Pft's Panther Team Needs

[The Special One]

Last year, the Carolina Panthers had the first pick in the draft, took a chance on a player who wasn’t viewed as a sure thing, and scored big time when Cam Newton turned out to be as impressive a rookie quarterback as the NFL has ever seen. This year, the Panthers enter the draft knowing their offense is in good shape moving forward, and needing to build a defense.

Defensive tackle: The Panthers’ run defense was brutally bad last season, and they simply have to get better in the middle of their defensive line. With the ninth pick in the NFL draft they’re highly likely to take someone they think can start at defensive tackle from Day One.

Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State is widely regarded as both the best defensive tackle in this draft and the defensive tackle who will be most ready to start as a rookie, and Carolina would be smart to snap him up if he’s available. Some mock drafts have shown the Panthers going after workout warrior Dontari Poe of Memphis, and although Poe is an intriguing talent, he’s a better fit for a team that can be patient enough to develop his raw athleticism and turn him into a complete defensive lineman.

Defensive end: Don’t be surprised if the Panthers go with defensive line in both the first and second rounds, with a tackle and an end as their first two picks. If Carolina goes with a defensive end at No. 9, it could be North Carolina’s Quinton Coples, a 284-pounder who has the talent to start immediately, but whose work ethic has been questioned. If tackle is the choice in the first round, a defensive end in the second round like Marshall’s Vinny Curry could be an option.

Cornerback: The Panthers traded away their third-round pick to acquire tight end Greg Olsen, so if they do go with a defensive end and a defensive tackle in the first and second rounds, they’d enter the third day of the draft having addressed only their defensive line. If that is the case, they’ll hope they can take a flyer on Day 3 on someone who will be able to make a difference in their secondary. Cornerback is a position they’d like to improve, and if there’s a cornerback available in Rounds 4-7 who’s also a good special teams player, that would be ideal. The Panthers struggled on special teams last season, and the third day of the draft is a good time to add players who can return kicks or improve their coverage units.

Wide receiver: Steve Smith’s recent contract extension will keep him in place as Newton’s top receiver for another few years, but the Panthers would like to surround Newton with as many weapons as they can. With five picks on the third day of the draft, the Panthers will likely take at least one receiver and hope he can develop.

Impact players like Newton don’t come along every year, but the Panthers will hope that this year’s draft leaves them with an upgraded defensive line. Anything beyond that is gravy.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

[Snake]

Meh don't see us going line in both 1st and 2nd. CB will be in one of those rounds if we are going to blitz. Need at least 3 good CBS.CBs

[Ken]

Linebacker is a bigger need than WR for me.

[Kyle82]

With Gettys and Lafell complimenting Smith why would we even be looking @ a WR?

[teeray]

I am one of the few that doesn't think that DT and CB are that big of needs.

At DT we have two very young DTs that played well at times and will have a full offseason this year, plus the added bonus of Ron Edwards returning from IR.

At CB we have Gamble who was really great last season, and Brandon Hogan who will finally be healthy to compete for the #2 CB or nickel spot.

I would rather see us upgrade the LB, DE, and safety spots before either the DT or CB position.

It also would be nice to get another playmaker at WR and solidify the RT position.

So if it were my call I would say our biggest areas of need are (in no particular order):

DE

LB

WR

S

RT

But what do i know!

[The Special One]

With Gettys and Lafell complimenting Smith why would we even be looking @ a WR?

We might not even draft a WR this year. Unless Blackmon falls to #9

[Ken]

I am one of the few that doesn't think that DT and CB are that big of needs.

At DT we have two very young DTs that played well at times and will have a full offseason this year, plus the added bonus of Ron Edwards returning from IR.

At CB we have Gamble who was really great last season, and Brandon Hogan who will finally be healthy to compete for the #2 CB or nickel spot.

I would rather see us upgrade the LB, DE, and safety spots before either the DT or CB position.

It also would be nice to get another playmaker at WR and solidify the RT position.

So if it were my call I would say our biggest areas of need are (in no particular order):

DE

LB

WR

S

RT

But what do i know!

CB has to be a need. If Gamble/Hogan goes done it will be just as bad as last year. We need one potential starting level CB in this draft.

[Sword]

if we are going to play a lot of man coverage and blitz, then we are going to need better corners because captain is going to have a bad day. if we are going to do more cover 2 and bend but not break(which seems to be the trend in the NFL to respond to all the offenses going shotgun spread), we will need more pass rush; both interior and on the edge.

[EMSMedic79]

DL in the first, CB in the second.

[CRA]

CB has to be a need. If Gamble/Hogan goes done it will be just as bad as last year. We need one potential starting level CB in this draft.

Pass rush should be better this year....stopping the run should be better.

That will make the secondar better regardless

[Mother Grabber]

DE then CB. As teeray mentioned, we already have two young DTs. The only reason to add a third is if he's a slam dunk. Too bad Ingram isn't a few inches taller, he'd be the perfect DE to go for.

[teeray]

CB has to be a need. If Gamble/Hogan goes done it will be just as bad as last year. We need one potential starting level CB in this draft.

Our pass coverage against WRs wasn't that bad last year. We had no pass rush and we got killed underneath by RBs, FBs, and TEs because we don't have any LBs that can cover and safeties that can't tackle.

Also a pass rush will make Captain look a lot better.

If there is a really good CB that falls to us or is available then by all means make that pick. But until we get our front 7 fixed it won't matter if we trade for Revis we are still going to struggle against the pass.

Our struggles against the pass were not because of our CBs in my opinion.

[CRA]

if we are going to play a lot of man coverage and blitz, then we are going to need better corners because captain is going to have a bad day. if we are going to do more cover 2 and bend but not break(which seems to be the trend in the NFL to respond to all the offenses going shotgun spread), we will need more pass rush; both interior and on the edge.

Rivera doesn't want to sit back and play cover 2. Pressure helps corners even when playing man....and ideally Rivera wants to be healthy enough to attack

[jtnc]

Pass rush should be better this year....stopping the run should be better.

That will make the secondar better regardless

We still need a strong secondary, we're in a division with Brees and Matt Ryan. Both Lit us up last season through the air, Butler got absolutely smoked on that catch by Julio, Hogan hasn't showed me enough, Munnerlyn gets absolutely abused by bigger receivers.