SI Panthers Mock Draft

[Panthering]

I would cut my pinky off for that draft, doubt it would ever fall that way for us.

[Tr3ach]

2 hours ago, tukafan21 said:

That's not the point to that post though.  If people want to take or pass on T-Mac because of whatever he may or may not be, that's understandable.  

But if the reason they want to pass on him in the end is because XL is already on the roster and our top draft pick last year, then that's the definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The XL pick is a sunk cost, we can't change it, and he still has a lot of potential that he can reach.  But he's just not the prospect that T-Mac is, even if you're someone who has some concerns with him, he's still THAT much better of a prospect than XL is that you can't make your decision on him because of XL's presence.

Our WR room past this next season is XL and Coker, and even this next season we're only adding Thielen to the room as of right now.  That is a bottom 5 WR room in the league right now, so passing on a guy with legit Top 5 WR potential because you have a guy who might be a high end #2 if he reaches his potential would just be asinine.

It's also all moot anyways, unless he comes out and runs like a 4.6, he's not falling to 8

That is only true if you're sure XL isn't going to get good and you're sure TMac will be good.

[tukafan21]

27 minutes ago, Tr3ach said:

That is only true if you're sure XL isn't going to get good and you're sure TMac will be good.

I actually think XL will get better and pan out in the end, but even when we drafted him, I thought his upside was a high end #2.  And yes, I've made it very clear my beliefs of how good T-Mac will be.  

Obviously as an alum who watches every game, I see/know Arizona players better than really any other prospects.  There's been a lot of Arizona football (and basketball) players that I was convinced would be all star talent's in the NFL/NBA, including guys that were drafted in the 1st round for football and in the lottery for basketball, and no, they didn't all pan out (I see you Antoine Cason, Ka'Deem Carey, Derrick Williams, and Stanley Johnson in particular).

But out of all of them, there's only two that I was a million percent convinced that they would be legitimate all pro and potential HOF type of talents.

Rób Gronkowski and T-Mac, that's it.  And with Gronk, I was literally telling all my friends back home that he was going to be the next big NFL TE after his very first game as a freshman.

And no, it's not being a slave to the moment and saying that.  It's hard to explain, but it's just one of those, "you know it when you see it" and from day 1, watching T-Mac just felt different, he's going to be THAT guy.

Edited 9 hours ago by tukafan21

[csx]

5 hours ago, L-TownCat said:

Not addressing the DL until the 5th round should be met with a pink slip and a black eye.  Git yer she-itt, and giiit out.

Getting those first two pick excuses everything. Though it's a pipe dream

 

[tukafan21]

5 hours ago, L-TownCat said:

Not addressing the DL until the 5th round should be met with a pink slip and a black eye.  Git yer she-itt, and giiit out.

Not when you consider we're getting Brown back next year and that the bulk of our cap room this offseason should be used to sign the best pass rusher we can get.

That's what I've been screaming about for months, everyone thinks we need to use these early draft picks to address the DL.  But the DL is the position rookies generally tend to take the longest to get up to speed and be impact players if they're not true blue chip prospects.

Address the defense (and in particular the DL) through FA, it's the quickest way to improve our defense.

[Shocker]

I want to see TMac run in the 4.4s before I spend 8 on him,

[Navy_football]

4 hours ago, Ashton said:

Jack Sawyer,,

He's gonna 1st rounder

I don't think he's risen that much. Maybe early to mid 2nd. He's not an explosive athlete. So combine ain't gonna help him. Hopefully Panthers stop putting so much value on combine. 

[Byrdman4real]

5 hours ago, cookinbrak said:

If TMac is there at 8, then Carter and Graham are already gone

 

This

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

Don't think Tmac will still be there

[tukafan21]

1 hour ago, Shocker said:

I want to see TMac run in the 4.4s before I spend 8 on him,

Honest question... why?  

What difference does him running a 4.49 vs a 4.55, in underwear and is largely dependent on your ability to get out of the blocks quickly make compared to watching his tape?

You can watch his tape and see his game speed, you can see him take screens or slants and out run defenders to the corner, you can see him just run away from players once he gets going.  He's 6'5", he's not a quick twitch speedster in those first few steps off the line like a Jefferson, Chase, Nabers.  But once he gets going a bit, he has more than enough speed, you can see it in his film.

If people ONLY want a #1 WR in the mold of one of those guys, then no, you're never going to be satisfied by T-Mac's speed or even game, because he's 6'5", not 6' tall.  He can't do those things that they do, but they can't do the things he can because of his size, he will be able to make catches they wouldn't have a chance on.  Yes we need a speedster WR too, but I think T-Mac as the #1 and finding that elite speed in a small slot WR is the better path. 

I think he runs sub 4.5 because I've seen his game speed, but with his size if he's slow getting out of the crouch and first few steps, so maybe not.  It's why I've never understood people looking at the 40 time so seriously for the draft, there is nothing about it that directly translates to the field unless you're main feature is being that go-route specialist.

[MrBubba]

Way to early, but all things equal would be surprised if Skat lasts till fifth.  

[Panthero]

8 hours ago, Tr3ach said:

That is only true if you're sure XL isn't going to get good and you're sure TMac will be good.

Well the pick is a sunk cost now. If tmac is a superior player in your mind, then you replace X. The question, as you point out is had the investment matured yet to "realize" it's potential. My counter to that, or amendment more aptly, is even if both become great players, you can trade one. This is why the true winning teams take BPA. As a long run strategy, it's the smartest way to draft. Teams falter because GMs are self interested. It's one reason why teams with a football savvy owner can really be dominant. Interest alignment between talent selector and long term team success.