"It is sometimes better to be lucky than good": Some Panthers draft grades

[top dawg]

To be honest, our draft grades are all over the place, with the consensus being that we did great on the D-line (of course), but I don't think G-man is getting full credit for drafting Star. We got graded down for not obtaining a weapon at wide-out for Cam Newton. I got the sense that the rest of the picks were head-scratchers. Basically, it's all just food for thought. I also got the sense that some either didn't take our earlier moves in FA into account or just dismissed them altogether. In any event I believe there is a certain amount of underestimation going on in regards to the big picture, but it will all come out in the wash.

One note: More people are higher on Short than we may have thought.

Fox Sports:

Floyd Engel: (A) It is sometimes better to be lucky than good. Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei fell for some reason and the Panthers were smart enough to catch him.

Marvez: (C ) Defensive tackles Lotulelei and Kawann Short addressed one need area. But new GM Dave Gettleman didn’t do Cam Newton any favors by failing to draft a wide receiver or tight end.

Schrager: (C+) The Panthers had the guy a lot of people indicated was one of the top five players on their board, Lotulelei, fall in their laps at 14th overall. That’s a home run. They then got another big DT in Short, in the second round. They solidified their defensive line but still haven’t gotten Cam Newton the offensive tools he needs around him. Steve Smith can’t play forever.

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USA Today

Carolina Panthers: They only had five picks, but new GM Dave Gettleman appeared to get impact players. DTs Star Lotulelei (Round 1) and Kawann Short (Round 2 with Round 1 talent) could form one of the league's scariest lines in between DEs Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. Sixth-round RB Kenjon Barner could be a slippery change-of-pace option who could potentially allow Gettleman to trade Jonathan Stewart or DeAngelo Williams down the line. GRADE: B+

CBS Sports

Like the Falcons, the Panthers identified their biggest area of concern and addressed it. The Panthers erased their biggest need with a "Star" who fell into their lap. Like Luke Kuechlya year ago, Lotulelei will prove an immediate difference-maker. His power could be complemented perfectly by the quickness from Kawann Short, a natural playmaker who fell to the second round only because of questons about his motor. Surrounded by this much talent, however, he could prove more productive than Lotulelei. The Panthers added intriguing talent with their other three picks. Linebacker A.J. Klein, like Short, was an absolute playmaker at Iowa State as was Oregon running back Kenjon Barner, whose first crack at playing time might come as a returner. Guard Edmund Kugbila could surprise, as he possesses intriguing tools. Grade: B

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Mel Kiper

The strategy was pretty clear for the Panthers: find some players that can help stop the run. Last year, even with the addition of Luke Kuechly, they were simply awful up front. Well, Star Lotulelei was the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, and is the definition of a player that can clear the runway for your linebackers to make stops at the line of scrimmage. Running in the A-gaps is not happening with Lotulelei around. Kawann Short is a nice depth addition as well, and can spell Dwan Edwards. Earlier this year I had Short going a lot higher, but this was a pretty good class of D-tackles at the top. Edmund Kugbila provides depth at guard, but I didn't have that as a big need. Kenjon Barner is a pretty complete running back in a smaller package. My big question: Where is the help at cornerback? I think it's a pretty big need, and there were a couple corners available I thought could have been taken ahead of Short. It's hard to hit all your needs, but I thought they did a great job on one big one, but totally neglected another.

C- for need, B for value = Overall C+

SBNation

After finishing out of the playoffs once again with a porous defense, the Panthers drafted their second-consecutive defensive tackle on Friday, nabbing Kawann Short of the Purdue Boilermakers.

Short is perhaps the best player to come out of the Big Ten conference this season. Short amassed 43 tackles and seven sacks last season, an impressive feat for an interior lineman. Paired with first-round pick Star Lotulelei, the Panthers could be onto something. A-

Sports Illustrated

Carolina almost had no choice but to take DT Star Lotulelei after he fell to No. 14. From there, it was a pretty nondescript effort, save for the head-scratcher pick of G Edmund Kugbila in Round 4. Also not sure how RB Kenjon Barner fits in a crowded backfield. LB A.J. Klein could be a solid contributor. Grade: C

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Thanks for compiling all that. I actually feel better that it's mixed reviews. When you get A+'s across the board, you tend to have an overrated draft full of players that the media actually saw once or twice.

[JawnyBlaze]

Yea, there is a pretty clear distinction between those who think our draft was good and those who don't. People who think we sufficiently addressed our lack of secondary and WR talent in FA would give this draft no less than a B+. People who are either unaware of our FA moves and how we played toward the end of the year would see it as a draft that ignored all but 1 critical need and wouldn't give it above a C.

I personally fit into the B+ crowd. Although I'm a little disappointed we didn't grab Rambo in the 4th, 5th or 6th, I know football and I know a dominant DL (like we probably just put the finishing touches on) makes a subpar secondary sufficient. That, combined with decent veteran presence we got from FA for the secondary, addresses that problem.

