Jonathan Jones answers Panthers draft day questions

[nagai]

One of the reasons BPA is a good strat is the sheer unpredictability of the draft. Let's say you didn't draft a WR didn't he first round (who happened to be BPA), because you thought there would be better value in the 2nd. First of all, whom will you be targeting? Mel Kiper may have 6 WR's or whatever with a 2nd round grade, but between scheme-fit and different red flags, only half of those guys would be on your draft board, realistically. So now, what happens when those 3 players are taken within the next 32 picks? And don't say that you know that these guys will still be there, cos you don't know anything. No one does on draft day. The only thing that's guaranteed on draft day is that there will be surprises. Now what? You've essentially cock-blocked yourself by getting too cute. And for what? I'm sold that Gettleman will stick by his word and pick the BPA on his board. Even if you don't agree with the strategy, I suggest you accept it. There's no point whining about how you think the Panthers should do things.

 

PS. Not every team picks the highest player on their board on draft day (to my horror). Last year, the Cowboys passed on Sharrif Floyd and took Travis Frederick instead. A few weeks later, someone on the internet took screenshots of draft day interviews with Jerry Jones, blew them up, and found their draft board in the background. They had Floyd rated as a high 1st round pick, and Frederick as a 2nd rounder. In the interviews themselves, Jerry said that Floyd was a great football player, but they felt that the move was something 'they had to do' -- which probably meant that they wanted to protect Tony Romo after giving him a massive contract.

[Ruff]

These answers were so generic.

[Donald LaFell]

These answers were so generic.

 

I think it's fun to discuss things about the draft as fans, but really I've learned it's just a lot better to not actually try to learn anything about the draft. The speculation is just pointless. 

[JawnyBlaze]

Jones makes a great point:

 

In this draft, the talent drop between offensive tackles available at No. 28 and No. 60 is greater than that of wide receivers between those two picks. Because of that, the Panthers may be better served to get their tackle in the first round (even if he’s not their No. 1 guy), and wait until the second round for a talented receiver or cornerback. Gettleman has said the team will take the best available player, but we’ll probably never know just who that is.

 

I disagree.  In my view there is virtually NO talent drop from 28 to 60.  All the first round OTs will be gone and Moses, Bitonio, Turner, etc would all be at about their value at #60.  The drop from OBJ, Lee, etc to Adams, Moncrief, Richardson, etc is greater than nothing.

[cookinbrak]

It all depends on the "run". There's gonna be a "run" at a certain position, and there's gonna be a player ranked much higher than 28 sitting there for us. Same with the 2nd round.

[CelticCat]

I in no way would reach for some tackle who is maybe a 3rd round talent in the first just because there is not so many of them. The logic of people saying we should grab a tackle just because this class is deeper at wr is flawed. Yes you could get a better wr than tackle in the second but, by your own accord you would be doing the almost exact thing your trying to avoid doing at wr but with another position. That's not bpa that's reaching for need. I would not pass on benjamin or cooks in the first so i could grab turner or benito at 28 just because of the need.  Just because a draft is deep doesn't mean that a first round Wr is the exact same talent as a third rounder. Let's not over think this....

 

Agreed, but I think Moses and Cyrus are better examples than Turner and Benito. We'd possibly (depending on how we truly rated them) be looking at that option over a WR and I don't see that as much of a reach to be honest. I see it as a 1a 1b type deal, in that case you take the OT and try to take advantage of the depth at WR. But dramatic reaches is where you start to go wrong and you start impacting your team talent negatively. I hope the choice ends up being a no-brainer situation for us as a clearly higher rated player falls.

 

As big a hole at WR and OT we have I'd rather take another superior defender than make a reach for need. I just really don't want a DE that high, I want to see this draft as one that sees us grow, not address possible future needs/cuts, at least not with the early picks anyway.

[jarhead]

To the average fan who enjoys being a spectator the wide receiver is the obvious the greatest position of need for our team but for the arm chair GMs you know you have to evaluate you talent from the inside out and that starts with the line. 

 

My guess is Gmans first priority will be putting an OL on the field that can protect Cam but also run block,

[El Chingon]

We have signed 3 WR in free agency and no o-lineman. That should tell you all you need to know about what position we're going to focus on. 

[micnificent28]

Agreed, but I think Moses and Cyrus are better examples than Turner and Benito. We'd possibly (depending on how we truly rated them) be looking at that option over a WR and I don't see that as much of a reach to be honest. I see it as a 1a 1b type deal, in that case you take the OT and try to take advantage of the depth at WR. But dramatic reaches is where you start to go wrong and you start impacting your team talent negatively. I hope the choice ends up being a no-brainer situation for us as a clearly higher rated player falls.

As big a hole at WR and OT we have I'd rather take another superior defender than make a reach for need. I just really don't want a DE that high, I want to see this draft as one that sees us grow, not address possible future needs/cuts, at least not with the early picks anyway.

If moses is there then im 100 percent for grabing him. But from the buzz from the media his tape is catching up to him. His demolitioning effort against gt has made a big buzz for him. Could be to 20. I do not trust cyrus at 28. I see him falling to the second round. If were going to reach for him i'd rather grab thomas in the 3rd-4th round i were going for busted up with bad injuries. First rounder has to hit. Everyone wants tackle but I just dont see it going our way early.

[micnificent28]

We have signed 3 WR in free agency and no o-lineman. That should tell you all you need to know about what position we're going to focus on.

Not really, tackles got gone fast and for a decent one it would cost more than we can afford.

[SauceBoss]

If WR wasn't so deep, i'd say go with at 28. But Tackle is a must. How can you not cringe at the fact that they intend on putting Byron Bell at LT? Doesn't anyone remember the Buffalo game? Not to mention any other game? Honestly i'm not against getting tackles in the first two rounds, the line needs to be bolstered. If we can actually run the ball, maybe it'll mask the lack of receivers we have. But then again, I think the unit is equal to what we had going in last year. I still think someone of major value is going to fall, and if it's a tackle or WR we will scoop them up. If it's not, maybe it's a QB or DE, we might could trade down and get additional second round pick.

[panthers55]

If I had the decision to go OL or WR in the first I would go OL.  It is a safer pick and more likely to work out.  Seems WR is always more of a crap shoot than OL.  There are good guys who can help up at WR up and down the draft. Unless a top guy fell I would go with the safer more sure pick.  

[DaCityKats]

I have a hard time seeing DG not taking OL in the first. If one of the top ranked WR or DBs fall I still see him taking an OL.

[gettlemanjack]

It's a philosophy of, would you rather get an A and a C, or a B and a B. Either way it's the same GPA, just a different way of looking at it.

its more like do you want a B and a B or a B and a C?

now sure, if an "A" WR is still available in first, that changes everything. Who would the "A" WRs be? Watkins for sure. And a lot of people add Evans, Beckham, Lee, Cooks. Who would the "A" OTs be? Robinson and Matthews for sure. And a lot of people add Lewan, Martin, Kouandjio, and Moses.