So is there any doubt left as to what position our pick will be?

[Zithers]

captain and butler should be nickel and dime backs. not #2s. if claiborne is there you gotta take him. not even sure if it matters about hogan. maybe bump munnerlyn down to dime and ST duties.

[mav1234]

Butler made some great plays today, but he also got beat a couple times - he may not be a true #2 but he'll make a good rotational backup I think.

[Jack Power]

I hope you realize how many offensive linemen went out this year.... its like blaming James Anderson for getting beat by Rodgers for that touchdown. The fact of the matter is that the offensive line will be fine next year. Imagine if we draft Kalil next year he dosent start and our healthy line comes back and we are top 3 offense instead of top 5.... HOLY CRAP we will be unbeatable with a top 3 offense! Come on guys do you realize that all of the plays we gave up were because of the secoundary! With the exception of Chris Gamble and Charles Godfrey (who tries to do to much) we go plenty of pressure with Andre Neblett and Frank Kearse for goodness sakes. Im not palming the secondary for all of the third downs that tony gonzales got that can be corrected when our speedy linebackers return. The problem is sherrod martin registering one tackle and taking the worst angle you could possibly take on a tackle. I hope this can be coached because he has talent but he has three weeks before I flip out!

Top 5 Needs..

1. Starting CB- we are currently a nickel factory

2. Tie Between Starting NT and safety as neither really stand out in the draft and the good ones will probably be gone before our second round pick

3. OLB- Speedy guy with good size who unfortuanlty will probably be situational and for depth unless we switch to a 3-4 (which would have stopped all those stupid 3rd down convertions by Tony- more athletes on the field)

4. K- I want to hate Mare cause he does annoying things but from watching most of the kickers throughout the year its such a tough job and nobody can be clutch forever heck even John Kasey kicked a kick off out of bounds that probably lost us the super bowl.

5. Tackle- Yes Jordan gross will not be there forever but neither will our chance to be contenders so starting over with a young tackle shouldn't be needed till at least next year.

[SteveSmithTD89]

I still like Blackmon. Big name established recievers are going to cost way more than they're worth. This offense without smith would just be painful.

Lets face it guys, we aren't gonna have many more top 5 picks in the near future. We're improving too much and making noise. We need a blue chip sure thing of a weapon.

I don't doubt Claiborne. Just wish we could see what hogan has. Dude could be the real deal and let corner not be near as big a need as iit seems now. This is also a fairly deep CB draft. Could get a Jenkins with our top pick in the second or someone of that caliber.

Just my thoughts, and I know they're just that but if blackmon slips past thw jags we should take a long hard look

[bleys]

LaFell has impressed.. run blocking and receiving...

Gettis coming back.. with Olsen and Shockey (Barnidge as well).. DWill and Stew..

hard to say WR is our biggest need that early in the draft..

[Matthias]

Bump

To all you Quinton Coples fanboys, North Carolina is playing Missouri right now on ESPN 2. Another good prospect is Dwight Jones, but it seems we are good at both DE and WR positions.

[Gin and Juice]

Never been cloudier

[YoungPanthers89]

coples is going half throttle, #90-esque.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Do not want Coples. Even the announcers are saying, "when he tries, he can be a force". Why draft a guy like that in the 1st, in a position that isn't the biggest need? We go defense, but not DL.

[MHS831]

Left Tackle would go a LONG way in keeping Cam healthy. Gross to RT. WHat if Otah can play? Move him to RG--easier on knees. What about Bell or Schwartz? Move them to LG and fight for the job. What about Wharton? $6 million reasons why he could be gone. $6 million reasons why I would rather have a stud DT instead of an aging former-stud LG.

OK, best case scenario:

LT: Riley Reiff or Jon Martin

LG: Geoff Schwartz or Brandon Bell

C: Ryan Kalil , Hangartner

RG: Jeff Otah , Schwartz or Bell

RT: Jordan Gross and understudy Lee Ziemba.

ALso in the mix: Mac. Bernadeau, Zack Williams, Gary Williams.

I KNOW we need defense, but where? DT (needs to be a free agent--Wharton getting cut saved $6 million--get a good DT!!

In the second round, draft a solid OLB.

Some of you swear we need CB help. Gamble is solid, and you have a healing Hogan, who is solid. Then Munnerlyn and Butler in passing downs. Thomas in the hole and on Special teams. I do not think CB will be a huge need.

In the fourth, I think I would draft another LB. Connor is probably gone. What about Cole from NC State? He would be great on special teams and a stud reserve. Beason comes back, Anderson is locked down. What else do we need?

DE? Do not forget that Johnson was about like Hardy until his third year. Keiser is a great addition. He should have stayed at Stanford, but he left with Harbaugh. He played in a 4-3 and a 3-4. He has 4 sacks this year. He will be much better next year. I say let the youth blossom at DE.

Oh, and WR? We have our WRs. Wait for Gettis. Cam is already making Lafell and Naanee look good. They are building rapport. Pilares will get better. Remember, SSmith was a returner his first year. Smith will hit the wall soon, but he has another year. Wait one more year before bringing in a stud WR.

So, where are our needs again?

This is my opinion of what we do in the draft:

OLT (better get one now, because there are no good ones after the middle of the first round), Reiff or Martin.

