Some Mock Drafts based off our front runners

by carolinapillpusher on Feb 4, 2012 11:15 PM EST

At first when I saw so many mock drafts going up towards the end of the season, I wrinkled my nose at them. Now that our season is officially over, I can't resist the urge...

This one is relatively straight forward, with no shockers yet. I really just wanted to flesh out some potential drafts based upon who the "experts" have projected us to pick in the first round, and let you choose Pantherboy style. This is just with the picks we have now, though I do have some trade ideas for us that I may throw at the community another time. Picks 5-7 are pretty much always going to be a crapshoot, so don't get too riled up about them. I got the most of the info between cbssports and Walterfootball. There is a guy over at Mocking the Draft who is excellent at predicting compensatory picks, and he prognosticates an extra 7th rounder to us this year.

Draft #1

1 Dre Kirpatrick CB, Alabama 6-2 192 4.49

We know how sad our secondary looked this year. We play the Falcons and Saints twice each every year, and were 0-4 against them this season. While this draft is deep with CBs, I see a lot of guys that remind me of Munnerlyn potential wise coming out of college (Excellent college players but unsure how they will fare against NFL receivers). It worked out pretty well for us last time we picked a CB in the first round. I believe if you want a true starter at corner, you need to pick one high.

2 Ronnell Lewis OLB, Oklahoma 6-2 244 4.63

I have no doubts about T Davis's heart, but its time to face reality about his body. Three ACL tears on the same knee is mind-boggling, and from a medical standpoint its hard to make that ligament any stronger. Lewis is a beast, and we sorely needed an upgrade during the past season. Senn will make an excellent back-up.

4 Winston Guy SS, Kentucky 6-1 210 4.49

Good instincts and a wrap up tackler? Sign me up. He may allow us to bench Martin and move Godfrey back to FS.

5 Matt McCants OT, UAB 6-6 309 5.26

A big athletic guy with potential who is decent in the run and pass game. Potential insurance for Otah and Schwartz. The vertical passing game needs protection to be successful.

6 Frank Alexander, DE Oklahoma 6-4 255 4.73

Another guy to help rotate in to keep the pass rush fresh. Had some good games against some good college OTs.

7 Adonis Thomas, RB Toledo 5-10 185 4.45

Has good speed, experience in the screen game, and a lot of heart.

7 Miles Burris, OLB, San Diego State 6-2 235 4.73

A guy with some potential for a rush linebacker in a 3-4 set (which we will use more ) and for special teams use. Great sack production and TFLs in college.

Draft #2

1 Michael Brockers, DT LSU 6-5 306 4.95

He may not bring immediate change like Kirpatrick would, but his awesome potential to be great could help return our D-line to 2003 dominance. A developed Brockers in the middle makes Johnson and Hardy that much better, and we all have witnessed what ferocious D-lines have done to offensive powerhouse type teams (i.e.- New Orleans, Atlanta, Green Bay) in this years play-offs. We have a chance to pick for the potential here, as next year is not slated to be a Super Bowl run year for us.

2 Chase Minnifield, CB Virgina Tech 6-0 185 4.49

We take Brockers in the first and still fill a glaring need with a great player at his position. Maybe Hogan is our guy, and maybe he isn't. Minnifield has great skills, and also enough size to separate him from all the "nickle" type corners on our roster.

4 Danny Trevathan, OLB Kentucky 6-0 230 4.68

Dude is an athelete who makes a lot of big plays (TFLs, forced fumbles, etc). We need a playmaker for the weakside who has starter potential, and hopefully he will still be there at this pick.

5 Alex Hurst, OT LSU 6-6 340 5.19

A huge guy who is good against the run and the pass with good technique. Potential at right tackle or maybe moved inside to guard.

6 Chris Rainey, RB/WR/KR/PR Florida 5-8 178 4.38

BAMF gets his Sproles-like guy, and Chud gets a special weapon to pull from the arsenal when the occasion warrants. We could also certainly use him for punt and kick returns if he is still on the board here. He can block punts too!

7 Matt Daniels, SS Duke 6-0 215 4.53

Decent speed, smart player, and a solid tackler (which we would especially love in a safety here at CSR)

7 Jack Crawford, DE Penn State 6-5 268 4.79

He may be able to spell CJ and Hardy some which would make them better. Either way, he could be a special teamer. For the Brits on here, he was born in London.

So, what do you guys and gals think?

Poll

If the experts are right and we pick either Kirpatrick or Brockers in the first round, which overall draft do you prefer?

Draft #1

27 votes

Draft #2

74 votes

I want Kirpatrick, but his draft needs major tweaking (explain below

16 votes

I want Brockers, but his draft needs major tweaking (explain below)

7 votes

I hate both drafts (explain below)

13 votes

137 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I like draft number 2

Just for the players after the number one pick you could interchange Brockers and Kirkpatrick and I still like it. But I really like the Minnifield, Daniels, and Rainey picks although I think Jayron Hosely would be a better CB than Chase but thats just my opinion. Replace Crawford with Darren Thomas, Russell Wilson, or Drew Butler and I would be extremely happy with this draft. Im just not in love with the rest of the picks behind Dre in draft number 1.

by TS BOBCAT on Feb 5, 2012 12:16 AM EST reply actions

#2

Brockers is my favorite right now, Minnifield in the second would be great. I’ve heard great things about Trevathan and Rainey is a nice scat back.

