draft: DT, DT, DE, CB, FB, QB (diamond in the rough)

In that order.

I would accept the first four picks going to the D...

[Huffgolf30]

draft the best corner back available in the 2nd round and cut ken lucas.

[rayzor]

I think we can make do with what we have in the secondary if the Dline is improved. If we get the line fixed and can score a future premier we will be set.

I very much see us doing to the defense what was done on offense this past offseason.

Go through and bring in a ton (literally and figuratively) of big DT FAs looking for a second chance and run them through the mill at the OTAs and TC and take the best from that crop and draft a good DE or just continue to develop what we have in charles johnson and come up with some schemes that we can use brayton in effectively (if we keep him around) as well as utilizing hilee taylors speed and talent we could be good. Plugging up that middle has to be paramount in the offseason....not just adding a piece or two but building depth as well at DT.

[1789Cardiac Cats9020]

Ricky Manning Jr???? Are you talking out of your ass just for the fun of it or are you that much of a dumbass? Dante Wesley over Lucas and Marshall? Do I even need to explain how dumb ALL of this sounds? This is easily the worst post I've ever read on any forum.

Would an idiot know what a good post is?

[TheJza]

Obviously this is impossible to answer not knowing how free agency will play out. I would suggest this though, without a crystal ball...

and not necessarily in this order.

* We need a receiver BADLY! Moose will be 36, and Smitty is approaching 30. As a receiver generally takes 3 years to develop...we need a good one, and a young one. (and NO D.J. Hackett doesn't count!)

* As I ranted early in this years draft...we need DT BADLY! The interior defensive line has outperformed anything I expected, and we are currently ranked 22nd in rush defense. That should tell you something!

* Two starting caliber offensive lineman...a guard and a tackle. My first pick in the first round would be one of the fantastic tackles coming out...oh nevermind. Maybe we can trade next years first rounder for a pick this year!!!!! This is shaping up to be another good year for offensive line prospects, wouldn't hurt to nab a couple. Gross may or may not be here, and we have a makeshift RG situation.

[Lt Pinkerton]

Obviously this is impossible to answer not knowing how free agency will play out. I would suggest this though, without a crystal ball...

and not necessarily in this order.

* We need a receiver BADLY! Moose will be 36, and Smitty is approaching 30. As a receiver generally takes 3 years to develop...we need a good one, and a young one. (and NO D.J. Hackett doesn't count!)

* As I ranted early in this years draft...we need DT BADLY! The interior defensive line has outperformed anything I expected, and we are currently ranked 22nd in rush defense. That should tell you something!

* Two starting caliber offensive lineman...a guard and a tackle. My first pick in the first round would be one of the fantastic tackles coming out...oh nevermind. Maybe we can trade next years first rounder for a pick this year!!!!! This is shaping up to be another good year for offensive line prospects, wouldn't hurt to nab a couple. Gross may or may not be here, and we have a makeshift RG situation.

Keydrick Vincent has been awesome at RG.

[zebrainz]

Captain Obvious disclaimer -> I think what was specifically exposed by Kemo's absence in the Giants game was the fact that we didn't have a viable backup for the 2 gap run stuffer tackle on the roster. We have plenty of 1 gap shooters (the lighter tackle). We tried to fix it by grabbing the biggest guy we could find with at least some experience from the ATL's practice squad. There just aren't enough guys who can get that big and remain athletic enough to play. Like QBs, there just aren't enough good ones to go around. I see us as having 2 needs at DT.

****1. Kemo is the man. We need another one just like him, 320+, to back him up. That guy currently isn't on the roster, a personnel deficiency we gambled on coming into this year. Draft one and bring in FAs.****

2. Lewis is a great 1 gapper, just not big enough to be a 2 gapper except on passing downs. Walker is a lot like Lewis, only not quite as quick. He was just rounding into form when he had that accident. He hasn't seemed the same since. Gibson is a journeyman, we can do better. We should have enough game tape on Hayden now to decide if he's going to develop into a better 1 gapper than Gibson. As has been bemoaned on here quite a bit, we've had better guys for this position on the roster, but we let them go because we weren't playing the right scheme at the time (Haye, Brown, etc.). These guys aren't as rare has the run stuffers, so it should be relatively easy to find some competition in FA. Use another late round flyer if the right guy is available.

DTs, college seniors - rough analysis

Of the top 29 listed on draftcountdown, 4 are 320-329#, 4 are 300-310, the rest are under 300#. Raji is one of the 4 and will be long gone. The only big senior that could possibly be available in the 2-4 draft range (and possibly worth the pick) is Ron Brace of Boston College. It's supposed to be a banner year for underclassmen because of the threat of a rookie cap, but it's too early figure who will be available for sure. I'm sure some of the people who follow college ball closer than I do have a couple of guys in mind. Maybe we can get a guy from the underclassmen, IDK. We really need some young talent at this position.

After run stuffer DT, our next big need is CB. It's funny how folks are changing their opinion of Marshall. Up until this year, he was lock to take over Lucas' position when Luc got too long in the tooth. Now? A lot of opinions have changed to solid nickel CB/ST. Of course, I can remember a time when some people thought that about Wesley.. We need somebody at least as talented as Marshall to shore up the position short term. Not a lot of shutdown corners available in the second/third round without arrest records, so I think we're going to have to wait at least until 2010 to address the problem long term. Elite FA CBs are too expensive for this team IMO.

I think we're doing okay at the DE position if we manage to retain Peppers, draft talent if it's available just like any other position.

