Verge, why do you like Mykel Williams?

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, frankw said:

I obviously agree Bryce Young and Dave Canales need to make huge strides this upcoming season. Especially given the resources we've tied to the offense and hiring an offensive minded head coach. That goes without saying.

As far as the defense goes beyond the top the bottom blowout losses we experienced even in the closer games there were guys across the defense getting picked on regularly. That's all over the game film our upcoming opponents this year will be prepared for. There's a lot of people with something to prove on both sides of the ball.

Starting with our defensive coordinator. We can't draft one of those, though.

[kungfoodude]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

This is, in my view, how the teams "overthink" it.  First, they make comparisons to someone based on measurements and timed workouts.  Myles Garrett in this case, wherein if someone had put Williams beside the #1 overall draft pick in 2000, Courtney Brown out of Penn State, both 6'5", both around 260, etc. one might be equally impressed.    I think it might hurt his stock.   Brown stayed injured, playing in 61 games over 6 seasons in the NFL and totaled 19 sacks. 

Beware of any comparison between a prospect and a known commodity.  That is cherry picking and it gives you a false image of the actual player.  Compare Williams' accomplishments in college to Myles Garrett--very different.  Even by comparing him to Courtney Brown, Williams falls embarrassingly short of his accomplishments.  This is not to say that anyone is right or wrong--nobody knows for sure at this point, but it is to say no two players, no two situations, and no two coaching staffs are alike.  All this to support your point--who is to say that he will reach his potential and exceed his actual performance?   To me, it seems that success in college is the best predictor of success in the NFL, but rarely does someone improve their degree of success in the NFL from college.  There could be variables associated with our measuring sticks--such as sacks--that were not part of his responsibilities in college, but in this case, we are acknowledging run stopping abilities and assuming pass rushing abilities.  If he was not often rushing the passer in college, it seems he would be behind in the technical and mechanical aspects of rushing the passer, making him developmental.  Do we want "developmental" at #8?  Not saying anyone is right or anyone is wrong, just questioning the logic applied when reaching conclusions.

 

I don't think that college statistical production has been historically a high predictor of success for DL specifically. I would have to go look back at that data to be sure of that.

Projections are extremely nuanced with a lot of factors, as you are well aware.

For a guy with 40 games of college experience, I am always bothered by the "raw" and "undeveloped" labels. So, why haven't you developed, exactly? Especially when you are at a place that has top 5 resources when it comes specifically to developing players. 

Hence my question. What makes him pop more than some of these other prospects on film? I personally don't see it. I see a guy that is a quality edge setter that might eventually be a quality pass rusher. Say, a poor man's Jadaveon Clowney? Is that valueless? Absolutely not. Is that a top 10 talent, I don't think it is, even in a weak draft in terms of elite talent.

[MHS831]

5 minutes ago, raleigh-panther said:

Todd McShay on Williams

 

Thanks for this....This is the upside, and people like McShay and scouts see things that I am not trained to see.  Specimens, workout warriors, developmental--he says that he has things to work on and he is only 20--why not stay in school for another season?

To be fair, this excites me in that he could be a diamond in the rough.  But at #8?  Remember, about 15 of the 32 GMs/teams/scouting departments pick guys who underperform every year.

Having said that, with Clowney and Wonnum and Jones on the roster now, Williams would have some mentors for a season and would be ready to take over as the Alpha edge in 2026.  However, I wonder "which edge?"  Most 4-3 prototypes that convert to a 3-4 play the strong side, not the pin your ears back side.  I dunno.  Maybe I just can't see it yet.

[kungfoodude]

6 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

He was 17 when he went to Georgia? He's only 20.

I mean, I am not saying that doesn't have value but it's often one of the premier points for busts in the NFL. Remember Sam Darnold or CJ Henderson? Well....that didn't pan out. 

[frankw]

3 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Starting with our defensive coordinator. We can't draft one of those, though.

I completely agree. Evero has arguably the most to prove out of anyone this season especially considering he's had significant input on roster moves. You could make the argument both parties should have moved on. But what's done is done. I just hope it works out in our favor. But if it does not then it will just be one more Panthers blunder many fans could see coming. We'll find out.

[Jon Snow]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

I mean, I am not saying that doesn't have value but it's often one of the premier points for busts in the NFL. Remember Sam Darnold or CJ Henderson? Well....that didn't pan out. 

None of them are a sure thing. You can find any number of reasons to not draft a player. Every single one of these kids are drafted on what the team thinks he will be in the nfl. Of all these so called edge rushers coming out this kid is the only one the looks like he belongs in the nfl. That doesn't mean he won't bust as his odds are 50/50 like the rest. What worries me more about him is his ankle injury. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just go BPA and take Jeanty lol.

[Jon Snow]

Just now, PNW_PantherMan said:

Just go BPA and take Jeanty lol.

Who says he bpa?

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just now, Jon Snow said:

Who says he bpa?

Me

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, Jon Snow said:

None of them are a sure thing. You can find any number of reasons to not draft a player. Every single one of these kids are drafted on what the team thinks he will be in the nfl. Of all these so called edge rushers coming out this kid is the only one the looks like he belongs in the nfl. That doesn't mean he won't bust as his odds are 50/50 like the rest. What worries me more about him is his ankle injury. 

I honestly have him quite a bit down my list on the DE/EDGE rankings. 1st rounder, yes, but I don't think he will ever be worthy of a top 10 pick.

Now, all that being said, if you ignore projections/value/potential/etc, this guy defends the run very well. The thing we need the most overall help with and are historically bad at. That doesn't sway my opinion because I don't think you can justify passing on better and more valuable players to take him at 8, but I don't have a concern of him not being able to help us day one.

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Just go BPA and take Jeanty lol.

Hampton in 2nd round? Wing T?

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

Hampton in 2nd round? Wing T?

Just imagine.  Chuba, Jeanty, Hampton and Dowdle.  The 4 headed monster.

[Waldo]

28 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

None of them are a sure thing. You can find any number of reasons to not draft a player. Every single one of these kids are drafted on what the team thinks he will be in the nfl. Of all these so called edge rushers coming out this kid is the only one the looks like he belongs in the nfl. That doesn't mean he won't bust as his odds are 50/50 like the rest. What worries me more about him is his ankle injury. 

Mostly but there are guys that are safe picks too. The obvious freaks are easy to guess correctly but guys like DJ Moore were locks to be solid. A balanced WR that has good hands and runs routes succeeding? Dude peodudced with some terrible play around him and fans here crapp3d on him for not being a top 5 WR when all he did was put up 1k seasons. A lot of this is overthinking and hype.

Edited 14 hours ago by Waldo

[AU-panther]

On 4/4/2025 at 8:07 AM, kungfoodude said:

Mykel seems like a fairly low ceiling and VERY low floor guy. Outside of the measureables, he very much looks like he is on the Shemar Stewart end of the scale. 

I would be very disappointed to see him taken at 8. Late 1st, early 2nd I can understand.

curious to why you think he has a very low ceiling?