Now That It Has Simmered For A While...

[carolinarolls]

In my opinion the first round tells us all a little more than we knew. I was shocked when I did not hear Goodell say "Fletcher Cox" when he marched to the podium with our pick. I am on the outside looking in though and from where I sit, I saw DL as our biggest issue. The exact same (incorrect) feeling I had last year when we drafted Cam. Anyway, it looks like LB, MLB at that, is a bigger concern. Achilles injuries are almost impossible to fully recover from, at least to the same point athletically where you were. TD has some IR issues to say the least and Connor is gone. Seems like a no brainer now. I was under the impression however and truly hoped that JB and TD were solid. I really feel that Anderson is solid. Apparently they are not as convincing as we all hope. If these assumptions are fair, Kuechly was clearly the best pick.

Or maybe this means that Fua and McClain are looking much better than they did as rookies. Maybe they have inspired enough confidence to allow Hurney and Riv to take a safe pick and stockpile a position. It would not be that big of a shock if they have. Both have the measurables to compete and the majority of picks after 60 get at least year of leeway to mature.

Understanding that, the 2nd round pick is too high to go BPA without limits. I think we have to stick to the Defense and the pick should be a corner or an end. How Hurney and Rivera feel about the readiness of Hogan as well as the maturation of Hardy/Applewhite in the system could be revealed a little with this pick.

I am hoping for an end myself because our pass rush is slack at best and I think defense begins and ends with pressure on the QB. Coverage, good coverage, is all too often negated by the zebras. Corners are just too limited. When the ball is in the air and on target, its usually too late to worry about how good your corners are because if the play is close we are likely to see yellow. Of the two positions, and taking into consideration the phantom rushing the passer and blow to the head plays, I believe more disruption can come from the ends than anywhere else.

So who is the most disruptive end we could get today?

[GotSwag?]

I went from being shocked we picked him, to liking the pick, now loving the pick.

He is simply a guy who is a leader, smart, and oh yeah..is pretty dang good

Today gets Jenkins or Curry and im happy

[Catalyst]

Picking Kuechly says less about Beason than it does about Davis. I think Beason will be fine; it's Davis that they've essentially given up on with this pick. People don't realize how good Kuechly is if they think he's just a MLB. He can play outside. He's not Dan Connor; he's a much better athlete with coverage skills as good (if not better) than Davis/Anderson/Beason and is much faster/quicker than Connor.

My guess is Beason stays inside, Anderson plays strongside, and Kuechly plays weakside. Davis is cut after camp, starts the season and gets hurt, or is kept as a backup and cut before his roster bonus hits next March. Maybe an outside chance he stays healthy and starts all season and is then let go, but that's a long shot. I've never felt he could come back at full strength if at all from 3 ACL tears.

Beason will be fine. We've seen the video evidence of his recovery and even if he's not the Beason of old this year, he'll be damn close.

[carolinarolls]

I hope like hell you are right about Beason SCP. As happy as I have become about the LK I cannot help but be concerned about Beason a little. And now with this whole Melvin Kiper thing.. somebody should just slap that guy

who do we get today?

[JawnyBlaze]

Definitely a good write up, OP. I have to disagree on one point though. I don't think the selection says anything more about their satisfaction with Fua/McClain than it does Hardy/other DEs. If you're gonna say "well Cox was a better prospect so that gives passing up on him for Kuechly more weight", they had Coples in for a second interview right before the draft. I think it's safe to say if Kuechly wasn't there at #9, Coples would be a Panther. Someone, somewhere mentioned Kuechly was their #1 prospect on the whole board. Can't remember who, don't know if it was a credible claim, but I just have to believe that Kuechly was just so far above all other prospects in their eyes that they passed on more obvious needs like DT or DE.

Where I'm going with this is here - I think our 2nd round pick should be Devon Still (God I hope he's available) or Jerel Worthy. Vinny Curry might be good but I think Still and Worthy are EASILY safer picks and if picking Kuechly has indicated anything, it's that they're playing it safe. If they're going to gamble at all with this pick, it'll be on someone with much higher potential in Jenkins.

[carolinarolls]

Safe is the feeling i get with LK too. Also, I agree with Still today if available.

[chubs2496]

Once upon a time I wanted Devon still in the first. I'd be so happy with him at 40

[Dash Global]

We have alot of depth at DT and just drafted two in the 3rd round last year.

We have pretty much zero depth at DE outside of Hardy and CJ.

We only have one proven starting caliber CB.

This pick should be simply.

Jenkins or Curry.

[mountainpantherfan]

BPA. No reaching or drafting for need. When teams do this they end up drafting a Bruce Irvin or a Weeden or a Armanti Edwards or a Everette Brown! I hope Hurney has learned his lesson with those two. What I would like to see is more emphasis on skill and less on character. I'm not saying ignore character issues but rather look for skill first and foremost.