Just something to keep in mind....

[Snake]

But, they never said that they were going to take the top rated QB at #1...even if he is not a #1 talent.

I just don't see either Newton or Gabbert as worthy of the #1 pick. In most years they would not even be a first round grade.

While they may have not been top 10. Newton would have been first round and possibly Gabbert. This draft is just underwhelming at every postilion. QB,DT,OT,and DE are crap this year. WR and CB is possibly the best place to find value but its shaky.

[CRA]

But, they never said that they were going to take the top rated QB at #1...even if he is not a #1 talent.

I just don't see either Newton or Gabbert as worthy of the #1 pick. In most years they would not even be a first round grade.

all I know is Rivera came into Carolina knowing he had to address the QB spot. He isn't going to sit on his hands. all he has talked about is finding a QB. I don't think they know what they are going to do .......but they are going to attempt to find a QB.

odds of them drafting a QB imo are clearly higher than in the OP.

[MadHatter]

all I know is Rivera came into Carolina knowing he had to address the QB spot. He isn't going to sit on his hands. all he has talked about is finding a QB. I don't think they know what they are going to do .......but they are going to attempt to find a QB.

odds of them drafting a QB imo are clearly higher than in the OP.

Without a 2nd round pick, I just don't see the Panthers reaching for a QB who has as many ?? as Newton or Gabbert does.

I still say they sign a vet or trades for one (Volek, Orton, etc) and go into the year with Clausen and maybe Moore as the backups.

[CRA]

Without a 2nd round pick, I just don't see the Panthers reaching for a QB who has as many ?? as Newton or Gabbert does.

I still say they sign a vet or trades for one (Volek, Orton, etc) and go into the year with Clausen and maybe Moore as the backups.

Orton is a pipe dream. That is Fox's QB.

Rivera can hit FA and have a dang good D. His problems start and end at QB to a large degree. If you bring in Volek and have Clausen at #2.....then that is Rivera treading water and going nowhere. I just don't see him not trying to move forward.

[Dpantherman]

I don't really have a dog in this fight but...

philip rivers

aaron rogers

david garrard

Tony Romo

Matt Schaub

That's just off the top of my head.

none of those guys were picked #1 overall

[MadHatter]

Orton is a pipe dream. That is Fox's QB.

Rivera can hit FA and have a dang good D. His problems start and end at QB to a large degree. If you bring in Volek and have Clausen at #2.....then that is Rivera treading water and going nowhere. I just don't see him not trying to move forward.

We all need to remember that no one knows whether Rivera and the staff still think Clausen can be the guy. Not sayign that I think he can. But, our opinions on that don't matter.

Was not impressed with Clausen last year. However, I do agree that there are only a few QB's in the league that could have looke good on the Panthers last season.

[CRA]

We all need to remember that no one knows whether Rivera and the staff still think Clausen can be the guy. Not sayign that I think he can. But, our opinions on that don't matter.

Was not impressed with Clausen last year. However, I do agree that there are only a few QB's in the league that could have looke good on the Panthers last season.

generally, when you have drafted a young QB to be the "future".....then you actually have no problem saying that.

and again, it isn't so much about Clausen being horrible but about how Clausen doesn't fit his offense just like he didn't fit Fox's. Clausen is a sqaure peg and Rivera's offense has spot for a round peg......just like Fox's. The sooner this franchise moves on the better. Pike and Clausen need to go. Again, not b/c they are pure garbage but b/c they don't fit.

Rivera is going to make a move somehow......sticking w/ Clausen or bring in a old vet w/ him at #2 would basically be Rivera claiming he was going to tread water and wait a year to address the biggest weakness on his team. The position is too huge for to do that and from the manner Rivera talks.....he is going to find a means to address it. imo.

[Highlandfire]

In regards to how much interest the Panthers are showing to choosing a QB overall #1. Rivera/Hurney have not looked for someone to talk to about Cam Newton. The only reason Newton is in the dialogue is because that is what the reporters are asking about.

"Ron, what do you think about Cam Newton"

"Well, I think he is a tall kid and looks like a lot of the recent successful QB picks."

Headline: "Rivera speaks highly of Cam Newton"

Actual Headline "Rivera answers a specific question on Cam Newton with kind words"

I highly doubt we pick a QB at #1 at this point. I would say 90% chance we do not.

+1, I honestly can't see it either. Rivera isn't going to reach and yes I think when they hired him he has more say over this roster than some think.

[Mr. Scot]

none of those guys were picked #1 overall

Neither should any of the quarterbacks in this draft be.

[MattB]

Rivera could of easily dodged the question if he wanted to. He didn't. It was pretty revealing imo.

[Jackofalltrades]

Rivera could of easily dodged the question if he wanted to. He didn't. It was pretty revealing imo.

Haven't seen Rivera dodge any questions.

[Mr. Scot]

Rivera isn't Fox. People need to stop expecting him to be and/or judging him as if he were.

[panthers55]

I think what many folks have said will all be aspects of the process but one thing not mentioned very much will be which of these guys will be the face of our franchise.

Richardson very much wanted Peppers to step up and be a leader and felt that as a first rounder and the most important guy on defense, he needed to be a vocal leader and the face of the franchise.

Seems to me that this first rounder will be in the same boat. Richardson will want them to be the face of the franchise and a vocal leader. I wonder if he wants Fairley who is a reported dirty player (I don't have a problem with that) or Peterson or Green to be that guy?? Seems to me if he picks either Gabbert or Newton it will be based on who he and the team think will represent them the best and grow into a franchise player. At this point since Jake left neither Smith or any one else outside of Beason have taken on that role. And if they have, has it been positive?? Our most vocal offensive guys are Gross and Kalil assuming Smitty has been vocal but not always in a positive way. Beason seems to be the leader of the defense but is he the face of the defense at this point?? He is probably the closest we have to it.

[mmmbeans]

philip rivers - played behind Drew Brees

aaron rogers - played behind Brett Favre

david garrard - was a 4th round pick

Tony Romo - was undrafted

Matt Schaub - was a 3rd round pick AND played behind Mike Vick before being traded

I'm talking 1st round QB's here. Guys the "experts" say are projects that come from spread offenses and will need "2-3 years" before they can play. They said it about The Golden Calf of Bristol and he was playing as a rookie, and very well I might add. Bradford was also expected to sit his rookie year.

you said "nobody is a 2-3 year project in this league.