With two games to go

[Yaboychris28]

Kirkpatrick... pass

[Lout]

I think Alshon Jeffrey might become an option if we are picking down at #10. Not that I think we should take him.. but that is about the area he will be taken.

[nickzz]

I think Alshon Jeffrey might become an option if we are picking down at #10. Not that I think we should take him.. but that is about the area he will be taken.

i'd rather have michael floyd

[Carolina_Champ]

I'd be very disappointed in Hurney if we went offense in the first round and it wasn't an offensive tackle.

[rayzor]

we have enough needs and there isn't enough disparity in talent among many in the first round that we could afford to trade back to just about anywhere in the 10-20 pick range and do well.

[DaCityKats]

looking at the WR FA list and it is some decent guys who can get deep and would flourish in this offense. D Jack, V Jack, Colston, Meachem, Jerome Simpson just to name a few. cant see WR as the first pick unless Blackmon falls

add Eddie Royal to the list of WR FA's.

[Lout]

I hope offense is not our choice at #1, no matter who we choose.. not even Blackmon. I believe our offense is fine.. defense is where we lose games.

[GamecockSmitty4]

Riley Reiff will be on the board... but at that point, you have to ask yourself.. is OT the biggest need on the team? I could see taking Kalil if we were #2 or #3.. but that is just because he is the best talent on the board. When you drop down to about pick #10, you start drafting more on need rather than BPA because the blue chip prospects are generally off the board.

I highly doubt Reiff will be our top player on our board at that juncture.

I understand where you're coming from and it's difficult to watch the D sometimes. But the injured LB's and (potential) emergence of Jordan Senn along with the rookie DT's having a chance to get a full offseason of pro workouts and OTA's, we really don't know exactly what we have (and don't have) yet. IMO, the only place on defense that we know for a fact needs an upgrade is FS (Again, this is saying that we don't know what Fua or McClain can be with a full offseason).

My reasoning for Riley Reiff is his potential replacing RT (or LT if Gross flips). It has been stated a few times that Reiff is the best OT prospect in college football, ahead of Kalil. However, Kalil's freak athleticism for the position, versatility (have you seen how many blocked kicks he has?), and last name are going to push him to a top 5 pick. With all this being said, OT is a position of need because of Byron Bell. Bell has shown progress and has become a decent OT but is a penalty machine. Also, Reiff has the potential to be an elite LT whereas Bell's potential is only that of a decent starter or respectable backup.

[DaCityKats]

I hope offense is not our choice at #1, no matter who we choose.. not even Blackmon. I believe our offense is fine.. defense is where we lose games.

but than that goes by drafting for need and not bpa. if Blackmon falls, it will be hard not to take him considering we dont have #1 WR to replace smitty. yes we lose games on d but you cant be content with one side of the ball and solely focus on the other.

[DaCityKats]

I understand where you're coming from and it's difficult to watch the D sometimes. But the injured LB's and (potential) emergence of Jordan Senn along with the rookie DT's having a chance to get a full offseason of pro workouts and OTA's, we really don't know exactly what we have (and don't have) yet. IMO, the only place on defense that we know for a fact needs an upgrade is FS (Again, this is saying that we don't know what Fua or McClain can be with a full offseason).

My reasoning for Riley Reiff is his potential replacing RT (or LT if Gross flips). It has been stated a few times that Reiff is the best OT prospect in college football, ahead of Kalil. However, Kalil's freak athleticism for the position, versatility (have you seen how many blocked kicks he has?), and last name are going to push him to a top 5 pick. With all this being said, OT is a position of need because of Byron Bell. Bell has shown progress and has become a decent OT but is a penalty machine. Also, Reiff has the potential to be an elite LT whereas Bell's potential is only that of a decent starter or respectable backup.

Riley could also be near the top of our draft board considering he could solidify the OT spot for years like you said. i seen some draftniks who say he is just as good if not better than Kalil. and might grade out better so i could see him coming here.

[Lout]

I understand where you're coming from and it's difficult to watch the D sometimes. But the injured LB's and (potential) emergence of Jordan Senn along with the rookie DT's having a chance to get a full offseason of pro workouts and OTA's, we really don't know exactly what we have (and don't have) yet. IMO, the only place on defense that we know for a fact needs an upgrade is FS (Again, this is saying that we don't know what Fua or McClain can be with a full offseason).

