CPF96 Mock Draft #1

[carpanfan96]

Took a while to think about this one, compared it to the Panther's visits and my idea of what the team needs are. The defense ranked highly last season while the offense sputtered a bit due to play calling and inconsistencies among the offenses younger players.

Team Nees (not in order)-

WR, OL, DT, DB and LB depth

1st round - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee.

Drafting Patterson gives the Panthers a tall deep threat with long arms and big hands, which allows Smitty, Olsen and Lafell more room to work the underneath routes and get open more easily. It also gives the team a mismatch opportunity with either Smith or Lafell working the slot against smaller DB's or slower Lb's. He's got a ton of upside and has a high football IQ. with an unique combination of size, speed and agility. While he Is raw in his technique against press coverage and route running, he hasn't been playing highly competitive football for long with only 1 season of high level college football under his belt. With a high football IQ, his weaknesses are easily correctable and would give the Panther's a true #1 Wr for the future.

2nd round - Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St.

CB is a need with Gamble gone and Taylor fits Carolina's scheme perfectly. He's got good size and speed and plays well in both Man coverage and zone. He's got fluid hips and a great backpedal combined with above average speed and athleticism. A very instinctive corner with good ball skills and upper body strength to fight for jump balls. Has some injury and competition faced concerns, but really fits Carolina's scheme perfectly.

4th round - Montori Hughes, DT, Tennessee-Martin.

Yes, he has some character concerns. Talent wise he's a 2nd rounder though and has really good size and bulk with a terrific work ethic. High level athlete with extreme burst out of his stance, good footwork, above average agility and strength. Needs work on technique as he does get high with his pad level, but it's easily correctable with his work ethic.

5th round - Robert Lester, SS, Alabama.

High competition guy with a strong work ethic. Has a good frame with average - above average athleticism. High IQ when it comes to zones and playing the back end of the field, plays the ball really well in the air. Good above average run support defender. Has all the skills to develop into a NFL starting caliber SS.

6th round - Eric Herman, OG, Ohio

Ton of experience starting, good strength with a decent frame that's able to add some more bulk and strength. Average - slightly below average athlete though. Would provide a good depth player for the Panthers.

UDFA - LB Depth, OL depth, Kicker.

[DaCityKats]

i would have no problem with this.

[koolkatluke]

I have a problem with Patterson but everything else is fine.

[carpanfan96]

Thanks for the input guys, I swayed a ton in the first round between taking a DT or WR. I ended up going WR because I try to be accurate as possible for who I think Carolina will take, not necessarily who I want them to take. With the Team using a bunch of it's draft workouts on WR being what made me lean towards a WR being taken in the first.

[stirs]

Not a Lester fan, but have been a big Jamar Taylor fan. Good mock

[carpanfan96]

Not a Lester fan, but have been a big Jamar Taylor fan. Good mock

I can understand that, I just think that his upside makes a 5th round gamble on him worth the price of admission.

[stirs]

Would the Nevada kid be available in the 5th?

[carpanfan96]

Would the Nevada kid be available in the 5th?

He should be, he has a 6th - 7th round grade on him. I think he's like around 220th overall and like around the 18th-20th rated overall safety. I'm just going off of draft grades from the NFL draft advisory board, CBS sports current rankings and a few other draft site rankings.

[Dash Global]

Just watched this vid on Taylor. I like....

Three favorite prospects for the 1st and 2nd are Hopkins, Jenkins, and Taylor

[JawnyBlaze]

1. I just don't like Patterson in the 1st. Doesn't look like a legit #1 to me, despite all the hype he's been getting since after the season ended. I understand many people see something in him I don't and I wouldn't be pissed if he were our pick, but there's at least 6 or 7 guys that could be available at our pick I'd prefer.

2. Eh. I'm not saying Taylor is a reach there, I'm not saying it's a bad pick, but I don't think I'd like that pick either. Watching the videos he looks like he could be real solid, but unless Gettleman's top CB is available with our first pick I don't see us spending an early pick on one. We signed/re-signed 3 CBs in FA, our resources could be better spent elsewhere unless there's a CB that's far and away BPA.

4. I'd much rather, nay I demand we spend a higher pick than a 4th on a DT. Only S is possibly a worse position group. We only have one DT that even belongs in the league (maybe 2, I like Kearse) and that one DT is a 1-trick pony that should only be playing 3rd downs in my opinion. However, if our 4th round pick comes and we haven't taken a DT Hughes is as good a choice as any.

5. Another eh, in the 5th he's worth a gamble but holy hell was he disappointing this year. Good pick if he's there, but only because of the high reward/low risk factor. He'll most likely fail in the NFL if the loss of Barron, Kirkpatrick, whoever else caused his disappointing year.

6. Don't know anything about that guy, but we need OL depth in the back half of the draft, so good pick. I'll defer to your judgement on this particular player.

