…is hopefully Everette Brown. He’s got a lot of positives working for him…and from every possible angle. The guy’s even a model citizen off the field. He may lack size, but everyone says he doesn’t lack heart or speed. And I know a certain Pro-Bowl WR on the Panthers that fits that description, too. If Brown can play larger than his size (like #89), I think he’ll make a bigger impact for us than any other rookie this year.

Hopefully, Everette also answers the pending loss of Julius Peppers by making us completely forget about #90. Hopefully, Ron Meeks can coach him up into the next Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. And, hopefully, he finally gives us another edge rusher to complement Peppers this season so the defense can greatly improve its pressure on opposing QBs. That, more than anything else will improve Carolina’s ability to win games and take us to the next level.

That’s because our offense carried us last year. And that means the defense needed the most improvement in the offseason. Specifically, that means the defensive line needed upgrading so that can bring a stronger pass-rush to help out the secondary. Everette Brown is basically the one guy we drafted that should help the most in that area. So, he’s my favorite pick over the others, because of the immediate need he hopefully addresses for us.

My two-cents,
—Neil

with Munnerlyn as my ‘sleeper’ pick to surprise

I’ll be really surprised if he makes the roster. I think he’s much more likely to land on the practice squad, particularly if the Panthers are talking about using C.J. Wilson as a CB and keeping Marshall as their DB in the nickel formation. That means Sherrod Martin may not be the nickel back everyone expected him to be…but he is a guy they’d presumably keep on the roster for special teams and his versatility as both a backup S and CB. He’s a 2nd round pick vs. Munnerlyn as a 7th round pick…so Sherrod definitely makes the team.

As a result, I just don’t see a roster spot left for Munnerlyn to make the 53. A lot of folks thought we were reaching to pick him with a 7th rounder anyway. So maybe it’s more likely we can slip him through waivers and onto the practice squad. Anything more than that and I’d just be really surprised that the Panthers’ coaching staff chose to elevate him over some of the other guys.

I think it boils down to what disqualifies you from being eligible for the practice squad. According to the collective bargaining agreement, that appears to be:

1) You can’t have played more than 9 regular season games in a year.
2) You can’t have been on the active roster for an entire year.
3) You can’t have spent more than 2 seasons on the same team’s practice squad unless that team’s active roster never dipped below 53 players…i.e., an opening on the active roster never became available. If one did, and they didn’t choose you to fill it, you’re ineligible for a 3rd year.
4) Apparently, a term of only 3 weeks qualifies as a “season” on a practice squad. So, if you were on a practice squad for 3 weeks or more and then they cut you to pick up someone else for the practice squad, you’ve still used up one of your season’s-worth of eligibility. Also, a bye week counts as one of those weeks.

—Neil

I am really hoping Martin becomes a solid CB. I like Gamble but not as much as everyone else seems to. We need a true ballhawk (speed and hands). Have to say that Brown falling to us was sweet with Meeks at DC. Goodson and Mutterlyn are exciting future talent.

I just wanna add, while it’s impossible to say a 7th round pick is overrated, I would say don’t get your hopes up about Captain. As a student at South Carolina (where i watched him every game), he got absolutely trounced by the real talent of the SEC. He was definitely good when we played the likes of NC State and Miss St but as for games against Florida, Georgia, etc……..you can see where this is going. Emanuel Cook at the safety was much more consistent for us (leading our team in tackles every year as starter), and he didn’t even get drafted.