Why should we draft Leftwich

I never said OL wasn't important. In fact, if you look back at my post, I don't deny we need help - I'd just rather see it come in the second round or in free agency rather than Gross at #9. I'd feel better about Leftwich in the first and Stinchcomb/Pashos in the second rather than Gross in the first and say, Simms in the second.

I'm all for a strong offensive line, but I think Leftwich is too good to pass up. In light of today's workout, would anyone be in favor of trading UP to get him? Say, to #3 to get ahead of Chicago and Arizona?

 

Thelt I'm with you on this, and I still have not read anything in this thread to change that.

 

Chew on this:
With Peete and Delhomme we have a good shot of, at worst, a servicable QB. Fasani and Weinke battling for the #3 spot isn't so bad.
We have more glaring needs on the O-line and at CB. Hell even drafting for depth, other positions out-weigh QB, IMO. Especially considering next years class of QB will be as good if not better than this year.
I'd like to give QB a year and see how Jake does. Drafting a QB in the 1st might make him feel like a stop gap, he needs to feel like he is the future

 

since it usually takes more time for a QB to develop than OL, would it make sense to go for the QB first? does FA have any impact on this thinking? for instance, how long can you keep 5 big-time OL in this day and age? could the Hogs have ever been built much less kept together in today's FA? it would seem that with Pace (and others?) jumping into FA and commanding cap-killing salaries that it may not be possible to build another Hogs.

a couple of quick studies that won SBs:

Tampa Bay

veteran QB (12th rd pick that didn't start for 4-5 years)
WRs - excellent group of veteran WRs
TE - good TE
OL - supposedly the major weakness on the team
RB - adequate
FB - Alstott
defense - the best in the nfl

based on that model i would draft defense in round 1, then WR and TE

Ravens

QB - veteran, average at best
WRs - couple of 2nd rounders with excellent speed
TE - Shannon Sharpe
RB - Jamal Lewis
FB - ??
OL - Ogden and then bunch of no-names (except Jeff Mitchell, of course) that were all picked i think in the 4th rd or lower

LBs - all-world group of Lewis, Boulware and Sharper
DTs - very strong, kept OL off the LBs
DEs - couple of late rounders; nothing real special
CBs - couple of first rounders
SS - 2nd rounder
FS - Woodson

based on that model (and considering there is no Ogden), i would draft defense in round 1 (wishing for Trufant), then WR and TE

but i woud throw all that crap away and draft lefty if he is there (i would glady give up a 3rd rd pick to get him). lefty could inspire moose and make him look great again.
and i would draft Kircus

 

McFly...

I think everyone's point is this as follows:
How would you feel if we passed on Leftwich for an OL and Leftwich turned into one of the top QBs in the league. Add to that the fact that Delhomme DOESN'T work out as a starter.

I don't think we can pass on a franchise QB like Leftwich at #9. Maybe in the top 5 he can be passed - but at #9 - no way. He is way too good.

This franchise will regret passing on him if they do. Regret it bigtime. That said atp, I think there is a 90% chance they do just that. Pass on em.

 

thelt makes a good point, but i gotta go w/ the others. the value of taking an OL at no. 9 is not the same as taken a said johnson, trufant or lefty. if lefty falls to us, we scoop him up, asap.

 

How would I feel...my reaction would be "oh well, good for him". I just don't see drafting Leftwich is the last piece of the Panthers SB puzzle. I don't value you him like some of you do, I still think he's a great prospect, but in no way a franchise player.

We can easily pass on Leftwhich at #9, infact I think we should pass on #9. Move down, grab some more picks and solidify our depth. This teams needs go way beyond anything Byron Leftwich, or any other QB for that matter, have to offer.
The teams needs at O-line and CB outweigh QB and all around depth is needed (except WR & RB right now).

Let's see if Jake is for real and deal with the QB position accordingly next year.

 

Question is would you rather draft a QB this year (Leftwich or Boller) and not have to give up anything up other than a big contract or wait til next year when we will possibly drafting lower and have to give up the farm to move up to get a QB while keeping yourself from being able to fill the remaining holes on the team? That being said, it's in the team's longterm interests to do it now if the opportunity presents itself.

 

If we do draft lower next year then that will mean Jake has worked out and that we are a pretty good team. In that case drafting OL or corner in this year's draft was probably the right move. If we make the wrong decsion and are drafting high again next year then maybe we can land Eli Manning. Maybe Leftwich is the real deal and maybe he is not. It is undeniable that we have larger needs at OL and corner than at QB.

 

That about sums it up Thelt! Exactly my thinking, if Jake works out we'll have no need to draft a potential starting QB next year. Go with the more glaring immediate need and in turn help secure your future there, address other needs as the present themselves in the future.