Got A Chance To Talk To A Player On The D-Line About The Draft

[Lt Pinkerton]

I don't want to say who it was because I know these athletes google themselves, but we talked for a moment about the draft and what vibes he was getting on who he liked/who would be available.

I brought up D. Poe and the player said that he would always take up two blockers, and that you can't single-team such a guy. He said he would be very happy with Poe. I then asked him about Claiborne and we talked about what a beast he is, he said no way he falls that far because he just ran a 4.37 at the LSU pro day and someone will take him before the Panthers select. (we already knew that though)

I then said that I hoped we pick a defensive player to help the D-line out, and he said "I think we will probably take an offensive guy because of people leaving and people getting old". What I gain from this is that we will take an OT to ensure Cam's protection due to Gross getting up there in age and Wharton leaving.

Of course this is all just hearsay but in this time pre-draft all we get is speculation, and it's doubtful that the player really knows what the FO is going to do during the draft. However, word gets around between the players and it seems the vibes are that the first pick will be a lineman. Take it how you will.

[csx]

Sounds like it was a defensive end :)

[CRA]

Well....we know what Charles Johnson thinks.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Players will tell you who they want, but the FO will pick who they want. Speculation man, speculation. Regardless who is taken #9, it better help.

[savage]

players have no idea. i went to deangelo williams draft party last year and he was hoping we'd go defense and didnt know cam was the pick.

[Frizzy350]

If it's offense, I think we take Decastro. His mobility fits in so well with the style of offense we run. Guard is also a bigger need right now than any position.

Sure we could use another corner, but we do have an ELITE starter cornerback.

Sure we could use a dominant Dlineman, but we have some young talent there, some proven vets, and one proven star there.

We have 2 backup quality guards looking to start. Protecting is one of the best investments we can make with this draft. Plus we are an injury to Kalil or Gross away from having an average Oline to having a downright awful Oline.

He isn't much of a reach at 9 either, many mocks have him going between 11 and 15.

[Proudiddy]

I will poo a razorblade if we draft offense with that first pick.

[csx]

I'd be fine with OL just not my preference.

Decastro or Reiff would likely actually be the best players available at 9

[pantherclaw]

Lineman will be BPA.

Nothing new.

[TopCat]

Guard at 9?

eehhhh?

[cotblock]

[BeasonBeastingBacks]

well thats nice to know

[Guest Bwood]

Michael Floyd?

[unicar15]

If Hurney drafts offense in this draft he is a freaking moron. You don't draft offensive tackles to sit for a year before starting. Jeff Otah is a good OT if he stays healthy and if he doesn't then plug Bell back in there. He did pretty well for a rookie. If he had been a second round pick nobody would think twice about replacing him but because he wasn't touted as a "top of the draft" type of player we all write him off as if he's a scrub. First round offensive tackles are ready-made for the NFL and should be starters from day 1. Our offense was great, our defense sucked. We don't need offensive talent in the first round...but I wouldn't put it past Hurney's dumbass.