New Guy Here, With A Mock Draft

[Frank Hollywood]

Although I've been browsing this forum for about a year now, this is my first post, so I wanted it to be a good one. With the draft coming up this Thursday, I wanted to post a mock draft of my own. While I admit I don't watch a lot of game tape for many prospects, I read mock drafts and big boards and follow very closely the needs of the Panther's organization.

I'm not going to bust out 50 different options, as I only see two possible outcomes. The Panthers have shown interest in trading back and the Jets have shown interest in moving up a bit for Ingram. If he's available, I give it about a 50% chance we move back to the 16th spot, and receive their 3rd rounder.

With that being said, here is my mock draft.

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

1 16 Whitney Mercilus DE Andre Branch DE

In my opinion (and it appears it's also the opinion of Rivera), our biggest need is a pass rusher. If Quinton Coples and Fletcher Cox are gone, or if Hurney doesn't see them as great picks, we would trade back and take the best pass rusher available. I honestly do not see Greg Hardy as a full time starter at this point. He was horrible against the run, and while there are many excuses available for him as well as the fact that he could develop, I see him more as a rotational player. Mercilus or Branch would be a great replacement and with Neblett and Edwards to help with DT, I think we would have the run defense/pass rush we need.

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

2 40 Kevin Zeitler OG Trumaine Johnson,Janoris Jenkins CB

Oddly enough,this was my hardest round so far

The reason I'm going OG is I don't believe Otah is the answer. I don't think he will ever be healthy for an entire season and Byron Bell had some serious growing pains last year. How many penalties did he commit again?? I could have gone CB here, but I felt OT was our greatest need as Hogan may be the replacement we need along with the fact that the added pass rush will help our DB's....

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s)

3 77 Russell Wilson QB LB,CB,WR

Ok, hear me out here. We ARE rebuilding. We have an offense which is built on a mobile QB. Although Derek Anderson is good as a backup at the moment because he knows the system, he is not a long term answer, nor is he very mobile. As for Clausen....well, he simply doesn't fit here at all. Drafting Wilson is a GREAT move here as he would be a perfect fit for this offense. He is sliding down the draft mostly because of his height, but the man is a great Backup and possibly future starter somewhere. While this may not seem like the sexiest pick at the moment, if Cam were to go down for a few games in the next year or two, would you really want someone like Clausen leading our team?

Round Pick # Player Position

4 104 Joe Adams PR/WR

I like this guy, a LOT. Maybe it's just me, but he reminds me a bit of Steve Smith with his speed/size. (who was also drafted in Round 3 as a PR/WR) I think we have an excellent special teams return man and possibly a future starter at WR if he develops.

Round Pick # Player Position

5 143 Bryan Anger P

There's not a lot to be said here. We don't have a Punter, this is arguably the best Punter in the draft. Yes, we could wait till Round 7 and draft a mediocre punter, but I believe we are trying to build a strong Special Teams and that the Front office realizes that FIELD POSITION CAN WIN GAMES.

Round Player Position

6,6,7 ????????? OL and LB depth

I'm new to this, and don't really have a clue as to who would go here, but I do think that these spots should be filled with potential LB and OL talent. Maybe even CB.

To sum up my draft in case you didn't feel like reading.....

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

1 16 Whitney Mercilus DE Andre Branch DE

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

2 40 Kevin Zeitler OG Trumaine Johnson,Janoris Jenkins CB

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s)

3 77 Russell Wilson QB LB,CB,WR

Round Pick # Player Position

4 104 Joe Adams PR/WR

Round Pick # Player Position

5 143 Bryan Anger P

Round Player Position

6,6,7 ????????? OL and LB depth

You may note that I didn't really lean towards addressing CB,LB or WR with this draft.

Why I didn't go LB:

I feel that we have decent backups at LB, esp. with re-signing Senn and Applewhite and while it would be great to spend a pick on Insurance for Beason or Thomas Davis, we don't have unlimited picks and I felt the bigger need was at Pass Rusher. I believe the Front Office agrees with me as well.

Why I didn't go CB:

Mostly BPA coupled with our needs, I felt like Jenkins is a bit too risky. Other than him, I didn't see a CB that would be able to start immediately in the second round by beating out Hogan or Munnerlyn for the job. Also, again, I stand my ground that our Pass defense will improve immensely with the added Pass Rush and fixes on the DL. Also, don't forget our new DB coach....

Why I didn't go WR:

This has been the biggest debate I've seen so far with the draft. Hear me out.... We ARE rebuilding. We ARE a young team that is growing. We have SEVERE problems with the defense and special teams that needed addressing last year. We took care of Special Teams for the most part this offseason and now we need to address Defense.

