USA TODAY Sports
The draft picture is coming into focus.
The Carolina Panthers are visiting with Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd according to a report by Rotoworld. Widely regarded as the best in the class, it's unlikely he'll be available at the 14th pick, but with so much of the top-ten in flux, it's hard to predict what will happen in the first round.
Scouts love his versatility, as the 6-3, 298-pound Floyd spend time at both defensive tackle, and defensive end for the Gators. With significant upside in both a 3-4, and 4-3 front, he's a player who can be plugged in where needed. Ron Rivera has a fondness for players with versatility, and with Sean McDermott looking to employ more 3-4 looks into the 2013 defense, it's easy to see why there would be appeal.
Floyd finished the 2012 season with 64 tackles, and three sacks, showing even performance across each game. He doesn't have a signature game to his resume, but rather a steady stream of four and five tackle games. It's far too easy to overlook his talent by virtue of an unimpressive stat line, but ultimately he's a player scouts believe have all the tools to excel at the next level.
NFL.com compare Floyd to Muhammad Wilkersonof the New York Jets, while CBS Sports think he's akin to Corey Liuget of the San Diego Chargers. In Josh Norris's top 100 prospects, Floyd finished 5th overall and the second-best defensive tackle in his rankings.
The Panthers haven't shown much of a poker face in pre-draft processes since Ron Rivera came aboard, and viewing the draft through this lens it's fairly safe to assume a wide receiver or defensive tackle will be the team's first round pick.


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