2004 Draft main discussion

Duff's a guy I've liked in middle rounds, Leseuer is one both of us have noted
hell, probably comes down to who ScottyO likes

 

Oh, I gotta agree there. If we can get a quality CB in FA - lets do that first. If not, maybe then we go Strait.

I would rather get a vet proven CB as well and look at the other needs in the first 3 rounds. If we can address CB in FA - that opens up the draft and allows us to pick for quality instead of position.

 

I agree with getting the vet CB in FA. With NE and us both being defensive teams, you can bet your sweet potatos that there is going to be a run on defensive players this year. Which also means more offensive players will fall to us. The vets looking to get a ring will give us heavy consideration so we may not have to be the highest bidder in free agency. I know most of the Mock Drafts show the top half loaded with offense, but I bet that will change.

 

Mark Pera OT.

according to TFY - we (the Panthers scouts) had him fill out a questionaire while at the Gridion Classic. he's an OT from Auburn.

 

Although I agree that you will see some copycat teams looking for the dominate DL and quick LBs to mirror what the Pats and Cats are doing...

Those teams at the top have so many needs and this is a top heavy offensive draft. Of the top 15 positions, I see roughly 5 guys coming from the defensive side. Taylor, Harris, Udeze and 1 or 2 of the CBs have a shot there. Slight chance for Wilfork or Will Smith but either would be reach in top 15.

The teams at the top should take the best player and probably will.

 

I have a feeling we're not going to see that as much on the draft side, as much as FA. The problem with trends and fads? Twofold. One, people want them instantly, and two they really don't understand them that well.
That'll mean that they'll try to copy but with the wrong ingredients - spending for that one playmaker on D, or overspending overall - and totally miss the point.
The draft won't be a quick enough way to do most of this, so the focus IMO will go FA. The only place this will impact us will be in FAs we'll have lost anyway, like Wallace, and in our hopeful pursuit for a better cover corner.

Nonetheless, there'll still be the traditional run on defensive linemen early.


Which brings me back to Shocker: Yeah, vet CB's the way to go. I hope the team feels as we do.


Maybe two corners and a safety go in the top 15, but I'd be kinda surprised. Of course, one will emerge from the pack, which will make things clearer.
But I'd be surprised if a linebacker went that high. Personally, I'd have a hard time making a case for some of those DL to be that high, at least at end.
I dunno. Udeze and Smith are very good, they're just not as good as last year's rookie of the year or Peppers/Freeney.

 

I'd be surprised if there isn't at least 1 DT in the top 15. Harris should move to DE IMO - he'll be better there but he's not top 15 and overated. Wilfork is overated as well but that kinda size is coveted in the league right now.

I'm in agreement with a lot of what I've read in that Randy Starks might be the best DT out there. He so quick he looks like a LB at times and he goes 310+ pds. He could snick up there kinda like Sims did a few years ago.

 

Yeah, I was figuring two between Starks, Wilfork, and Harris to be in the top 15. Assumed possibly one DE going,

Now if there are trades, inevitably that'll be for DL. Since the top seems stacked with two QBs, receivers, and one or two tackles, after all, you'll see some scattering once the QBs are gone. The receivers and tackles can be found again later, lesser versions but nonetheless very productive. I don't think that GMs think you can get production out of non-blue chip DTs, even though in the three or four years that these runs have come about, can I think of that many stellar DL that have outperformed a well placed, good fit second or third rounder (the only real conclusion to make? Reaching in general isn't a great idea - duh - and that tends to create players in ill-fits for their defensive scheme). So certainly, there could and should be top 15 trades, and those will probably push four, five DL into the fold.

I dunno about Harris at DE. I've traditionally liked that idea - William Joseph as one instance - but most like to just force a guy like that into one-gap disruption. I haven't considered him as an end for that reason, lack of want for teams overall, not lack of merit for the idea.

 

Now that the Super Bowl is over can the draft dialogue commence without folks bitching that we are jumping the gun?

Are there any post super bowl adjustments by anyone?

Initially I'd say we could upgrade at both corner spots (keep Manning at nickle and Howard at Dime if we can get two proven starters). Continued dubious play by every LB on our roster besides Morgan and Spoon says we need a couple of guys there (especially if Fields won't be a starter). A solid job by a few WRs in Panther uniforms tonight indicates that maybe we can wait until the second day for a receiver.

 

Corner is still our worst need, but LB is close behind. The SB aside, Manning is solidified as a starter, IMO. I could deal with keeping Howard or Cousin as strictly a nickle, but we'll need a FA starter and a Rookie day one pick. If Manning gets beat out, he gets beat out and goes to nickle. Either Howard or Cousin won't be in camp and I'd like to see Wesley moved to Safety...I think he is a more natural fit there.
I'd really like to see Morgan on the Outside and add a MLB in the draft. I think he would be less prone to injury on the outside. He makes plays at MLB, no doubt, but I'd like to see him healthy for a full season.
We do need to address WR day one with the second or third pick.
Basically, round 1 take the best value between LB and CB, then round 2 the remainder vs. value at WR. What ever is left needs to be the focus of round 3.
Picking at #31 kind of puts you in the Best Available Player range as the top guys at our need positions will likely be gone. Probably looking at the 3rd best player at each of the afore mentioned positions.