Second Attempt at the 2012 Offseason and Draft

After creating my first one I realized I enjoy making these. So after some positive and negative feedback from my first one, I've created a new one with some new ideas. (Because that is the point of this, to keep your options open and think of different ideas.) Hope you guys enjoy!

Offseason

Cut – Jason Baker, Ben Hartsock, Jeff Otah

(We need to make these moves to clear up some cap space if we want to make any moves in free agency. Lets face it; Jeff Otah cannot stay healthy. We need to finally release him and find his replacement.)

Re-sign – Jeremy Shockey, Geoff Schwartz, Antwan Applewhite, Thomas Williams, Derek Anderson

(These are all very good backup/rotational players who won’t cost too much.)

*Restructure Thomas Davis’ contract

(He’s made it clear that he wants to come back and play for the panthers, even if it means taking less money.)

Trade – Mike Goodson for a 5th round draft pick

(I’m a sure team will be willing to make this move for this running back/kick return man. His talents will finally show with some other team, it was just an unfortunate situation that he was stuck behind double trouble.)

Free Agent – Carlos Rogers, Dennis Dixon

(We went for Carlos Rogers last year so why not again this year? He’s proven himself to be a very solid CB in the NFL. Despite his age (30) I think Him and Gamble would be a very scary combo for the NFC South for the next couple of years. Dennis Dixon is a free agent this year as well, with his size and playing style he could easily fit in our system as a backup.)

***Again I’m going to trade back our 2nd round draft pick with another team thats trying to get a quarterback. We will then receive their 2nd round and also their 3rd rounder.***

Draft

Round 1 – Riley Reiff (OT – Iowa)

(I’m not going to lie I’ve been on the Kirkpatrick/Brockers bandwagon this whole offseason. But this move makes too much sense. 1) He will obviously be the BPA at this point. 2) If we let Otah go he would be the perfect replacement, who knows we could even put him at left tackle and move Jordan Gross to right. 3) With our team growing and becoming contenders for years to come, when will be the next time we will be able to select an elite tackle inside the top 10? Just some food for thought.)

Round 2 – Dontari Poe (DT – Memphis) (6-5 – 350)

(Finally! The huge run stuffer we have been missing ever since Kris Jenkins left. At 6-5 350 lbs. this kid is a mammoth, not to mention one of the strongest if not the strongest player in the draft. He would be the BPA at this slot and he would fill a huge need.)

Round 3 (Trade Back Scenerio) – Chandler Jones (DE – Syracuse) (6-5 – 265) (4.78)

(If Chandler Jones drops to the 3rd round, this will probably be the biggest steal of the draft. He has the elite size and strength to become a pro-bowler, even though he is still a little raw in some areas. He is finally getting the attention he deserves and he is skyrocketing up on the draft boards, I have seen him go as high as the first round before. He could start out like JPP and be a rotational player before finally earning the starting role.)

Round 4 – Sean Spence (OLB – Miami) (5-11 – 228) (4.58)

(AKA Thomas Davis 2.0. A very fast hard-hitting guy from the U, who could easily step in if Thomas Davis (once again..) goes down with an injury. Pairing him with Beason and Anderson could give us one the best line backing corps in the NFL.)

Round 5 – Aaron Henry (FS – Wisconsin) (6-0 – 208) (4.52)

(Anything besides Sherrod Martin is an upgrade. He is a very good player, with very good value at this draft position. He can easily come in from day 1 and compete with Martin for the starting job.)

Round 5 (Goodson Trade) - Jarius Wright (WR/PR – Arkansas) (5-10 - 176) (4.34)

(I’m a very big fan of Jarius Wright; he has the same elite speed and vertical threat that Mike Wallace has. I think with some mentoring from Steve Smith for the next couple of years he could easily fill in for him after he retires. He also made a name for himself at the senior bowl with some impressive punt returns, which we all know is a dire need.)

Round 6 – Chris Rainey (RB/KR – Florida) (5-08 – 178) (4.36)

(The "scat-back" and kick return man that everyone wants. Come draft day I’m not sure if he will last until the 6th round, but if he does he will be an amazing return man and a great change of pace running back to pair with double trouble.)

Round 7 – Drew Butler (P – Georgia)

(We need an upgrade over Jason Baker really bad and he is the best punter (IMO) in the draft.)

Depth Chart

Offense

QB - Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Dennis Dixon

RB -DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Rainey

FB- Richie Brockel

TE – Greg Olsen, Jeremy Shockey

WR 1 - Steve Smith, Jarius Wright, Kealoha Pilares

WR 2 - David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards

LT – Jordan Gross, Lee Ziemba

LG – Travelle Wharton, Zach Williams

C – Ryan Kalil, Jeff Byers

RG - Geoff Schwartz, Geoff Hangartner

RT – Riley Reiff, Byron Bell

Defense

DE – Charles Johnson, Thomas Keiser, Eric Norwood

DT – Ron Edwards, Jason Shirley, Sione Fua

DT – Dontari Poe, Andre Neblett, Terrell McClain

DE – Greg Hardy, Chandler Jones, Antwan Applewhite

WLB – Thomas Davis, Sean Spence, Jordan Senn

MLB – Jon Beason, Thomas Williams, Jason Phillips

SLB – James Anderson, Sean Spence, Jason Williams

CB 1 – Chris Gamble, Brandon Hogan, RJ Stanford

CB 2 – Carlos Rodgers, Captain Munnerlyn, Darius Butler

FS – Sherrod Martin, Aaron Henry

SS – Charles Godfrey, Jordan Pugh

Special Teams

K – Olindo Mare

P – Drew Butler

KR – Chris Rainey

PR – Jarius Wright