Interesting interview with Mike Tannenbaum on Sirius today.

[rayzor]

people keep on saying that there's no #1 WRs in this draft but i don't buy that at all.

there might not be some guy like julio or aj green or megatron (because those type guys are in every draft, right?) who can start from day one, but there is a ton of potential. it's a really good class of WRs. sure...there are no bonafied undoubted elite starters from day one, but that doesn't take away from how solid this class really is.

there's several in this class who could take over the #2 job at some point during the season here and who would be getting as much play time and targets as lafell. there's guys who have the talent enough to take over the #1 gig after smitty leaves.

the WR class is just as solid as any class in this draft.

[CRA]

Not reading all the posts, but this is interesting--sorry if I make a repeating statement. Smith is not playing forever, but a 2013 starting-caliber #1 WR (what we need) is not there. For what it is worth, I like Stedman Bailey and DeAndre Hopkins, but neither are awesome or ready right now.

HOWEVER...this is a funny draft because there are no starting QBS or #1 WRs. I would not draft a WR this year. We cannot keep looking for role players, which is what any WR in this draft would be. Tavon Austin is flashy, but he will not do in the NFL what he did in that WV offense. Patterson is this year's Stephen Hill or Heyward-Bey.

I think Gettlemen wants a WR, but I wonder if the GInn and Hixon acquisitions are not enough for this year in his mind. I have not ruled out some competition from Gettis. Maybe he plans to shop for WR next year.

Smith

Lafell

Hixon

Ginn

Gettis

Adams

Pilares

Bryant

This could be a decent WR corps if players step up. I think this group gets better if the line gets better.

Hopkins or whoever probably isn't ready right now....which is why you draft him. Let him develop prior to Smith completely falling apart or retiring.

[rayzor]

Hopkins or whoever probably isn't ready right now....which is why you draft him. Let him develop prior to Smith completely falling apart or retiring.

i doubt even aj green or julio or even megatron himself as a rookie would have started over smitty...not even now.

you don't draft a guy right now to replace smitty in his first or second year. you draft a guy that you think could make an impact and elevate the passing game and score you more touchdowns...give you more opportunities to win. you draft a guy who can be a real threat and who could take the #1 job within a couple years. is there a guarantee that they would do that? nope, but show me the position that comes with guarantees of success.

[koolkatluke]

1.Rivera showed he can put a solid defense together even with alot of injuries. That is his strongest ability as a coach. So I have ALOT more faith in him being able to coach up a defense than an offense. How is that flawed reasoning, he IS a defensive coach.

2. Where did I say to not address other positions? I did not say draft a WR with all 5 picks. I just said getting one early(preferably in a drop back scenario) would be a good idea. Gettleman looked at our WR's and said we need to upgrade, how can you discount his opinion too?

3. The Panthers have brought in the top 10 WR's, and Rivera said they need to find an heir to Steve Smith. Why is it backwards to trust their own assessment of the team? It IS a need! They get paid for this.

4. Again I never said not to get some defensive help. I think we can get both in this draft cause it's deep at several positions. I think a trade back where we get a DT, WR and a CB/S with our first 3 picks would be ideal. The secondary I am less worried about because A)we brought in some cheap vets(like we did in 03 with cousins and howard) and B) Rivera's young secondary played really well against the Saints and Falcons in games that we won. So I have more confidence in them minus Gamble then I do in our passing game minus Steve because they SHOWED they can do it. I personally think that OG, LB, SS and DT are the easiest positions to fill with a plug and play vet.

It's not backwards just because it differs from your opinion. We will see in 2 weeks how the Panthers see it. Again with Gettleman coming from the Giants and Hardy about to get paid a DE is always possible.

3. They also signed 2 Wr's. So I'm not saying they won't draft a WR. But in all honesty i will be a little

disappointed if we choose to allocate so much of our little resources into that 1 position. While doing little to nothing to help the other needs on this team.

4. I think we can to but IMO our focus should be on adding more starting talent to our defense. We have options at WR better then the options at DT, and secondary.

5. I'm saying your opinion is backwards because it differs from mine. I said it was backwards because you can literally say that about a lot position on this team.

[Razeyfingers]

i doubt even aj green or julio or even megatron himself as a rookie would have started over smitty...not even now.

you don't draft a guy right now to replace smitty in his first or second year. you draft a guy that you think could make an impact and elevate the passing game and score you more touchdowns...give you more opportunities to win. you draft a guy who can be a real threat and who could take the #1 job within a couple years. is there a guarantee that they would do that? nope, but show me the position that comes with guarantees of success.

Werent you going to site an example where someone drafted at 14 to play that 3? I mean you're doing a lot of dictating here Ray. . . you're a good poster and I cant believe Im reading these ultimatums youre posting. A lot of "You do this" or "you dont do that". Its like youve been kidnapped by CRA and he's holding you hostage. . . I'll SAVE YA BUDDY!

You called me narrowminded on this topic too, Ray. Narrowminded . . for saying to consider other positions. Seriously can you justify all these things that youre saying when you take a step back?

[CRA]

Werent you going to site an example where someone drafted at 14 to play that 3? I mean you're doing a lot of dictating here Ray. . . you're a good poster and I cant believe Im reading these ultimatums youre posting. A lot of "You do this" or "you dont do that". Its like youve been kidnapped by CRA and he's holding you hostage. . . I'll SAVE YA BUDDY!