In summary, to be honest I don't care for this mock. I see your reasoning for the most part, but I just disagree on the quality of players (in the 1st and 5th) and timing of the position picks (in the 2nd and the 4th). In my opinion, the value lies in OL/DL in the 1st, WR/S/OL in the 2nd, OL/LB/K after that. That's the pattern I'd follow.

[Dash Global]

I dont think there are any worthy DT's worthy of the 14th pick.

Same thing with WR's. Only CB id take that high is Milliner and he wont be there.

There wont be any of the 3 elite LT's on the board, and you dont take OG's that high.

Considering our needs and our draft position, we are in a bad spot.

[carpanfan96]

1. I just don't like Patterson in the 1st. Doesn't look like a legit #1 to me, despite all the hype he's been getting since after the season ended. I understand many people see something in him I don't and I wouldn't be pissed if he were our pick, but there's at least 6 or 7 guys that could be available at our pick I'd prefer.

2. Eh. I'm not saying Taylor is a reach there, I'm not saying it's a bad pick, but I don't think I'd like that pick either. Watching the videos he looks like he could be real solid, but unless Gettleman's top CB is available with our first pick I don't see us spending an early pick on one. We signed/re-signed 3 CBs in FA, our resources could be better spent elsewhere unless there's a CB that's far and away BPA.

4. I'd much rather, nay I demand we spend a higher pick than a 4th on a DT. Only S is possibly a worse position group. We only have one DT that even belongs in the league (maybe 2, I like Kearse) and that one DT is a 1-trick pony that should only be playing 3rd downs in my opinion. However, if our 4th round pick comes and we haven't taken a DT Hughes is as good a choice as any.

5. Another eh, in the 5th he's worth a gamble but holy hell was he disappointing this year. Good pick if he's there, but only because of the high reward/low risk factor. He'll most likely fail in the NFL if the loss of Barron, Kirkpatrick, whoever else caused his disappointing year.

6. Don't know anything about that guy, but we need OL depth in the back half of the draft, so good pick. I'll defer to your judgement on this particular player.

In summary, to be honest I don't care for this mock. I see your reasoning for the most part, but I just disagree on the quality of players (in the 1st and 5th) and timing of the position picks (in the 2nd and the 4th). In my opinion, the value lies in OL/DL in the 1st, WR/S/OL in the 2nd, OL/LB/K after that. That's the pattern I'd follow.

Unless Lane Johnson falls to the Panther's pick, OL isn't an option in the first round at all. The only DT I'd think about taking at 14 is Star. The other BPA would be DE's, 3-4 LB's and such. So the BPA for the Panther's system and needs is a WR. Patterson has gotten hype since before the season ended as he was told by the Draft advisory he'd be the top WR in this class and next years.

CB is much deeper imo then DT for the second round and Taylor is a borderline 1st.top of the second round guy with excellent - elite speed and athleticism that fits Carolina's scheme perfectly. As for the DT, Hughes is a 2nd round talent guy with character concerns. Maybe even a borderline first rounder just based on talent.

As for the Lester pick, it's a BPA type of approach coupled with his upside and him being a potential starter - it's a good risk in the 5th.

[koolkatluke]

Unless Lane Johnson falls to the Panther's pick, OL isn't an option in the first round at all. The only DT I'd think about taking at 14 is Star. The other BPA would be DE's, 3-4 LB's and such. So the BPA for the Panther's system and needs is a WR. Patterson has gotten hype since before the season ended as he was told by the Draft advisory he'd be the top WR in this class and next years.

CB is much deeper imo then DT for the second round and Taylor is a borderline 1st.top of the second round guy with excellent - elite speed and athleticism that fits Carolina's scheme perfectly. As for the DT, Hughes is a 2nd round talent guy with character concerns. Maybe even a borderline first rounder just based on talent.

As for the Lester pick, it's a BPA type of approach coupled with his upside and him being a potential starter - it's a good risk in the 5th.

You said this in another thread.

You do know that Marqise Lee and Sammy Watkins are coming out next year???

Who said that Patterson would be better then them and both are considered top 5 and top 10 picks now?

[carpanfan96]

You said this in another thread.

You do know that Marqise Lee and Sammy Watkins are coming out next year???

Who said that Patterson would be better then them and both are considered top 5 and top 10 picks now?

I know who's coming out in next years draft and Patterson is so highly rated that NFL has him as the highest rated WR of the past 3-4 drafts. Even over Green and Jones.

NFL gave AJ green a grade of 8.6 out of 10, they gave Jones a 8.4 out of 10. They've given Patterson a grade of 9.1 out of a

10. Which on their scale means he's a perennial pro bowler just 4 points out of the Future HOF rank.

http://www.nfl.com/d...d=2495454#tab=1

http://www.nfl.com/d...d=2495450#tab=1

http://www.nfl.com/d...rson?id=2540145

While I was previewing players for my mock draft and looking up information, highlights and so forth I found a link from a paper in Knoxville. I won't post a link to it because it's by Kiper Jr. Back in December Kiper was saying he would be a top 5 pick next draft with continued production at Tennessee. I discredit it because it's from Kiper so the above from NFL.com's scouts.