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This is so much more than rankings. Got tired of same old topics. I see the thread beginning, "Breaking News: Panthers...." and then I open it and read the complete title of the thread "...OT Jordan Gross Retires." So here is something to chew on: Don't hurt my feelings. LZ rates the bounty of talent at each position and I provide a quote from his article. It changed my approach. https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-11-position-groups-in-2026-nfl-draft-from-strongest-to-weakest-edge-rusher-linebacker-loaded #1: Edge: Lance predicts the Edge position will, once again, dominate the first round and it is the strongest position. If the Panthers draft an edge on day 1 or day 2, Wow. Phillips, Scourton, Princely, Jones, along with Hampton, Gipson, and Incoom. Personally, I think we are going to let the others grab the Edge players forcing other positions to drop to us. This strategy does not discount the fact that if a stud edge falls to 19… LZ: “This class figures to provide a strong number of future starters, with as many as 17 players poised to come off the board in the first three rounds, but the quality of depth will trail off on Day 3. The edge defenders will rule the first round.” #2 Linebacker: The Panthers added a starting Mike ILB in free agency, but the rest of the roster is depth. The need is for an off-ball LB who can cover. Since it is my opinion that we draft a STARTER here, I would expect a first- or second-round pick However, he makes a comment about the depth, suggesting that quality players could be found on early day 3. LZ: “Anthony Hill Jr. is a talented three-down option who could go on Day 1, while Jake Golday, CJ Allen and Jacob Rodriguez look like Round 2 selections as potential early starters. The linebacker group stays strong in Rounds 3 and 4, with decent depth stretching into the fifth round.” #3. Interior Offensive Line: This one surprised me, powered by some guards that could go as early as round 2. Remember, LZ is rating these positions based on projected starters. He mentions that Center is strong based on short-armed OTs that will transition to center, claiming that starters can be found into the fifth round. That is good news for the Panthers, who do not really need an immediate starter, but they need a future starter who can play a few years on a rookie contract. LZ: “Meanwhile, Connor Lew, Sam Hecht, Logan Jones and Brian Parker II could all become future starting centers, while Trey Zuhn III might not be far behind. The number of starters and the depth into Round 5 is what helps this group stand out.” #4. Wide Receiver: Finding potential starters at WR is probably easier than C, but let’s not assume that WR is not a need in Charlotte. TMac needs someone who can keep defenses from cheating in coverage. Coker is very promising, but the others? I get the feeling that they are hoping XL comes around in year 3. Regardless, if a WR is there that makes them better, they could pull the trigger–again–just not in round 1. If the Panthers grab a WR, it will be for a 3rd-5th WR, which makes LZ’s comment interesting: LZ: “In terms of starting talent, this offering is a little softer than those from some recent years, but there will be plenty of quality depth for WR3/4 roles inside of the first five rounds.” #5 Cornerback: Yes, we have Horn and Jackson (in his final year at age 29) and Smith-Wade has been fairly good. Thornton was the second-rated rookie CB before his injury last year. Could we use depth at nickel? An outside CB? I think we could add both, frankly. Future starters. I love the nickel from Duke, who is not mentioned. LZ: “The depth at wide corner is lacking, but there are some very talented nickelbacks who will step into starting roles fairly quickly, including Avieon Terrell, Treydan Stukes, D'Angelo Ponds and Keionte Scott. It's worth noting that this might be the fastest cornerback group, from top to bottom, that we've ever seen.” #6(T) Safety: This prognosis could be why we re-signed Scott. However, it could also foreshadow why we might take a safety in rounds 1 or 2. In my view, I think the value at S is not comparable, per round, to the value at other positions. Remember the comment about moving Smith-Wade to safety? I wonder if that was a stupid comment or someone in the know spewing inside info. I want a safety, but I am not crazy about them in this draft. LZ: “Ballhawking safeties like Bud Clark and A.J. Haulcy offer future starting value in the second round, as does Jalen Kilgore, who is a big, explosive down safety. I'm also a fan of VJ Payne from Kansas State, but in general, this group becomes average, depth-level talent fairly quickly on Day 3.” #6 (T) Tight End: Sadiq is not described as elite, but could be a first-rounder. Frankly, from the sounds of this, it is either reach for Sadiq in round 1 or wait until round 3. I am not seeing a TE in this draft. I know the Panthers want one, but how much? LZ: (After Sadiq round 1)--We might not see many second-round TE picks, but this group is fairly deep in Rounds 3 through 5, featuring some solid pass catchers and a very strong run blocker in Sam Roush out of Stanford. The 2026 draft could produce a sneaky-high number of tight ends who earn second NFL contracts.” #8 (T) Defensive Line: This group is hard to gauge, and drafting one where the Panthers