You called me narrowminded on this topic too, Ray. Narrowminded . . for saying to consider other positions. Seriously can you justify all these things that youre saying when you take a step back?

don't come looking for him or I will get you too.

<beep beep Richie, everything floats down here>

[panthers55]

How did Tannenbaum saying he should have gotten more offensive weapons for the Jets who were just awful offensively morph into how we need to get a WR in the first round when we have a much better offense than they do. They are not even remotely related. Secondly why is it imperative we go wide receiver in the 1st round instead of the second or later. There is no Julio Jones in this draft so why reach?? I am not sold on a NT at 14 either if the top picks are gone at 14. I just don't see how the Jets woes are even remotely similar to ours.

By the way, wasn't Smith a third rounder??? Why assume we will never find another one unless we pick one this year in the first round. Frankly I am no expert but none of these guys look like Steve Smith to me. The closest is Austin to my untrained eye. Then again I would like a guy who is 6'2" and 210 pounds who runs as fast as is as elusive as Smith. Impossible??? I don't know...

[rayzor]

Werent you going to site an example where someone drafted at 14 to play that 3? I mean you're doing a lot of dictating here Ray. . . you're a good poster and I cant believe Im reading these ultimatums youre posting. A lot of "You do this" or "you dont do that". Its like youve been kidnapped by CRA and he's holding you hostage. . . I'll SAVE YA BUDDY!

You called me narrowminded on this topic too, Ray. Narrowminded . . for saying to consider other positions. Seriously can you justify all these things that youre saying when you take a step back?

ugh...lol...those may sound like ultimatums...but trust me, they aren't. i'm not dictating anything. those are all nothing more than opinion rationales. spin it some other way if you want...doesn't bother me. i was just giving reasons why you would or wouldn't do those things. didn't mean that it had to be that way.

and i was going to site an example of what? sorry i think i either missed that, didn't understand what you were wanting, or just didn't feel it deserved the effort. i'll probably just stick with that one.

no comment about the rest of that. i'm not sure what you're talking about, but whatever....

[koolkatluke]

1. Tell me the last draft class where it had a WR that hasn't outperformed where LaFell currently is....

2. Google it...specifically addresses Hurney plugging in rookies as starters to quickly and it making things tough. He used Amini as the recent example. Smith wanted a chance to practice and opportunity...which is something different.

1. Last year Michael Floyd, A J Jenkins, Quick, and Hill didn't . So i really don't need to do much research on that.

2. Why do i have to do your work? You said he made a comment about draft picks starting. You should produce the link.

[koolkatluke]

Hopkins or whoever probably isn't ready right now....which is why you draft him. Let him develop prior to Smith completely falling apart or retiring.

What do you not understand about the fact? That we need starters not undestudies with our 1st 2 picks of this draft. We can all agree that we didn't get to many starters in FA.

[MHS831]

If you do not think any of the existing WRs are capable of becoming feared #1 WRs, what would you do (especially with little cap room)? I would sign Hixon, Ginn, and go with the crew.

I agree that we should draft a WR and develop him now, but does Hopkins' upside override the other needs, etc? If you focus only on the WR position, you say "We gotta have one", but if you put it beside CB, DT, and S, you say, "Where are we getting the biggest bang for the buck?"

I think our board has a mix of OL, DTs, DBs, and WRs. Note that we are holding a little cap room for after the draft. I think we will pick BPA and then sign a player to fill the last gap.

[rayzor]

just a reminder when talking about just drafting positions where we need a starter...the words of gettleman.

"Nine times out of 10 you get in trouble when you draft for need. It's a problem. You can have a top-10 pick and make up your mind you're going to draft for need, and if he's not there, then what do you do. It's all part of it."

i think they do take into consideration who would or wouldn't be a starter, but i don't think it would stop them if they liked a guys potential with this team.

if you limit it to just positions where we need an upgrade/starter (CB, DT, RT, RG) then it's likely that you fall into that reaching trap it sounds like gettleman is trying to avoid.

they are going to draft the guy they like the most and it may or may not be someone who starts right away. it may or may not be a position where we need the most help. you've got to be ready for anything.

[koolkatluke]

If you do not think any of the existing WRs are capable of becoming feared #1 WRs, what would you do (especially with little cap room)? I would sign Hixon, Ginn, and go with the crew.

I agree that we should draft a WR and develop him now, but does Hopkins' upside override the other needs, etc? If you focus only on the WR position, you say "We gotta have one", but if you put it beside CB, DT, and S, you say, "Where are we getting the biggest bang for the buck?"

I think our board has a mix of OL, DTs, DBs, and WRs. Note that we are holding a little cap room for after the draft. I think we will pick BPA and then sign a player to fill the last gap.

Great fuging post. I'll pie you later.

[iamhubby1]

Agree wholeheartedly with the, we need starters out of our first two picks, crowd. If we get the 14th, or better, talented player in the first. I would think we got a starter out of the deal. Same with round 2. There should be plenty of talent left at 44 to pretty much assure us of another starter.

So if we plan on getting starters with our first two picks. What positions can we expect?

CB or S are both a need, and a playmaking, positions. Is there anyone worth taking in this slot? Not convinced there is, but there are some folks who believe there is. So this is an interesting area.

WR is not truly a need, but it is a playmaking position. So we could see one of these. Again, is there anyone worth taking? Strong maybe with this one.

DT and RG are both needs. Not really playmaking positions. But with the right talent, can allow others to make plays. There are a few of these available. So we could see one of these two.