OLB Most are falling into the second anyway. Remember, there are only about 13 4-3 teams, so a good WLB might fall farther than a LT or WR.

MLB- We need depth behind Beason, especially after an Achilles tear.

FS- Martin is going into a contract year, so maybe he learns to tackle. Or maybe we move him to CB and bring in a hitter. Safeties can be found late in the draft.

K-Maybe, just maybe, we draft a kicker. I hope not, but maybe.

For those who do not read entire posts before lashing out in cyber rage, understand this about cutting Wharton: It is a business. He is aging, and LG was not a strength this season. I love Wharton, but We could have had a solid DT with his salary.

[MHS831]

Here is how I figure it might go down (guessing at next week's results)

1. Indy ------------------------ Andrew Luck QB

2. St Louis --- ------------------Matt Kalil LT

3. Washington (trade) -----------Robert Griffin III QB

4. Cleveland --------------------Trent Richardson (or WR Blackmon) RB

5. Minnesota (from Washington)--Justin Blackmon, WR (Minn could take Reiff here)

6. Tampa Bay-------------------Morris Claiborne CB

7. Jacksonville-------------------Michael Floyd, WR

8. Miami ------------------------Landry Jones, QB

OK, who are the players (at positions of questionable degrees of need) left?

DT-Devon Still, Penn State; Brandon Thompson, Clemson (I think there will be some risers here after the combine)-Hurney, let RR take over and sign a free agent--not a scrub either.

WR- Alshon Jeffrey (I am not sure he will succeed in NFL--not immediately, anyhow.)

CB- Dre Kirkpatrick-- a Patrick Peterson type.

OT- Jonathan Martin and Riley Reiff (If we do not take one, a feeding frenzy will follow. Buffalo, KC, Arizona all want LOTs).

MLB- What if Beason is not healing as planned? Luke Kuechley

OG- SOme say David DeCastro is the best lineman in the draft.

OLB-Zach Brown

To me, the OT is a no brainer if Reiff or Martin are on the board, and one will be. Protect CAM!! DT in free agency and a LB in the second round. Let Hogan heal your CB worries. Butler is not bad. Put Munnerlyn back at nickel and you are solid at CB.

[koolkatluke]

Left Tackle would go a LONG way in keeping Cam healthy. Gross to RT. WHat if Otah can play? Move him to RG--easier on knees. What about Bell or Schwartz? Move them to LG and fight for the job. What about Wharton? $6 million reasons why he could be gone. $6 million reasons why I would rather have a stud DT instead of an aging former-stud LG.

OK, best case scenario:

LT: Riley Reiff or Jon Martin

LG: Geoff Schwartz or Brandon Bell

C: Ryan Kalil , Hangartner

RG: Jeff Otah , Schwartz or Bell

RT: Jordan Gross and understudy Lee Ziemba.

ALso in the mix: Mac. Bernadeau, Zack Williams, Gary Williams.

I KNOW we need defense, but where? DT (needs to be a free agent--Wharton getting cut saved $6 million--get a good DT!!

In the second round, draft a solid OLB.

Some of you swear we need CB help. Gamble is solid, and you have a healing Hogan, who is solid. Then Munnerlyn and Butler in passing downs. Thomas in the hole and on Special teams. I do not think CB will be a huge need.

In the fourth, I think I would draft another LB. Connor is probably gone. What about Cole from NC State? He would be great on special teams and a stud reserve. Beason comes back, Anderson is locked down. What else do we need?

DE? Do not forget that Johnson was about like Hardy until his third year. Keiser is a great addition. He should have stayed at Stanford, but he left with Harbaugh. He played in a 4-3 and a 3-4. He has 4 sacks this year. He will be much better next year. I say let the youth blossom at DE.

Oh, and WR? We have our WRs. Wait for Gettis. Cam is already making Lafell and Naanee look good. They are building rapport. Pilares will get better. Remember, SSmith was a returner his first year. Smith will hit the wall soon, but he has another year. Wait one more year before bringing in a stud WR.

So, where are our needs again?

This is my opinion of what we do in the draft:

OLT (better get one now, because there are no good ones after the middle of the first round), Reiff or Martin.

OLB Most are falling into the second anyway. Remember, there are only about 13 4-3 teams, so a good WLB might fall farther than a LT or WR.

MLB- We need depth behind Beason, especially after an Achilles tear.

FS- Martin is going into a contract year, so maybe he learns to tackle. Or maybe we move him to CB and bring in a hitter. Safeties can be found late in the draft.

K-Maybe, just maybe, we draft a kicker. I hope not, but maybe.

For those who do not read entire posts before lashing out in cyber rage, understand this about cutting Wharton: It is a business. He is aging, and LG was not a strength this season. I love Wharton, but We could have had a solid DT with his salary.

I don't think depending on a 4th round pick to be a starter in his 1st season really playing is a smart move.

[CarolinaPanthersFan#1]

It sure would be nice if we picked an ELITE "lock down" cornerback with our 1st round pick. Someone as good as guys like Darrelle Revis with the Jets.

2nd round we should get the best Dlineman available. 3rd round Linebacker, Oline, or receiver. 4th round go with the best available I guess.

[Matthias]

Can Mike Goodson bring us a third round pick?