We weren't going to find a Smitty replacement in the 4+ rounds of the draft, and there was only one or two guys in this draft at all that had that potential - Hunter and Hopkins maybe - so that wasn't likely to get addressed this year anyway. With as many weapons as we have, and yes we have plenty, we can afford to be patient and wait for a guy with actual talent and potential to pick as Smitty's replacement rather than reaching for a guy that more likely to bust than boom like we had to choose from at #44 on. And there was NO WAY we were passing on Star for ANY WR in this draft. Even if Smitty did get hurt this year, God forbid, we might not have a legitimate threat #1 WR but we have enough solid to decent WRs (Lafell, Hixon, I have faith in Gettis, Adams did well at the short routes last year when he got involved) and we have two #1 RBs, a new scat back, a bowling ball and a top 5 TE. Oh, and a QB that's a threat to take it to the house from anywhere, himself. We have weapons.

[tiger7_88]

Kiper didn't see OG as a need? Ok... :lol:

And for those analysts that claim that we didn't add any offensive weapons in this draft, is Kenjon Barner chopped liver to them? This is a kid that knows the read-option like the back of his hand and is a great receiver too. So basically what these analysts are saying is that they don't like the fact that Getteman didn't do what they told him to do. :lol:

Oh, and did we really have a critical need to add yet ANOTHER 5th or 6th round level talent to out WR corps or secondary? Yeah... THAT would have been the key move to put us over the top. :rolleyes:

[chknwing]

Kiper didn't see OG as a need? Ok... :lol:

And for those analysts that claim that we didn't add any offensive weapons in this draft, is Kenjon Barner chopped liver to them? This is a kid that knows the read-option like the back of his hand and is a great receiver too. So basically what these analysts are saying is that they don't like the fact that Getteman didn't do what they told him to do. :lol:

Oh, and did we really have a critical need to add yet ANOTHER 5th or 6th round level talent to out WR corps or secondary? Yeah... THAT would have been the key move to put us over the top. :rolleyes:

I think Zod should delete you for even saying that phrase.

[tiger7_88]

I think Zod should delete you for even saying that phrase.

Its a part of our offense... deal with it.

[Kurb]

Smith, Lafell, a poo Ton of 3rd WR's, Greg Olsen, Tolbert, Stew, Williams, Barner don't constitute as weapons?

[panthers55]

Past draft analyses downgraded us because we took guys like Adams instead of a DT. This draft we get downgraded because we didn't draft a WR and went DT. With only 5 picks and only 2 picks in the first 100, you can't address everything. And if you pick a lower round guy just because you need one at that position you aren't drafting BPA which is all you can do below the 3rd round. Gettlemen said that our internal needs were different than those being discussed by the media and this is no different. We have solidified our defensive line for the next decade which has been our biggest problem since Rivera has been here. People should be rejoicing here instead of whining we didn't draft a DB/WR in the 5th or 6th round. None of those guys would be better than we have on the team now. Next year there will tons of free agents available to upgrade WR and DB. We hit 2 homeruns in the first 2 rounds and I think we did great. I will let you know if I was right in 3 years. Until then draft grades are ridiculous anyway.

[dugbug]

Its a part of our offense... deal with it.

we ran a lot of read option very successfully later in the season. VERY successfuly. Its just how predictable are you: mixing in run and pass makes the option all the more effective.

[Growl]

Smith, Lafell, a poo Ton of 3rd WR's, Greg Olsen, Tolbert, Stew, Williams, Barner don't constitute as weapons?

Its frankly quite a sad indictment on our history that some panthers fans think they do =[

[Kurb]

Its frankly quite a sad indictment on out history that some panthers fans think they do =[

and it's an indictment on yours that you think it's not.

It can be improved no doubt, but for the billionth time --> Has scoring points been an issue the past 2 years?

We just have to bring Hakeem Nicks home :D

[Jackofalltrades]

Its frankly quite a sad indictment on out history that some panthers fans think they do =[

I think they do and I'll argue it all day. Look what Tom Brady did with a bunch of nobodies for the longest time.

Cam has all the weapons he needs. Our offense isn't set up like that of Green Bay, but I don't think it needs to be.

My concern, my sole concern at WR, is finding a replacement for Smith.

[top dawg]

Past draft analyses downgraded us because we took guys like Adams instead of a DT. This draft we get downgraded because we didn't draft a WR and went DT. With only 5 picks and only 2 picks in the first 100, you can't address everything. And if you pick a lower round guy just because you need one at that position you aren't drafting BPA which is all you can do below the 3rd round. Gettlemen said that our internal needs were different than those being discussed by the media and this is no different. We have solidified our defensive line for the next decade which has been our biggest problem since Rivera has been here. People should be rejoicing here instead of whining we didn't draft a DB/WR in the 5th or 6th round. None of those guys would be better than we have on the team now. Next year there will tons of free agents available to upgrade WR and DB. We hit 2 homeruns in the first 2 rounds and I think we did great. I will let you know if I was right in 3 years. Until then draft grades are ridiculous anyway.

Not saying that I disagree with your assessment, but the biggest question mark regarding the draft was not why we didn't draft a WR in the 5th/6th, it was why we didn't draft a WR when we drafted Short. Keenan Allen (who I don't personally believe would have been Smitty's heir-apparent, but, imo didn't really need to be) was there for the taking. Most would say he was definitely a 2nd round talent, and some even believed he was a true 1st, but we passed on him in favor of Short. That was the Panthers' (G-man's) "crossroads moment" for this draft. Time will tell if we made the correct decision.

[Delhommey]

Austin, Hunter, and Wheaton were the only 3 wr's I felt were good fits, and the draft just didn't fall to where we could get them.

You're not going to fill every hole with five picks and if you try to you'll have a horrible draft.