Narrowing down the #1 Pick

[Lout]

As it stands now, I can see us drafting one of three possible players #1 overall in April. I'd like to hear input.

1. Marcel Dareus

2. Blaine Gabbert

3. Patrick Peterson

My reasoning is logically deduced by the type of character guy's that Hurney normally drafts, and the sensibility of the pick.

Deduction #1

Nick Fairley - I believe Nick has several red flags. Firstly, the rumors about Fairley being a 'dirty' player do not count against him, in my mind. You need a tenacity in playing the DT position. However, he is lazy off the field with poor work ethic, but has a great motor on the field. Labelled as a 3-tech, which mean's he is great at shooting the gap and getting in the backfield, but plays with poor pad level and get's bulled backwards against the run. Dareus is 30 pounds heavier than Fairley, and also ran a faster 40yd split than Fairley.. which means that he has better explosiveness off the snap. Dareus is also extremely stout against the run, and is a JOAT, as he can do everything very well. Dareus has no off field issues. So Dareus will be the pick if the Panthers decide to go with a DT.

Deduction#2

Cam Newton - Again, several red flags concerning his character here. Stole a laptop while at Florida, and was caught cheating on tests.. therefore expelled from UF. Everyone knows about the Miss St scandal involving the investigation regarding the cash deal to Newton's 'father'. Newton may or may not have known anything about it.. but it is still cause for concern. This is far too many flags for a #1 overall pick. Newton has extremely high boom or bust potential. And the Panthers can not afford to take that kind of gamble with the #1 overall pick. Blaine Gabbert does not have the athletic ability of Newton, but is very athletic in his own right. Gabbert has the stronger and more accurate arm out of the two. If you take the running ability out of both QBs, the decision becomes quite clear who the pick should be at the QB position. Cam Newton will not run more than 6 times a game on average in the NFL.

Deduction #3/4

Da'Quan Bowers/Robert Quinn - With the emergence of Charles Johnson, and the high potential, young talent we have at this position in both Everrette Brown and Greg Hardy, I do not believe this warrants a high pick.. as it's not the greatest need on our team. If we go DT, it will only make our DE's better. So ultimately, I do not think DE is in the Panthers plans. That being said, I also believe Clemson DE's have high bust potential.. i.e. Philip Merling, and Gaines Adams. Neither lived up to their draft ranking. Robert Quinn has not played football in more than a year.. and has some character concerns.

Deduction#5

AJ Green - He is an amazing talent, there is no doubt about it. He does have one off the field incident earlier in the NCAA season where he sold his jersey for cash. He received a 4 game suspension for the violation.. However, I do not hold that against him. Hurney invested 3 draft picks in WR's last season, and by comparison to other top rookie WR's, they did one hell of a job. Lafell and Gettis both were ranked 3 and 4 respectively for yardage for rookie WRs last season. If Steve Smith is being traded during the draft then the possiblity of AJ Green increases dramatically. I don't believe WR is a great need at this time due to the high potential and young talent on our current roster. I am also a believer that it doesn't matter how good our WRs are if we don't have someone to throw them the ball.

Patrick Peterson - This guy is one of the best CB prospect in the past decade. He is the complete package in m2m coverage, zone.. he can play in any system. He has the physicality of Nnamdi Asomugha but and the ball skills of Asante Samuel. With the character of PP and the shear athletic prowess, makes him a candidate for the #1 overall.. especially with losing our starting CB in Ricahrd Marshall. However, no CB has ever been picked #1 overall, and I would be a little surprised if that changes any time soon.

In summary, I feel that Gabbert, Dareus, and Peterson are the only logical players to be drafted #1 overall. Discuss.

[TheRealDeal]

Cam Newton or don't pick anyone, in any round.

[Snake]

Gabbert does not have a stronger or more accurate arm. That's why he choose not to throw. He would have looked horrible. He has much less baggage then Newton and Mallet but Mallet has the best arm of all QB. Strong and accurate, he just happens to be a Matt Jones though.

[TheRealDeal]

Gabbert does not have a stronger or more accurate arm. That's why he choose not to throw. He would have looked horrible. He has much less baggage then Newton and Mallet but Mallet has the best arm of all QB. Strong and accurate, he just happens to be a Matt Jones though.

Oh Jeez

[MHS831]

Gabbert does not have a stronger or more accurate arm. That's why he choose not to throw. He would have looked horrible. He has much less baggage then Newton and Mallet but Mallet has the best arm of all QB. Strong and accurate, he just happens to be a Matt Jones though.

The velocity meter says Keapernick had the strongest arm.

[Snake]

The velocity meter says Keapernick had the strongest arm.

Yea but was he accurate. Mallet has a good combo of both.

[Lout]

Gabbert does not have a stronger or more accurate arm. That's why he choose not to throw. He would have looked horrible. He has much less baggage then Newton and Mallet but Mallet has the best arm of all QB. Strong and accurate, he just happens to be a Matt Jones though.

You may be right on the arm strength.. however Gabbert has a more accurate arm than Newton. I have not seen Newton throw a Go route on a frozen rope in the NCAA like I have Gabbert. Newton simple has not shown the array of passes that will be required of him in the NFL.

[teeray]

Yea but was he accurate. Mallet has a good combo of both.

He was pretty accurate. his problem is revamping his entire throwing motion. Otherwise he would be a first round pick IMO. But his mechanical issues are greater than Cam's which is mostly footwork. I would like to have seen Gabbert take 5 step drop throws like Cam did at the combine because he is going to have a similar learning curve in that regard.

Mallett is a beast and he will go in the first round. As long as he isn't addicted to coke he could be a really good QB. If he reaches his potential he could be a player like Brett Favre. He will wow you with his arm and make you smack your forehead at least twice a game just like Favre.

[teeray]

I have not seen Newton throw a Go route on a frozen rope in the NCAA like I have Gabbert.

You missed a lot of Auburn games then :) Sometimes it seemed that all he threw were to go routes.

Gabbert would be ready sooner, I don't think there is much doubt. But I can't get away from Cam's upside.

[MHS831]

You may be right on the arm strength.. however Gabbert has a more accurate arm than Newton. I have not seen Newton throw a Go route on a frozen rope in the NCAA like I have Gabbert. Newton simple has not shown the array of passes that will be required of him in the NFL.

Oh, I am on board with Gabbert being the top ranked QB in the draft. I agree. However, his question marks are concerning as well. If I am Hurney and want to gamble on a QB, I go with Gabbert- may have less athletic upside but has less risk.

If we reach for a QB, it will be Gabbert. I don't understand why everyone is assuming QB=Cam.

[ncmonzta]

You may be right on the arm strength.. however Gabbert has a more accurate arm than Newton. I have not seen Newton throw a Go route on a frozen rope in the NCAA like I have Gabbert. Newton simple has not shown the array of passes that will be required of him in the NFL.

You have to watch more tape because I've seen Gabbert look mediocre in every aspect besides mobility. His arm isnt as good as Cams. Gabberst production actually was worse than his sophmore year. You can also check the stats. Cam is better in every category other than hairstyle.

[Jackofalltrades]

Mayock and HOF CB Deion Sanders say you don't draft CB at 1 because you can always just throw away from them.

My preferences:

Dareus

Fairley

Green

Gabbert

Bowers

[The Saltman]

I dont want to reach for a QB anymore. Give me Peterson or give me death.

[panthers55]

I am confused. Is this is a thread about who we will pick or who we should pick.

Rivera said we will interview 7-10 guys so this list is too short. Plus to not even have newton on the list is ridiculous. Seems a lot of work for nothing since without talking to Hurney or his staff all these deductions are even worth debating.

Just my opinion.