pick seems a bit awkward on day 1. Nobody is worth #19 and the elite DTs will be long gone by #53 or whatever. However, I like some of the second-tier players. It seems NTs are abundant, but 3Ts are in short supply. Maybe a player like Holten or Jackson in round 3 or (sleeper) Capehart around 3-4. LZ: (Borderline first-rounders: Banks, McDonald, Woods) “Beyond that talented trio, the position offers a series of future starters/rotational contributors on Day 2.” #8 (T) Offensive Tackle: Yikes. LZ is not really high on this group, and he provides reasons. My take? Many are good pass protectors, but struggie in run support. Walker is seeming like a great signing right now. I think we grab the RT later, but LZ’s comments about mid round talent demonstrates that there is a lot of risk from top to bottom this year. Personally, I think we might draft Parker early or Crownover later. LZ: Top prospects like Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano come with shorter-than-desired arms, while the gargantuan Kadyn Proctor is coming off a highly uneven season in pass protection. Caleb Lomu, Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor all have talent but are less polished than teams might like. There is an adequate number of starting-caliber bookends available early, but it becomes highly speculative for teams hunting quality depth by the middle of the third round. 10: Running Back. Pass 11. (Last) Quarterback: This may be a place to find a developmental gem, an emergency QB who has longshot potential to compete should Bryce fail. If people feel that this class is as bad as LZ suggests, could a gem fall into undrafted free agent status? I think I would watch that dynamic. LZ; Ty Simpson has a chance to become an NFL starter, but this is a below-average quarterback class with a low number of future starters and quality backups to choose from. It wouldn't shock me to see QB-hungry teams kick the can down the road and wait until next year.” READING THE TEA LEAVES: Of course, this is not to suggest that Lance Zierlein knows all and sees all. But I will say that he is a good talent evaluator and he talks to the people in the front offices that we do not have access to. We are often misled by hacks making crap up to get clicks and hits–and this is part of that environment, so “grain of salt.” After reading this, I had the following thoughts: Taking an OT in round 1 seems like a mistake under most circumstances. I think we need to find a RT to develop later in the draft. I think we will add someone like Jude Bowery from Boston College in round 4. I think we need to look at OT on both sides as if we have 1 year to groom a starter. If there is a run on Edges, a solid WR will be sitting there. We could have a situation where the BPAs at #19 are either an edge or WR. How would an elite WR help us? At safety, if a team falls in love with Oregon FS Thienemen, the lack of depth behind him could force a reach. Could Carolina be that team? The Panthers signed a decent C to a one-year contract. Centers with eventual starting ability can be found in rounds 3, 4, and even 5. Expect the Panthers to draft a center in round 4. Yes, round 4. I even predict Brian Parker from Duke. Eerie, huh? We will be drafting a LB early, but I am guessing second round. The next panther starting W ILB is going to be Rodriguez or Golday. Madly on fire with my specific predictions–in round 2. Tight End? Unless we dive in early, I do not see the upgrade. I am willing to predict that we don’t draft a TE. Cornerback: We will add a CB, probably a nickel (where there is value) late. Defensive Line: Depending on what happens in round 1, Defensive line could be a late day 2 pick. This may shock some of you. I live on the edge. ROUND 1: Best value: Edge, Wide Receiver, Cornerback. I predict overdrafting OT and a run on edge will drop WRs and maybeCB lower and a great value could land in our lap. Could we do it again? In the words of Brittany Spears, “Oops.” Corner? Well, I think we will move Smith-Wade to FS at some point. Smart, calls coverages. Jackson is gone after 2026. . Get a nickel later, however, unless a stud CB falls. Please don’t draft TE here. Edge? On paper, we are strong, but you can never have enough pass rushers. We will leave awesome at one position that we may not have listed as a primary need: Edge, CB, or WR. ROUND 2: Best Value: Linebacker. I do not see us drafting another position here. LB–Hill (longshot), Rodgriguez, Golday. Edge (second tier–Height, Jacas, Moore, Young, Howell–would be hard to overlook, but our GM is a former LB) S A Haulcy is a darkhorse possibility. ROUND 3: Best Value: Defensive line. Halton (OK), Jackson (Fl. St), Durant (Penn State). ROUND 4: Best Value: Center. Slaughter, Hecht, Jones, Lew, Coogan, Jones, Zuhn. This is the only real option. We should take our center in round 4. ROUND 5: Best value: They will be looking for a developmental OT here if not addressed sooner. Jude Bowery ((BC), D. Crownover (RT-Tex AM), Wagner (RT-Notre Dame) seem promising. -
By TheSpecialJuan · Posted
Spot-on. D-line and FS are much bigger immediate needs than OT or WR. Look at the current roster and the fact that they have not brought in any new players at those positions. -
Looks like world cup isn't going to have early payouts for up 2-0 they better have team shots on target
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