Do we need another WR? Sort of... I believe between Gettis, Lafell, Pliares and Adams that we have our future number 2 and number 3 receivers. We will need to find a replacement for Steve Smith, but he has quite a few years left, so why not let Gettis and Lafell have another year to grow?

We may see one of them breakout, and we can draft a WR with our first pick next year and start grooming him to possibly be Smith's replacement.

* Other option if we don't trade back

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

1 9 Fletcher Cox DT Quinton Coples DE

Round Pick # Player Position Other Option(s) Position

2 40 Kevin Zeitler OG Trumaine Johnson,Janoris Jenkins CB

Round Pick # Player Position

4 104 Joe Adams PR/WR

Round Pick # Player Position

5 143 Bryan Anger P

Round Player Position

6,6,7 ????????? OL and LB depth

I'd love to hear some feedback and/or criticism on my picks/thoughts regarding this draft.

(If anyone read this far)

*edited Pick 2 as I meant to choose the best OG on the board, not OT.

[Panthro]

welcome!

A)I'd rather Chandler Jones

B)I am wolfpacker yet cannot bring myself to drafting RW in the 3rd.

[Frank Hollywood]

welcome!

A)I'd rather Chandler Jones

B)I am wolfpacker yet cannot bring myself to drafting RW in the 3rd.

I think Jones would fit in there as well, he's been moving up the past few weeks.

Why no Wilson in the third?

[Dash Global]

yea Wilson in the 3rd is terrible.

we gotta go OLB or WR

[Panthro]

I think Jones would fit in there as well, he's been moving up the past few weeks.

Why no Wilson in the third?

Because we have a very capable back up QB right now in Derek Anderson. He'd be 3rd string this year and wouldn't be able to contribute on special teams. I think Joe Adams makes more sense in the 3rd than the 4th.

Me my perfect scenario would be trade back and snag Chandler, Jenkins, Joe Adams, Akiel Adams, and Terrel Manning

[Frank Hollywood]

Because we have a very capable back up QB right now in Derek Anderson. He'd be 3rd string this year and wouldn't be able to contribute on special teams. I think Joe Adams makes more sense in the 3rd than the 4th.

I'm trying to look ahead more than one year. Anderson won't be around much longer, he was chosen because he (1) knows Chud's offense and (2) is a veteran who could mentor Cam, and once Cam is settled in we can get a rookie QB who fits our offense to mold into a great second string. Who fits that mold better and would be cheaper than a 3rd/possibly 4th rounder? It's also possible to switch the Joe Adams/Rusell Wilson pick depending on value and when they thought the players would come off the board.

Again, this isn't the sexiest pick, but I bet most would be wishing this had happened if Anderson is gone next year, Cam goes down for a few games and we have to put Jimmy in. when we have a QB as mobile as Cam, we need insurance. I think Russell fits what we need in a backup QB.

[chubs2496]

Dumb draft

[Frank Hollywood]

Dumb draft

Is that it?

[BEASTfromdaEAST]

Would love to get Russell on our team but no way would spend my 3rd on him when i could grab 3 legit D prospects in 1,2, and 3 rounds

[Panthro]

Would love to get Russell on our team but no way would spend my 3rd on him when i could grab 3 legit D prospects in 1,2, and 3 rounds

yep there are other qb options.

*posted from someone currently wearing an NC State hoodie*

[SOJA]

glad to have you aboard. Good post, but I do not want Russel Wilson before the fifth round, where he will likely be gone. Also I think corner is too big of a need to possibly pass up.

anyways good post, hope to have your opinion around more

[CarolinaNCSU]

I love RW, but taking him in the 3rd could go down as Hurney's worst move of all-time. Yes...ahead of AE and Brown. The only time I can remember a team doing something like that is the Pats last year, but Brady is old, been injured, and Mallett would have been a 1st rounder with a brain.

I could live with your alternate draft though (without trade back).

[Frank Hollywood]

I was expecting some criticism regarding the QB pick, but not this much.

Have you seen his highlights?

(NSFW language)

The man is a Cam Newton mini-me. Look at how he scrambles. Look at his arm.

I don't see how a third rounder is too much to pay for a lesser clone of your starting QB.

[C47]

I was expecting some criticism regarding the QB pick, but not this much.

Have you seen his highlights?

(NSFW language)

The man is a Cam Newton mini-me. Look at how he scrambles. Look at his arm.

I don't see how a third rounder is too much to pay for a lesser clone of your starting QB.

Maybe because with as many holes as we have you can't take a guy who will only see the field if Cam gets hurt in the third. Let alone a guy who will be a project like RW will. Awful draft! You failed to address our two biggest needs (DT, CB), reached for a guy who will be there in the fifth and even then would be too high to draft him for this team (RW), and took Joe Adams in the fourth when he's probably going to go much earlier like a certain jack of all trades Ole Miss player did a few years ago...just terrible....