2008 Draft Rewind

[Squirrel]

1 13 (13) Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon

1 19 (19) Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh

3 4 (67) Charles Godfrey CB Iowa

3 11 (74) Dan Connor OLB Penn State

5 6 (141) Gary Barnidge TE Louisville

6 15 (181) Nick Hayden DT Wisconsin

7 14 (221) Hilee Taylor OLB North Carolina

7* 34 (241) Geoff Schwartz T Oregon

7* 43 (250) Mackenzy Bernadeau G Bentley

Would have to give this draft a B. Still say drafting Stewart that high was a reach. Ray Rice went in the 2nd round plus it was a deep RB class. Trading back in to get Otah didnt pan out so well and the grade is still out on him. Besides that the rest of the draft class was a home run.

[Dpantherman]

If Otah doesn't play the majority of the season, then that trade up fails, im giving him one more shot.

Can't really hate on Taylor, 7th round pick, think we got steals on the last two. Hayden stinks but hes only a 6th. Like Barnidge, Conner, and GODFREY (EAT IT CRA).

and I still like the Stewart pick. Looking back, we should have taken a RT in the first and just went RB in the second, but we didn't.

[Swarly]

I don't think Stewart was a reach. I think if he was the feature back there would be no doubt whatsoever who was the best back in that draft.

I was thinking about Barnidge earlier... do you think the fact we didn't take a single TE means they're confident that Barnidge(or Rosario) can be our TE moving forward?

[Dpantherman]

NJ said it in his thread, but I really do belief the Rudolph thing. I do think however that if Julius Thomas or Virgil green slid to us we might have bitten. Not sure. But I do think they have some confidence in our guys.

[frash.exe]

Jeff otah is rapidly approaching bustville if he can't stay healthy.

As for Stewart you all know my opinion on selecting rbs so high but he's productive and that negative sentiment wears off after a while, especially if newton becomes a superstar.

[Stumpy]

From right after that draft...

Carolina Panthers: D+

Why gamble on another injury prone running back when their offensive and defensive lines are in shambles? I don't understand their line of thinking at all. Yes, they got Jeff Otah. But they needed so much more. Stewart could be a stud, but he was the wrong choice. Their best pick was grabbing Dan Conner in Round 3.

Carolina Panthers: (C+) Jonathan Stewart, Jeff Otah, Charles Godfrey, Dan Connor, Gary Barnidge, Nick Hayden, Hilee Taylor, Geoff Schwartz, Mackenzy Bernadeau

In terms of value, they did a great job. But they got so many players that they don’t need. They needed a power running back to complement the speed of DeAngelo Williams, so why not go for Mendenhall? He’s easily a better power back and better overall back than Jonathan Stewart. Otah is a great pick, but they gave up too much to get him, a 2009 1st rounder? That’s too much. Godfrey and Connor are amazing picks in the 3rd, but the thing is that they don’t need a cornerback or a middle linebacker. Godfrey will probably move to safety, but he’s a much better cornerback. Beason is a great middle linebacker so the Connor pick is really interesting. Yes he was obviously the best player available, but with a 7-9 record I think you want to fill your holes instead of drafting the best available.

[mountainpantherfan]

I think it is reasonalbe to question the need of the picks and if they gave up too much in the trade. But IMO when you just look at what this group of players have contributed on the field and the player's overall talent, this the probably the best draft class in Panther's history top to bottom. Even a guy like Hayden, who really is a decent backup, has value to the team. There only one player I wouldn't want on my team and that player was a 7th rounder and isn't on the Panthers so...Love this draft and I think that if the Panthers end up being able to make a quick turnaround this class will play are large role (starters, backups and ST).

[SOJA]

that's a pretty fricking good draft in my opinion

[Cat'sGrowl]

From right after that draft...

:lol:

They needed a power running back to complement the speed of DeAngelo Williams, so why not go for Mendenhall? He’s easily a better power back and better overall back than Jonathan Stewart.

I knew Mendenhall would blow. He's turned into an adequate back for the Steelers, but they're looking to replace him it would seem because he isn't anything special (as evidenced by their moves in FA and in the draft this year)

I got so sick of hearing Mendenhall's name before the draft by the media. They swore up and down he was the second coming of Walter Peyton. I thought the guy was a chump. Loved Stewart, along with Ray Rice and Michael Forte, much more..

Looks like I was right :D

[tarheelpride]

This is the draft where I really wanted us to leapfrog Denver to get Clady, then take a Forte or a Rice in the 2nd. Barnidge I think can blossom this year, as this regime apparently believes the TE can actually be a weapon. Stewart's been good for us, but Otah's injury history makes that trade seem one-sided to the Eagles, who turned our pick into Maclin the next year (if i recall correctly). It gets a C+ from me (mainly due to Otah and what we have up for him). Stewart and Conner are saving this draft from being worse. I'd give it another year or 2 under this regime before coming to a final conclusion about it.

[SirPanther]

Damn good draft in my opinion.