One thing that may affect our draft is all the FO/coaching changes that are coming. Coaches are changed as often as bathwater in the NFL, but it seems to me an unusual number of GMs may be replaced this offseason. Our pro scouting department needs to be burning the midnight oil right now. I'm thinking we might get lucky with some guys becoming available that aren't 2009 FAs because of this.

I would also like to see a 4-6 round RB to replace Goings as the #3 back. I really wanted Choice last year when he fell so far, but we didn't have the picks. Our 2 back system can go to hell just as quickly as our d-line did against the Giants if we don't have a semi-competent #3 RB in place. Remember how it felt when Stewart was nicked in the Giants game?

I would also remind everyone that Vincent took 2 years to fully recover from his last groin injury. I would also point out that a groin injury pretty much ruined a good center in Hartwig. RG is by no means a solid position going into 2009. IDK, maybe MacKenzie Bernadeau can do the job, but I wouldn't want to bet the frachise on it. RG is also a position of need going into the offseason.

[mountainpantherfan]

Captain Obvious disclaimer -> I think what was specifically exposed by Kemo's absence in the Giants game was the fact that we didn't have a viable backup for the 2 gap run stuffer tackle on the roster. We have plenty of 1 gap shooters (the lighter tackle). We tried to fix it by grabbing the biggest guy we could find with at least some experience from the ATL's practice squad. There just aren't enough guys who can get that big and remain athletic enough to play. Like QBs, there just aren't enough good ones to go around. I see us as having 2 needs at DT.

****1. Kemo is the man. We need another one just like him, 320+, to back him up. That guy currently isn't on the roster, a personnel deficiency we gambled on coming into this year. Draft one and bring in FAs.****

2. Lewis is a great 1 gapper, just not big enough to be a 2 gapper except on passing downs. Walker is a lot like Lewis, only not quite as quick. He was just rounding into form when he had that accident. He hasn't seemed the same since. Gibson is a journeyman, we can do better. We should have enough game tape on Hayden now to decide if he's going to develop into a better 1 gapper than Gibson. As has been bemoaned on here quite a bit, we've had better guys for this position on the roster, but we let them go because we weren't playing the right scheme at the time (Haye, Brown, etc.). These guys aren't as rare has the run stuffers, so it should be relatively easy to find some competition in FA. Use another late round flyer if the right guy is available.

DTs, college seniors - rough analysis

Of the top 29 listed on draftcountdown, 4 are 320-329#, 4 are 300-310, the rest are under 300#. Raji is one of the 4 and will be long gone. The only big senior that could possibly be available in the 2-4 draft range (and possibly worth the pick) is Ron Brace of Boston College. It's supposed to be a banner year for underclassmen because of the threat of a rookie cap, but it's too early figure who will be available for sure. I'm sure some of the people who follow college ball closer than I do have a couple of guys in mind. Maybe we can get a guy from the underclassmen, IDK. We really need some young talent at this position.

After run stuffer DT, our next big need is CB. It's funny how folks are changing their opinion of Marshall. Up until this year, he was lock to take over Lucas' position when Luc got too long in the tooth. Now? A lot of opinions have changed to solid nickel CB/ST. Of course, I can remember a time when some people thought that about Wesley.. We need somebody at least as talented as Marshall to shore up the position short term. Not a lot of shutdown corners available in the second/third round without arrest records, so I think we're going to have to wait at least until 2010 to address the problem long term. Elite FA CBs are too expensive for this team IMO.

I think we're doing okay at the DE position if we manage to retain Peppers, draft talent if it's available just like any other position.

One thing that may affect our draft is all the FO/coaching changes that are coming. Coaches are changed as often as bathwater in the NFL, but it seems to me an unusual number of GMs may be replaced this offseason. Our pro scouting department needs to be burning the midnight oil right now. I'm thinking we might get lucky with some guys becoming available that aren't 2009 FAs because of this.

I would also like to see a 4-6 round RB to replace Goings as the #3 back. I really wanted Choice last year when he fell so far, but we didn't have the picks. Our 2 back system can go to hell just as quickly as our d-line did against the Giants if we don't have a semi-competent #3 RB in place. Remember how it felt when Stewart was nicked in the Giants game?

I would also remind everyone that Vincent took 2 years to fully recover from his last groin injury. I would also point out that a groin injury pretty much ruined a good center in Hartwig. RG is by no means a solid position going into 2009. IDK, maybe MacKenzie Bernadeau can do the job, but I wouldn't want to bet the frachise on it. RG is also a position of need going into the offseason.

Damn, very good post.

I think you echoed a lot of the same information that stated in my post but presented it in a much better way.

The one thing I would point out is that I think Lewis needs to be a rotation player not a starter. And paying him starter money for that role is worth it.

One man that popped out at me when I was looking at the current draft rankings was Terrance Cody, the Jr. out of Alabama. He is currently ranked between 20 and 28. Where the Panther are setting now that would be a long leap to trade up to get him. However, IMO this kid is the perfect replacement for Jenkins and he comes without the negatives from what I've heard. Just like the offensive line, we need the defensive that to be dominate. And I don't that you can get that from keeping Lewis as the starter and just adding better backups.

Edit: I also wanted to add that I think that Lewis has the skill set to backup Kemo as a 2 gap DT. While he doesn't have the size, he has the ability to push the pocket back. While Kemo pretty much clogs up the line, allowing our LBers to go unblocked, Lewis can push into the backfield still taking up the blockers and force the RB to out of his running lane. It's a different style but still effective. I perfer Kemo but Lewis in the 2 gap isn't that much worse.