Panthers to fill void through draft picks

[Rod Butsecks]

(By Darin Gantt, [email protected]) A day after holding the door for Julius Peppers, the holes are obvious, and so is the way the Carolina Panthers will likely fill them.p/For as much as he talked about the magnitude of the Peppers offer they wouldn't make and how much he wanted to use the savings to keep his young core of talent together, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney also hinted at how the team plans to proceed with life after Peppers.

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[Rags]

You hear that?

Means we're gonna get another DE with our first pick.

[MadHatter]

Not necessarily. He is only saying they are unlikely to go after the overpriced and flashy names in this VERY weak Free Agent class.

[thennek]

I agree with building through the draft. The problem is the Panthers have been sacrificing draft picks the last 2-years. In 2010, they don't have a 1st, and don't pick until middle of the 2nd. They also gave up a few late-round drafts picks to trade for Tyler, and Leonard. It difficult to build through the draft when you don't have draft picks.

[MadHatter]

I agree with building through the draft. The problem is the Panthers have been sacrificing draft picks the last 2-years. In 2010, they don't have a 1st, and don't pick until middle of the 2nd. They also gave up a few late-round drafts picks to trade for Tyler, and Leonard. It difficult to build through the draft when you don't have draft picks.

They did NOT sacrifice draft picks in the last 2 years. They have three first round graded players during the past two years.....Stewart, Otah, and Brown.

I agree on the late round picks for Tyler and Leonard, but those players will add more than any player picked at those spots.

[unicar15]

I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want to build this team through FA. As long as they make good draft choices and don't continue to draft the same players every year then I'm ok with it. I will however be angry if we go out and pick ANOTHER DE with our first pick to replace Peppers after using essentially 2 picks to get Everette Brown. Johnson and Brown or Brayton and Brown need to be our starting DEs.

[jramsey4]

I for one love the way this franchise is beginning to act. JR is wiping these bunch of pansies into shape. The great Franchises like the Patriots and Steelers build through the draft and then sign low to mid range vets to fill in immediate holes.

You don't go spending 20 million dollars on one player (i said this last offseason as well). You use that money to sign good but low priced players who have good talent but maybe have been on a poor team or miscast. I don't even want them spending big money on our own players.

TD I think should be tagged and traded (or hopefully he gets tendered 1/3 RFA and signs with someone). WLB in a Tampa 2 (especially it seems in Meek's) is a very easy position to translate to. Then we do need to resign Dwill for something along the lines of a 4 year extension. That depends on how much he wants however as he will be 28 when the contract he has now is out.

Then pick up a mid draft pick like Austen Lane, who is extremely athletic and could potentially develop into a replacement for Peppers. Then a NT somewhere in the draft, Torrell Troops my candidate as he can both collapse the pocket and stop the run and he allows others on the line to make plays. And a few low level FA and our Dline is set.

I think anyone too upset about the loss of pep needs to be reminded of how he has played since he got here. Would any of you look at last years performance and say that is worth 20 million dollars for another season. To me it doesn't even come close to being worth it.

[Phoenaxe]

I for one love the way this franchise is beginning to act. JR is wiping these bunch of pansies into shape. The great Franchises like the Patriots and Steelers build through the draft and then sign low to mid range vets to fill in immediate holes.

You don't go spending 20 million dollars on one player (i said this last offseason as well). You use that money to sign good but low priced players who have good talent but maybe have been on a poor team or miscast. I don't even want them spending big money on our own players.

TD I think should be tagged and traded (or hopefully he gets tendered 1/3 RFA and signs with someone). WLB in a Tampa 2 (especially it seems in Meek's) is a very easy position to translate to. Then we do need to resign Dwill for something along the lines of a 4 year extension. That depends on how much he wants however as he will be 28 when the contract he has now is out.

Then pick up a mid draft pick like Austen Lane, who is extremely athletic and could potentially develop into a replacement for Peppers. Then a NT somewhere in the draft, Torrell Troops my candidate as he can both collapse the pocket and stop the run and he allows others on the line to make plays. And a few low level FA and our Dline is set.

I think anyone too upset about the loss of pep needs to be reminded of how he has played since he got here. Would any of you look at last years performance and say that is worth 20 million dollars for another season. To me it doesn't even come close to being worth it.

QFT! Altho I wouldn't mind spending on a good quarterback if there was one. Assuming Moore doesn't work out.

[scpanther22]

Question is can we convince Kevin Walter to come here?

[Udogg]

"Instead, the Panthers are more likely to parlay the Peppers savings into long-term deals for linebackers Thomas Davis and Jon Beason, center Ryan Kalil, and perhaps running back DeAngelo Williams."

Best part of the article imo.

[Gman was right]

So basically we can expect our dline and passing game to suck this year

[2jakefansinva]

You hear that?

Means we're gonna get another DE with our first pick.

Been a Panther fan long? When was the last time the Panthers picked who you thought they would or the position you thought they should?

They'll surprise everyone again this year with their first pick. Which ever round their first pick happens to be in.

[panthers55]

TD I think should be tagged and traded (or hopefully he gets tendered 1/3 RFA and signs with someone). WLB in a Tampa 2 (especially it seems in Meek's) is a very easy position to translate to. Then we do need to resign Dwill for something along the lines of a 4 year extension. That depends on how much he wants however as he will be 28 when the contract he has now is out.

Don't agree with tagging and trading TD or the lack of importance of the WLB in a Tampa 2. TDs role this year will likely be importance in coverage as well as blitzing with the loss of Pep and the potential problem generating a pass rush. He is one of the fastest guys on the team and is needed against players like Bush for example out of the backfield as well as applying pressure to the quarterback.

As for Williams give him a 6 year extension for that matter. It doesn't really matter since the money isn't guaranteed. All we will defintely owe him is the guaranteed money. As long as that is reasonable, he will never see the last 3 years of salary on a 6 year deal.

[CRA]

Not necessarily. He is only saying they are unlikely to go after the overpriced and flashy names in this VERY weak Free Agent class.

not a weak class for DEs