Who Will Be Panthers Obvious BPA Draft Pick in 2011?

Panthers GM Marty Hurney is not shy about his Best Player Available approach to the NFL draft. If he feels a player is the best player on the board he will draft that player even if there is no apparent need for the position. For example, in 2007 the Panthers drafted C Ryan Kalil when they had already signed starter C Justin Hartwig as a free agent.

The following year Hurney drafted LB Dan Conner in the 3rd round to add to an already deep LB corps. The Panthers are still having a hard time getting Conner on the field but its a good problem to have. You could even consider RB Jonathan Stewart and DE Everette Brown as BPA picks. I think WR Armanti Edwards will eventually join this group of excellent BPA picks in time (but not trying to start another AE discussion).

So who might the Panthers end up unexpectedly drafting to a position of little need. Well one position I would think are well stocked with use is WR. But Scout.com confirms the Panthers met with this projected mid-round WR at the Senior Bowl...after the jump...

From Michael Lombardo with Pantherinsider.com:

San Diego State WR Vincent Brown confirms to PantherInsider.com he had a meeting with the Panthers during Senior Bowl week.

via cache.daylife.com

So what can V Brown do you?

"I sell [scouts on] my big-play ability, as well as my understanding of offensive and defensive schemes," Brown said. "Whenever I step on the field I have to make plays. I'm not the biggest, fastest or strongest guy, so I have to do whatever it takes to do my job. That's how I approach it."

The film does not lie -- Brown can make plays on offense, as evidenced by the fact he set an SDSU record with 13 100-yard receiving games in his career.

The Panthers could find Brown the best player available as they sit at the top of the 4th round or maybe even 5th round.

Walter Football has Brown as the 12th ranked WR in the draft with a pretty wide projection as a 3rd to 5th round pick. I'm thinking after impressing at the Senior Bowl there is no way he lasts until the 5th round.

Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 184.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Combine 40 Time: .
Pro Day 40 Time: .
Vertical: . Broad: . Hand: 10 1/2.
Projecte (2011): 3-5.
1/25/11: Vincent Brown showed off his great hands Monday, making several impressive catches. Brown averaged 19.6 yards per reception this year. He might draw some late Round 3 consideration.

At the top of the 5th round Brown would certainly seem to be a BPA pick.

Here's more on Brown from RotoWorld:

No player helped himself at the Senior Bowl more than San Diego State's Vincent Brown, according to Fox Sports' Adam Caplan. Brown isn't particularly fast or explosive, but he showed veteran savvy catching the ball away from his body with big, soft hands and running crisp routes. What most impressed scouts was Brown's ability to win battles in traffic. His forty time will be crucial at the Combine.

From SBN's Mocking the Draft on Brown's Senior Bow practice reviews:

The former Boise State Broncos joined Miami's Leonard Hankerson and San Diego State's Vincent Brown as receivers who have reportedly impressed scouts in the first few practices. While Vincent Brown, Leonard Hankerson, and Austin Pettis have displayed the ability and toughness required to make catches over the middle, Titus Young is showing an extra gear during practice as Charles Davis has noted.