My reasoning for Riley Reiff is his potential replacing RT (or LT if Gross flips). It has been stated a few times that Reiff is the best OT prospect in college football, ahead of Kalil. However, Kalil's freak athleticism for the position, versatility (have you seen how many blocked kicks he has?), and last name are going to push him to a top 5 pick. With all this being said, OT is a position of need because of Byron Bell. Bell has shown progress and has become a decent OT but is a penalty machine. Also, Reiff has the potential to be an elite LT whereas Bell's potential is only that of a decent starter or respectable backup.

In the same breath, you need to give Otah the chance to fully heal from his knee surgery. If Otah is the same player we had two years ago, do you agree that OT becomes way less of a need? If Otah fails again next year, OT will be our top pick in the 13' Draft. I think Hurney and Rivera have every intention of allowing Otah prove that he can come back at a high level.. and if he doesn't I think they are fine with Byron Bell for one more year considering his progression.

If you think about it, Otah has only had 1 injury that has kept him out for any long duration of time.. it's this darn knee injury. Sure, he has had some back pain, and shoulder pain.. but nothing he couldn't have played through. It's one singular injury, and most people want to label him injury prone for a single injury. I want to give the guy one more chance, because we all know how dominant he is when healthy.

Based on Rivera's comments in prior press conferences, I tend to believe that we will be drafting defense, early and often.

[Lout]

but than that goes by drafting for need and not bpa. if Blackmon falls, it will be hard not to take him considering we dont have #1 WR to replace smitty. yes we lose games on d but you cant be content with one side of the ball and solely focus on the other.

I am not an advocate of drafting straight BPA. My philosophy would be to draft BPA based on a need. So let's say our top 3 needs are, CB/LB/DT (just for example), I would be all for drafting the best availalbe player from those 3 positions. If the best player on the board is Richardson the RB from Bama'.. there is just no way you can justify that. There has to be some limitations to the BPA philosophy.

[GamecockSmitty4]

In the same breath, you need to give Otah the chance to fully heal from his knee surgery. If Otah is the same player we had two years ago, do you agree that OT becomes way less of a need? If Otah fails again next year, OT will be our top pick in the 13' Draft. I think Hurney and Rivera have every intention of allowing Otah prove that he can come back at a high level.. and if he doesn't I think they are fine with Byron Bell for one more year considering his progression.

If you think about it, Otah has only had 1 injury that has kept him out for any long duration of time.. it's this darn knee injury. Sure, he has had some back pain, and shoulder pain.. but nothing he couldn't have played through. It's one singular injury, and most people want to label him injury prone for a single injury. I want to give the guy one more chance, because we all know how dominant he is when healthy.

Based on Rivera's comments in prior press conferences, I tend to believe that we will be drafting defense, early and often.

Don't get me wrong...I've been a huge fan of Otah since he came to Charlotte. I would love for him to get over this injury bug but his history in Carolina just shows that he's having a problem with that. Not to mention that Gross seems to be on the downward slope of his career. He's still pretty good but how much longer can you expect quality performance?

Also, don't get me wrong in the fact that I would love some help on D. However, the only guy that I really see being an upgrade on the D is Claiborne and he will likely be gone. Maybe someone will emerge in the all star games and Combine. As of right now, I'm just not seeing any major upgrade on D that would be available at our pick.

[Lout]

Don't get me wrong...I've been a huge fan of Otah since he came to Charlotte. I would love for him to get over this injury bug but his history in Carolina just shows that he's having a problem with that. Not to mention that Gross seems to be on the downward slope of his career. He's still pretty good but how much longer can you expect quality performance?

Also, don't get me wrong in the fact that I would love some help on D. However, the only guy that I really see being an upgrade on the D is Claiborne and he will likely be gone. Maybe someone will emerge in the all star games and Combine. As of right now, I'm just not seeing any major upgrade on D that would be available at our pick.

I think that will depend on if we are transitioning to the 34 or not as well. If we aren't I think Zach Brown/Kirkpatrick/Barron could all be upgrades. If we are switching to 34, then Upshaw can be added to the short list.

On offense, Decastro would be the only significant upgrade (this year) in my opinion. We could bring an rookie OT in this year, but let's be realistic, Jordan Gross has not dropped off completely yet, and I doubt a rookie OT would beat our current Gross. And if Otah comes back healthy, we essentially shelfed our 1st round pick for a whole year. When you are picking in the top 10, you need to pick a guy who can come in and contribute right away, and I don't necessarily think that will be the case with an OT prospect. That's why I think OT will be our top pick next season, not this season.