Another Matthias Mock

[Matthias]

Re-signings:

 

 

 

 

Mike Mitchell- 5 million a year

 

Jordan Gross- 1-2 million one year deal

 

Graham Gano- 2-3 million a year

 

Our other free agents can be replaced

 

 

 

 

Free agency:

 

 

 

 

Jared Allen- 3 million a year

 

Jeremy Maclin- 1 million one year deal

 

 

 

 

NFL Draft: (Tag and trade Hardy for an early 2nd round pick)

 

 

 

 

1st round pick- Cyrus Kouandjio

 

 

 

 

With the rise of prospects like Greg Robinson and Zack Martin, Cyrus could fall to us late in the first round.  He is the perfect guy to be our RT going into next year.  Cam is a pocket passer who can run.  When he has time to throw, he can shred any defense to pieces.

 

 

 

 

2nd round pick (trade)- Jordan Matthews

 

 

 

 

Again I have us drafting Matthews.  I think he and Cam will be a great combination in route to many championships.

 

 

 

 

2nd round pick- Kyle Fuller

 

 

 

 

I consider him the second best corner in this class.  We need some help at the corner spot, but the bad thing is I don't think Rivera and his staff know how to develop corners.  It's too bad we can't get one of those defensive back coaches from the Seattle staff.

 

 

 

 

3rd round pick- James Hurst

 

 

 

 

This pick is more of a value pick for the future.  Having two studs at tackle in Cyrus and James will be great for the franchise.  This is probably Gross' last year if he does come back, so next year Hurst and Kouandjio would take over, each having a year of playing at this level under their belt.

 

 

 

 

4th round pick- Victor Hampton

 

 

 

 

Another value pick to try and strengthen this cornerback group we have here in Carolina.  Hampton is stronger than Munnerlyn and have better cover skills.  Even though he's listed at 5'10", he got ups like an NBA star.  Perhaps if Steve Smith played cornerback, he would have looked something like Hampton.

 

 

 

 

5th round pick- Isaiah Lewis

 

 

 

 

There's no clear cut ball hawk safety out of this group, but I like the thought of getting a defensive back from one of the best secondaries in college football.  Lewis has shown he can get the job done.

 

 

 

 

6th round pick- Spencer Long

 

 

 

 

A hidden gem at Guard.

 

 

 

 

7th round pick (trade)- L'Damian Washington

 

 

 

 

Perhaps a hidden gem at the receiver position.  This should give Cam a plethora of weapons to throw to next season, along with a super strong line. (And hopefully a healthy running game.)

 

 

 

 

 

Depth chart projection:  Starters

 

 

 

 

QB- Cam Newton

RB- Jonathan Stewart

FB- Mike Tolbert

WR- Steve Smith

WR- Jeremy Maclin (FA)

TE- Greg Olsen

LT- Jordan Gross

LG- Amini Silatolu

C- Ryan Kalil

RG- Toss up

RT- Cyrus Kouandjio ®

 

 

DE- Jared Allen (FA)

DT- Star Lotulelei

DT- Kawann Short

DE- Charles Johnson

OLB- Thomas Davis

MLB- Luke Kuechly

OLB- AJ Klein

CB- Melvin White

FS- Isaiah Lewis ®

SS- Mike Mitchell

CB- Kyle Fuller ®

 

 

K- Graham Gano

P- Brad Nortman

PR/KR- We'll see who's left in free agency.  After June 1st, we'll have more money to bring guys in

[carolina-chuck]

It's really hard for me to assume anything right now. I dont want to guess what will happen in FA.

 

I cant really see a Jared Allen addition here. It just doesnt make sense. If Hardy is gone, I believe we'll ride with the three youngsters that are already on this team.

 

I like Maclin and he have said that he'll probably play on a 1 yr deal, tho I dont see Gman bringing a top tier guy like him in. Probably more along the line of a Doug Baldwin or Andre Roberts.

 

Love for Kouandjio to be there at 28, but most likely wont happen. Plus, I cant see Gman pulling the trigger on trading back into the 2nd round. If it was Hurney I would not doubt it, but it's Gman we're talking about here. He's in a mess right now and is playing the cheap game.

