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Panthers Draft Day 2 Wrap-up

Here’s a recap of the Panthers Day 2 draft picks.

Let’s look at each pick and the linked write-up.

3rd Round - Charles Godfrey CB 6'0" 207 Iowa Pick Analysis: The Panthers get good value with Godfrey in the third round. He's a little thick in the upper body which makes it harder to have the quick reaction necessary at corner, but he could fit well as a cover-two corner or safety in the NFL. He's an excellent tackler, but can get beaten in pass coverage.

The word is this guy projects to free safety so if that holds true then this is a great pick in terms of both value and need.

3rd Round - Dan Connor OLB 6'3" 233 Penn State Pick Analysis: Connor has been compared to Dan Morgan and is a great value at this spot in the draft. He needs to work on his pass coverage and at his size could struggle to play on all the downs and distances. He had over 400 tackles in college, can call the defense and play strong-side or middle linebacker. One of the smartest players in the draft and had excellent production in college.

This is a classic Panthers value pick. The Panthers are already deep at linebacker but Conner was too good to pass up. I can’t believe he fell this far but wow, how good will the Panthers be at linebacker next season? NFL Network is predicting the Panthers will move Jon Beason to the weak-side and Conner will start in the middle. I’m not sure how the line-up will shake out but regardless  the Panthers will be very deep at linebacker.

5th Round - Gary Barnidge TE 6'6" 243 Louisville Pick Analysis: Barnidge had excellent college production - 108 receptions, 17 TDs and almost 14 yards per catch. He gets in and out of breaks well and has the ability to change direction. He caught passes from Brian Brohm at Louisville and it's a little surprising he fell this far.

This is the third straight year the Panthers have chased a TE in the later rounds. On first blush it suggests that the Panthers may not too enamored either of their prior TE picks Jeff King or Dante Rosario. It could be that Barnidge may provide the red zone threat the Panthers haven’t had since Wesley Walls. He certainly has the size and experience (17 TD’s).

6th Round - Nick Hayden DT 6'4" 291 Wisconsin Pick Analysis: The Panthers came into the draft wanting to address their defensive line. They didn't do it until taking Hayden in the sixth round. Hayden comes with experience, having started for four years at Wisconsin. His greatest strength is his strength; he had 34 reps on the bench at the combine. Known as a run stuffer, he will need to improve on his consistency and technique.

Hayden looks like a strong guy who has some big shoes to fill if he’s our replacement for Kris Jenkins. I was very disappointed we didn’t get a DT earlier but better late than never. Hopefully this guy will be the pleasant surprise of the later rounds.

7th Round - Hilee Taylor OLB 6'3" 242 North Carolina Pick Analysis: A defensive end who projects to an outside linebacker in the pros. A three-year starter at North Carolina who will likely start out on special teams.

Another linebacker who is appropriately labeled a special teams player. I hope he’s an animal on kick coverage.

7th Round - Geoff Schwartz OL 6'7" 335 Oregon Pick Analysis: Schwartz probably projects as more of a guard than a tackle. He has good strength but lacks speed and quickness. For a Panthers line thin on depth, he will be provided ample opportunity for growth.

I was pretty sure the Panthers would get some depth for the offensive line and they didn’t disappoint. Schwartz has the size the Panthers covet and provides some needed depth at tackle or guard.

Mackenzy Bernadeau OG 6'4" 298 Bentley Pick Analysis: Bernadeau worked out at Boston College's Pro Day and got a great deal of exposure there. He had a decent workout and projects to be a guard. He might be valuable on kickoff and punt return coverage.

This guy will have a hard time sticking unless he can play special teams.

For all the mock draft analysis, the review of the scouting combine and keeping up with Pro Day travels I still didn’t get a single player correct in my predictions. Feel free to give me crap but I’m sure it won’t stop me from trying again next year.

Poll
How would you grade the Panthers draft?
A - They addressed their needs with value picks
40 votes
B - Day 1 was great but day 2 could have been better
21 votes
C - Good players early but paid too much for Otah
17 votes
D - Didn't fill enough needs (DT, QB, WR)
7 votes
F - What were they thinking?
0 votes

85 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 6 comments

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My Grade - B

I thought we needed to go DT earlier but I bet the Conner pick was going to be DT. The Panthers couldn't pass him up.

We didn't need a QB or any other position as much as DT.

by Jaxon on Apr 28, 2008 9:33 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree

I agree with you.  I think our draft was excellent.  It's hard to grade a draft this early, but we'll see.  It's possible that Conner can play as well as Beason did last year.  If that is the case (with Conner in the middle and Beason outside), and maybe Davis the other OLB, then we may have the best, or a top 5, LB crew in the league.  With that quality at LB, we're good to go on the DL as well.  Johnson, Kemo, Lewis and Pep will start, and I think that's exactly how it would've been no matter who we drafted at 13 considering Harvey, Gholston, Long, Groves and others were gone by then.  I think our DBs are good to go for now.  They're good enough.  Lucas, Gamble, Marshall and Harris are solid in their roles.  If Holt is what we need him to be, then we're set on defense, and I expect our D to be a top 5 defense.  That prediction is based on Conner being as good a rookie, or close, as Beason, and Peppers getting double digit sacks.  

Our offense is gonna be awesome. Otah and Stewart are great pics, and D-Will is still going to dominate.  I think D-Will will get 20-25 touches a game (including catches) and Stewart will get 10-15.  That new TE will be good, but if he's not as good as we expect, we'll still have King who can go for 50 catches.  Those guys plus a healthy Jake, Steve, Moose, and DJ at WR, and a new OL, and I'm more confident now than before the draft about our chances to get to the Superbowl and win it all.

by usana_gaines on Apr 28, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Percentages
In regards to RB Stewart

65% - He turns into another D. Foster.  Decent bag, injured banged up, off the team w/in 5 years.

30% - He turns into a decent back has a couple of 1000 yard seasons.

5% - He turns into a great running back and takes us to a SB

What do you guys think?

Also, to everyone talking about how we should switch to a 3-4 now that we have such a good LB corp:
A: It takes a different kind of LB and Tackle to play in a 3-4 IE Kevin Greene back in the day!  So I don't think we could do a traditional 3-4 BUT...
B:  It seemed like we almost played a 3-4 last year with peppers playing LB.  As many times as he dropped into coverage he was more of a LB than a DE, leaving 3 lineman and 4 LB's.
Maybe not a traditional 3-4 but pretty close.  

by ClaytonFire on Apr 28, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He's stronger than Foster

Lets hope that reduced the fumbles we got from Foster.  I would put the percentages (in the order you have them) 20%, 50%, 30%. I'm a little more optimistic since the Panthers traditionally have done well with their first round picks.

by Jaxon on Apr 28, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh...and no way we switch to a 3-4

You're right, the personnel change is not in the cards

by Jaxon on Apr 28, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

First round RB

The Panthers have had some succes in the 1st round, but have the ever drafted a successful offensive SKILL player (RB, QB, WR) in the first round.  Obviously the verdict is still out and D. Williams, and I hope he has a great year, but I'm not very optimistic.  He sure didn't look like a 1st rounder last year.  Other than that they haven't drafted skill in the 1st round.  
How about in the 2nd round...
2007 – Dwayne Jarrett
2005 – Eric Shelton
2004 – Keary Colbert  
2002 – DeShaun Foster
NOPE!!!
Really the panthers haven't drafted SKILL players in the 1st round so there's not much data to say how they can evaluate talent...

Here's hoping for the best but I'll hold my excitement until I see the real deal...

by ClaytonFire on Apr 28, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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