Never Paid Attention To The Draft. Some Very General Observations About Drafting

[top dawg]

To be honest, I just never saw the point in getting all caught up in the draft. I mean, I ain't a scout, GM, coach or anything. I am just a fan. I know that I have to deal with the results either way, so I am basically just concerned with the end result. And when I say "end result", I am referring to the result on the field. And, in my mind, sometimes you have to wait even three or four years before developing a rational opinion. Of course there are exceptions when dealing with extremes. People, including myself, tend to make immediate judgments on rookies that appear extremely good or extremely bad. But, hey, 'It is what it is." [lol]

Being a noob at investing myself into this year's draft, I feel that the smartest front offices invest in sure-fire spot on football players in the first round. To pick anything other than a solid football player who can make an immediate impact in the first round is pure lunacy. That's why I really like the Kuechly pick, and, in retrospect, he was really the only pick to be made under the circumstances. The other sure-fire, impactful players were gone, and there were a whole helluva lot more questions regarding the immediate effectiveness of the available defensive linemen at their respective positions than Kuechly at linebacker. Moreover, you are trying to do the same thing when it comes to each successive round, but of course the degree of "sure-firedness" becomes more questionable as the rounds go on. Sinatolu was probably the BPA using the "sure-firedness" parameter. In my opinion, you got to get the first one right, but the Panthers got the first two right, and all the others are gravy.

As you get to the later rounds of the draft, this is where homework and attention to detail really rears its head---ugly or otherwise. It is where fans really don't have a clue unless they are scout/draft nerds who don't have a life. This is where the smaller school gems can be acquired like hopefully a Josh Norman, and more speculative and/or developmental players who can make or break a seasons for years to come, come into play. So, to pick up an explosive player like Joe Adams this year (notwithstanding his health question that by most accounts should not be an issue), and to take a flyer on a player who basically fell due to injury but has obvious talent like Brandon Hogan last year, will hopefully be the types of picks that will help the Panthers hit pay dirt.

So, all-in-all, I am pleased with the way the draft went. The only thing I absolutely hated is giving up next year's third (but I'll just chalk that up to Hurney being Hurney). It's not like I have a say-so in the matter anyway, and realize that I don't have enough knowledge to know whether or not Alexander was worth it. I believe Joe Adams was worth it. I hope that we did very well. Things could have been a whole lot worse. I would have been thoroughly confused had I been a Dolphins, Seahawks or Redkins fan right now.

[FirstRoundPick]

This should not have fallen off the first page. Great post anyway man.

[top dawg]

Thanks. I appreciate that.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Jags fans must have been pissed about the punter pick.

[Icege]

People don't like reason and rational because it means there is less opportunity for pie/rep without being an ass

oh look what i went and did :(

[jamos14]

Hell of a post.

[Argus Plexus]

If we didn't give up a pick from next year, it wouldn't be a Hurney draft. At least he's gone from giving away firsts for second round busts to giving away 3rds for 4th round sleepers.

[Zod]

excellent post

[Mother Grabber]

Why does everyone complain about trading future picks. It's not like we just gave away the pick and got nothing in return. We got a 4th round pick, who right now looks like a great value. So next year, we will have a DE with 1 year of experience for our 3rd round pick.

[top dawg]

Why does everyone complain about trading future picks. It's not like we just gave away the pick and got nothing in return. We got a 4th round pick, who right now looks like a great value. So next year, we will have a DE with 1 year of experience for our 3rd round pick.

For me personally, it seems as it turns out bad more times than not. Yeah Stewart was an excellent pick on the face of things, but then when you look at the fact that we will probably lose him, then we may as well just went with D-Will. In retrospect, in my opinion, Goodson and Sutton would have sufficed. Now looking at Edwards and Everette Brown, trading up was not to kind to the organization. Yeah, just making decisions on your normal picks during the draft are hit-and-miss, but to trade away future potential value during such a fluid time as the draft (in light of our history) stings just a little bit.

I suppose that it's all a part of the process, and hindsight really is 20:20. On an off note, I feel more comfortable trading a pick for a known commodity with solid potential like Olsen. That way you pretty much know what you're getting, plus you have much more time and soberness to really consider what you're doing.

[KBRed]

Plus, I'm assuming we don't re-sign Stew and get a 3rd round compensatory pick?

[Panthro]

Giving up a 3rd is much more palatable than giving up a 1st or 2nd. Also if there's a guy in the 3rd round next year that Hurney likes he will go and get him.

[top dawg]

Plus, I'm assuming we don't re-sign Stew and get a 3rd round compensatory pick?

Yeah, this year's pick was expendable at the ultimate expense of J-Stew. [i hope not]

[Cold Cat]

great post.