 

 

What I really like is "Victor Hampton". A lot of places has him going early 3rd, but I'm crossing my fingers that he'll fall to us in the late 3rd. Would love to have him there.

 

 

[BigSyke]

i like it if it could happen.

[stirs]

Think the add'l 2nd was for Hardy

[Panthersguru14]

I would be ecstatic if this happened. My biggest issue with this is the serious doubt that we will be able to tag and trade Hardy. It's a great thought but it would require a team that is really anxious to get him and not patient enough to wait and bid for him next year.

I'm not saying it won't but I'll be slightly surprised if it does.

But even without Matthews in this draft I love it!

[Swaggasaurus]

Like the picks...Hampton or Fuller could actually fit schematically....unlike those wanting some stiff tall guy who has spent his entire career with his back to the QB. Isiah Lewis is a missile of a run defender. Hardy trade a pipedream.

[panthersman1996]

I think that L'Damian Washington will be a 3-5 round pick

[MedellinHeel]

Kdijo will in no way shape or form be on the board at 28. 

[uscgamecocks]

Free Agents:

 

I think $5mm per year is a bit much for Mike Mitchell - I think we could get him for 3 to 4 years at $3mm per year.  As much as I like him I think he's somewhat limited in coverage.  Not sure other teams are going to pursue him too heavily.

 

I'm also partial to resigning Munnerlyn because (despite you later drafting Hampton) we can't count on getting Hampton in the draft and he's the only proven CB we have.  As with Mitchell, I think Captain is more valuable to the Panthers than he would be to other teams - he has physical limitations but really excels in our slot position, especially on the blitz.

 

Jared Allen is a natural short-term replacement for Hardy and he seems like a player that would take a discount to play for a contender.  Good fit and $3mm a year seems like the right number.  Can't go longer than 2 years though.

 

I'd love to get Maclin for $1mm a year but I think that's a pipe dream.  Some team with cap space should be willing to give him $3mm on a one year deal.  Very limited risk if you've got the space.

 

Draft:

 

Love the pick of CK in the first.  He's exactly what we need and would drastically improve the right side of our line.

 

2nd (trade) - The only player I'd prefer to a WR in this spot would be Seferian-Jenkins - but I think him lasting to the 2nd round, even early, is unlikely.  If he's not on the board I think WR makes a ton of sense.

 

I like Fuller in the 2nd as well.  We'd be lucky to get him there but this is a deep CB class so I think it's possible.

 

I'm a big fan of us drafting Hurst this year - with his leg injury, he might not even be able to play until midyear, which could cause him to slide.  I was very impressed with him at UNC and he's an obvious fit for the Panthers if we can bring Gross back on a one year deal.

 

Hampton is a great player and would be ecstatic if we got him in the 4th.  If we were to draft Fuller/Hampton and resign Captain/Mitchell, our secondary would be much improved from the 2013 team - and you'd still have Melvin White to cover the bigger receivers.  And as much as I like Hampton at CB, I think he could also be good at FS in the NFL.  He's listed at exactly the same size as Earl Thomas (5' 10", 202 lbs) and as you mentioned has a very good vertical.  I'm not sure you draft him as a FS but I think his versatility is an asset (can play outside, slot, and potentially S).

[MichaelNewtonII]

I can't see stew being our #1 guy we need more

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[Matthias]

Thanks for all the comments.  They are much appreciated.  It is a stretch to say Cyrus might be available at 28, but let's see if we can hit another jackpot for the third year in a row.  I question myself whether or not I'm giving Mike Mitchell too much money.  I figure if we gave Godfrey around 5 million a year for doing nothing, Mitchell should make about the same money.  Let's see what the G-man can do with this cap situation.

[SOJA]

at this point I'd say this is a very realistic mock 

[Jackofalltrades]

I wouldn't insult Gross with a 1-2 million dollar offer, other than that I could live with it.

[AndrewLaskoski]

I'm falling in love with the Kouandjio, Matthews, Hurst draft for our first 3 picks... 

 

We could probably move Kouandjio in to RG for a year because he' more powerful than Hurst

 

LT- Gross

LG- Amini

C- Khalil

RG- Kouandjio

RT- Hurst

 

That's a top 10 line without a doubt