"What do you want to say to those critics now?"
"Just sit back and watch the show." -Cam Newton

by Smitty89 on Feb 5, 2012 12:34 AM EST reply actions

I like draft #2, don't know if Ronnell Lewis

can cover as a 4-3 olb though in your first mock draft.

by adam carter on Feb 5, 2012 12:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I went with him because he would be the top rated guy in the second, and other mocks here have used Spence already. He may not be the best fit for the weakside in a 4-3. He does have some good 3-4 projections though. Maybe David would have been a better choice instead, if he lasts that long.

"You know the new iPhone? It’s faster, more powerful and smarter. It’s revolutionary. Why can’t the quarterback be like that? Why can’t you be a big, tall, fast, quick, strong, smart, mobile quarterback who’s unstoppable?"
-Cam Newton

by carolinapillpusher on Feb 5, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

I like bothe the drafts.

Either one is fine with me.

by Sukhan on Feb 5, 2012 7:03 AM EST reply actions

I voted "I hate them both" but I think that's harsh

Basically, my main problem is that both drafts wait until the 5th round to address the OL. Overall, I like the guys you have the Panthers picking – I just think OT is a huge need for us.

Personally, if it was up to me, I’d take either Martin or Reiff if they are still on the board. If both are gone, I’d consider trading back to get Adams. Still I wouldn’t be too upset with Kirkpatrick or Brockers.

I do want to say two things as a PSU alum. First, I think Devon Still is the better pick than Brockers. I think he’s more ready to play, and will have an immediate impact. I also think he has a better chance of reaching his ceiling (which, unlike many of you, I don’t think is that much lower than Brockers).
Second, I’m not sold on Crawford. He had a ton of potential and athleticism, but he never really turned that into solid production on the field. But most seventh rounders don’t even make the team, so I have no problem with taking a guy with a lot of potential there.

by ppfcpp on Feb 5, 2012 9:34 AM EST reply actions

I'm not totally against going OT in the first round,

just for the purpose of this exercise I wanted to flesh out some drafts based upon the two guys who get slated to us most often. I feel that if we don’t get one of the elite OTs in the first round, I wouldn’t use a 2-4 pick on one because we have more urgent holes to fill, and the drop-off in OT talent will be too significant. As poor as Bell looked in some spots, he may likely be just as effective as most of the prospects outside of the top rounds, plus Otah should be ready to at least start the season next year.

by carolinapillpusher on Feb 5, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I get the logic - I don't really hate either option, it was just closest to what I thought

I get what you’re saying about the drop-off in talent at OT, although if someone Mike Adams lasts into the second I would snatch him up. I will say though, that unlike you, I have zero faith in Otah. He has an entire year to get healthy for this past season, and he couldn’t do it. I think it’s dangerous to go into next season assuming that he will be an option. But if Reiff and Martin are gone when we pick in the first, and there isn’t good value at OT after that, I can see the logic in not addressing it in the other early rounds.

by ppfcpp on Feb 5, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

If Mike Adams falls to us in the second, we take that steal and don't look back.

That would be an awesome BPA that we couldn’t overlook, kind of how we took Kalil in 2007 since he was there. Our front office has shown they are willing to draft O-line high (Gross, Kalil, Otah) and have had good sucess doing so (though no one could have predicted Otah’s problems). I trust them if they like Reiff or Martin that much, as our vertical offense can’t thrive without an upright and healthy Cam.

by carolinapillpusher on Feb 6, 2012 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

Its all about the combine

If Dre ends up running a fast enough 40 time to go with his speed, he will be a beast. If Brockers ends up running a fast enough 10-split on the 40, then he will be a beast. Only thing with Brockers is that many people love him for his potential, comparing him to our own Cam Newton. But Cam Newton dominated in college, based off the game tape I’ve seen on Brockers, the same cant be said for the young DT.

by ianc1203 on Feb 5, 2012 10:53 AM EST reply actions

I agree with this.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Feb 5, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

i don't know anybody past winston guy on #1

but i like it! lewis and dre k as first two picks would be killer:)

by bylinebrown on Feb 5, 2012 11:34 AM EST reply actions

also with #2,

i’m reading they’re switching him to wr at the combine. i like had just commented that demps, rainey’s teammate, could be that guy. he’s fast and strong.

by bylinebrown on Feb 5, 2012 11:38 AM EST reply actions

rainey is him, hehe

by bylinebrown on Feb 5, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

I'm going with #2

I’m not sold on Brockers as a top-10 pick, but I love Minnifield and have interest in Rainey as well.

Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91

by Jake Humphrey on Feb 5, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions

I went with #1, though there were some pieces of #2 that I liked.

Brockers at #8-9 screams reach, but I like the idea of Rainey, and Trevathan, as well as Minnifield.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Feb 5, 2012 5:07 PM EST reply actions

I like a lot of both

I know you can’t properly estimate the effects of trade in a mock, but I believe there is value in the upper part of the First and I want my 3 back {although Olsen was a great pick up}. Some experts believe that Brockers and Dre K may fall so we might still get one of them a little further along.

Both RB’s are great value that low, as is Crawford. One player I want is Butler out of UGa: he is a quality punter and would offer Cap relief.

by Cat Fan on Feb 6, 2012 8:57 AM EST reply actions

Regarding your #2 mock and S Matt Daniels...

Wait. Safeties are allowed to tackle the ball-carrier?

Really like Minnifield, Trevathan and Daniels. Not a huge Brockers guy, though, so would probably lead towards draft #1 since the first and second pick need to be potential starters.

We need a nose tackle.

by ERL on Feb 6, 2012 3:21 PM EST reply actions