TBR Grades

1. Jonathan Stewart. (A*)
I was totally against drafting a back in the first round. But the more I read about this guy, the more I like him. Yes, the turf toe is a major concern, but dude ran a 4.46 at the combine before surgery. If this guy turns out to be Stephen Davis 2.0, it'll be one of our best picks in the history of the franchise. If not, it'll be a valiant try that came up short and will likely cost Hurney and Fox their jobs.

2. Jeff Otah. (B-)
Otah wasn't the tackle I wanted, and definitely not at the price we paid to get him. But I do think he's got a good chance to be a serious RT, and if so, he'll make our return to the power running game that much faster and smoother. If he busts (which I think is almost as likely), it will likely cost Fox and Hurney their jobs.

3. Charles Godfrey. (B+)
He'll challenge Holt for the FS job sooner or later (we hope). He certainly seems to have the right mentality and passion for both the safety job and special teams. I'm leery of Iowa players, though, and he wasn't really even on the radar of hot safeties that I know of.

4. Dan Connor. (D)
Sure, he was one of the highest rated backers out there. Wonderful. But contrary to the press releases, this team was NOT in the position to just draft the BPA. We needed DT depth in a very bad way, and we left Sims on the board to take a MLB we don't even need. To me, that's inexcusable... especially after trading away our 4th round pick.

5. Gary Barnidge. (B-)
If this guy turns out to be a valid red zone/3rd down threat, great. But to select a 245 lb TE over the best blocking fullback in the draft? It's okay, I guess, but I would've been a lot more excited about Owen Schmitt.

6. Nick Hayden. (B+)
The more I hear about this guy, the more I like this pick. Gil Brandt and Pat Kirwan love him, and he seems like a steal in the 6th which also fills a need. Notre Dame C John Sullivan would've been good here, too, but Hayden is the better choice.

7. Hilee Taylor. (C)
Looks like a decent pass rusher on paper, but we've already got one of those in McClover, don't we? Whatever. We still left a very good blocking fullback on the board in Mike Viti who could've rotated in with Hoover from day one and a pure blocking TE in Zinger.

8. Geoff Schwartz. (A)
Big, nasty G depth who can long snap if anything happens to Kyle. I like it. Not bad for a 7th. Not bad at all.

9. Mackenzy Bernadeau (F)
I doubt he even makes it to the end of training camp. This guy is nothing more than a trivia question waiting to happen (Who was the first draft pick ever from Bentley College?). A complete non-factor and camp fodder at best. And again, we left a quality lead blocker and high character, high motor player on the board in Mike Viti. We also drafted this camp fodder over safety depth in Marcus Griffin.




Overall grade?

C+*


The asterisk is for the question marks for Stewart and mainly Otah. If they both pan out, this draft goes to a B+. If Otah busts, it goes to a C- at best. I'd love to give it an A, but we side-stepped too many quality players for WTF picks.

JMHO.

 

3. Charles Godfrey. (B+)
He'll challenge Holt for the FS job sooner or later (we hope). He certainly seems to have the right mentality and passion for both the safety job and special teams. I'm leery of Iowa players, though, and he wasn't really even on the radar of hot safeties that I know of.

Probably because he played CB for the last two years. Was listed as a CB at almost every site. Played safety early in his career.

4. Dan Connor. (D)
Sure, he was one of the highest rated backers out there. Wonderful. But contrary to the press releases, this team was NOT in the position to just draft the BPA. We needed DT depth in a very bad way, and we left Sims on the board to take a MLB we don't even need. To me, that's inexcusable... especially after trading away our 4th round pick.

Gotta figure they new they could get Walker and Scott after the draft and that's why DT wasnt addressed here. Sims did have some questions. He quit the team for a year (his sister died). Some people play through those things, at least after some short time off, it raised a flag.

5. Gary Barnidge. (B-)
If this guy turns out to be a valid red zone/3rd down threat, great. But to select a 245 lb TE over the best blocking fullback in the draft? It's okay, I guess, but I would've been a lot more excited about Owen Schmitt.

That Schmitt dude is a complete nut job. He's like the LB from The Raplacements times 2.

 

I liked Sims. Harrison I would have passed on, too much risk. But I like Sims a lot. I see a lot of Darwin Walker in his play, Sims is a little stouter. Stocky, strong, nimble, and not so tall that he struggles with pad level too much.

 

I'm wondering if Conner is insurance for next season. Thomas Davis is in his contract year isn't he. I'm not that impressed with his play and wonder if this could be his last year as a Panther. IMHO

 

I stated above Davis has two years left and I think his play has been very good.

 

x

 

1. Jonathan Stewart. D He may turn out to be a good player but we had too many other needs to draft a back at 13. I still think DW is a great back and was enough to be our start with some cheap depth behind him.

2. Jeff Otah. B I like him as a player and I like the fact that we are going to a big OL and a real power running game. I do not like what it cost to get him though, not at all.

3. Charles Godfrey. C We have no need for him at corner and there were more proven safeties available.

4. Dan Connor. C Getting him this late was a good value pick. Unfortunately linebacker is our deepest position and he may never see the field other than on special teams.

5. Gary Barnidge. C we have two pass catching tight ends already. I would have liked a big blocker if we were going to draft a tight end at all.

6. Nick Hayden. B He is undersized but we needed a DT and this was a late pick that addresses a need area.

7. Hilee Taylor. D Linebacker is our strongest area especially with Connor on board. Taylor is too small to play DE. I doubt he makes the roster.

8. Geoff Schwartz. A I like this pick a lot especially this late. Developing some huge guards is important if we really want to have a dominant OL. The guys we have now are short termers.

9. Mackenzy Bernadeau C He is not going to make the roster. We are already pretty deep at center.



Overall grade?

C-

We failed to address our pass rush which was probably our biggest need area going into the draft. We overpaid for Otah which might really haunt us next year. We relegated our first round pick who averages 5.0 yards per carry to a backup. Other than the fact it proves we have shifted our focus towards having a real power run game there is not a lot about this draft that I like.

 

1. Jonathan Stewart - If he ends up being our feature back and puts up 1000 yards which I think he will year one. A

2. Jeff Otah - A little slow and oafish and we gave a ton to get a guy who will probably never be more than a run blocking RT. C

3. Charles Godfrey - I watched him in college a little but not enough to give a good grade. C?

4. Dan Connor - By far the best player at this spot in the draft gives us flexibility with rotation and future contract negotiations. B

5. Gary Barnidge - Never watched him so. IDK


6. Nick Hayden - Plays really hard but seemed to me to be pretty thick never really learns from his mistakes. C-

7. Hilee Taylor - I don't really see how he fits what we do at all - F

8. Geoff Schwartz - Big as hell, clumsy and slow. He will try real hard and look really bad doing it never more than a backup. D -

9. Mackenzy Bernadeau - I never even heard of this guy but he looks mean in his pictures. D for looking the part

Overall - C

 

This shit is hilarious.

 

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