The 2018 SBN writers mock draft is underway and for the first time I will not be making the selection for CSR. Bradley Smith will surely carry the torch forward in suitable fashion I have no doubt. As I look back at my selections the past ten years I would say I haven’t set the bar very high. I have a couple pretty good picks, some not-so-good ones and one really bad one. Here’s a look back using the awesome power of hindsight to self-grade my picks.
2017
No. 8 — TE OJ Howard
As you well know the Panthers passed on Howard and instead selected running back Christian McCaffrey. After seeing them play this past season I would say McCaffrey was the better of the two picks. I still like the Howard pick and think it’s too early to say he was over drafted. Howard went No. 19 to the Buccaneers, by the way. I just don’t think the Buccaneers gave him enough opportunities as a rookie.
Grade: B
No. 40 — CB TreDavious White
I knew White had a good rookie season but I didn’t realize how good. He was a 16 game starter for the Bills who drafted him No. 27. So getting him at No. 40 is certainly value. White posted 22 passes defensed (seventh in NFL), four interceptions and 69 total tackles as a rookie. That is pretty damn good. The Panthers on the other hand selected wide receiver Curtis Samuel. I like this pick better at this point in time.
Grade: A
2016
No. 30 — DE Kevin Dodd
Based simply on stats Dodd has been a total bust so far in his two seasons. The problem is both a lack of snaps and a lack of productivity when he does get snaps. Dodd was drafted No. 33 by the Titans so I can’t say I over-drafted him badly. The lack of snaps was due to a foot injury as a rookie that apparently continued to dog him. I think his ineffectiveness once on the field was due to the position change from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. Some defensive ends just find the transition very hard.
The Panthers spent this pick on defensive tackle Vernon Butler. It’s probably a push stat-wise between these two but I like the Butler pick better. Plus I think Butler is poised for a break out in 2018.
Grade: C
No. 62 — WR Will Fuller
Talk about value, Fuller went No. 21 overall to the Texans. Some pundits really poo poo’d Fuller’s ability to take the next step but Fuller proved them wrong. Though he missed a couple games as a rookie he still caught 47 balls for 635 yards (13.5 ypc) and two touchdowns. He didn’t catch as many balls as a sophomore (28) due to missing some games due to injury, yet he hauled in seven touchdowns and a 15.1 ypc average. Fuller is the deep threat every offense needs plus he is electric on wide receiver screens.
The Panthers selected cornerback James Bradberry at No. 62. My thoughts are that both players were over-drafted by half a round if not more. But that’s not what I’m grading. I think Fuller at No. 62 is a darn good pick.
Grade: A
2015
No. 25 — LT Ereck Flowers
Flowers hasn’t exactly played at a high level in his three seasons in New York. I believe the term I saw was ‘struggles’ to describe his first three seasons. In fact he’s not even guaranteed a starting job at right tackle:
New York Giants announce plan to try Ereck Flowers at right tackle - New York Giants Blog- ESPN
“As soon as we announced the signing of Nate, [coach] Pat [Shurmur] spoke with Ereck,” general manager Dave Gettleman said in a statement announcing Solder’s deal. “He called him on the phone to talk to him and said, ‘Listen, we're going to move you to right, and at the end of the day, the five best offensive linemen play.’ That's where they left it, and Ereck was fine on the phone.”
Flowers struggled during his three seasons at left tackle. When the Giants signed Solder to a record-setting four-year deal worth $62 million, there was little doubt it meant some kind of change for Flowers. Right tackle, right guard or even being traded -- he’s in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract — were options.
At least they called Flowers to let him know. Gettleman did learn something in Carolina. In my defense of this pick I will say I only spent a No. 25 pick on him, not No. 9 overall. Ouch!
This was the Shaq Thompson pick for the Panthers, a pretty good pick in my opinion. Certainly the better pick of these two.
Grade: D
No. 57 — CB Ron Darby
Darby has been a mixed bag in his three seasons in the NFL. He had a stellar rookie campaign with 21 passes defensed and two interceptions. But he then struggled in his second season, so much so new Bills head coach Sean McDermott traded him away. Darby was drafted No. 50 by the Bills so the value of my pick is right on. The only question is which Ron Darby is the real one. The rookie or the sophomore? I think the potential to be really good is there so I would take Darby as a free agent in a skinny second.
Grade: B
2014
No. 28 — WR Marqise Lee
Lee has been an average wide receiver at best in his four seasons in Jacksonville. Drafted No. 39 his best year was 2016 when he had 63 receptions, 851 yards and three touchdowns. Those are No. 2 or maybe No. 3 wide receiver numbers, well for Jacksonville’s offense No. 2. But still, hardly worth a second round pick. This is why the Jags let him walk in free agency this offseason. He reminds me of former Panthers third round pick Brandon LaFell. Good but not great…flashes at times but too inconsistent to be a No. 1 wide receiver. Certainly not worth the No. 28 pick.
Of course that could also be said of the player the Panthers actually drafted at No. 28, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. I’d take Benjamin over Lee any day.
Grade: D
No. 60 — OT Billy Turner
Turner has 14 starts in five seasons and is little more than depth after being waived by three teams. He currently a back-up in Denver. He was originally drafted No. 67 to the Dolphins so I wasn’t the only one who rolled the dice. Still this is a truly busted pick. This was also the Kony Ealy pick by the Panthers, who I would take over Turner but not by much.
Grade: F
2013
No. 14 — OT Lane Johnson
Johnson isn’t a Pro Bowler but he is a solid starting offensive tackle for the Eagles, whether it’s on the left or right side. Getting him at No. 14 is even better when he was the No. 4 overall pick.
Grade: A
No. 44 – DT Kawann Short
Can you believe I actually got a pick correct? A pick in the second round at that. Well the Panthers didn’t exactly hide their infatuation with Short but it was still unexpected given they had already selected defensive tackle Star Lotulelei in the first round. In the end the Panthers favored this pick over the Star pick as they let Star walk and re-signed Short to big money last offseason. Given Short is a Pro Bowl performer this was obviously a very good pick for myself and the Panthers.
Grade: A
Summary
That’s grades of B, C, A, A, D, B, D, F, A, A which equates to a 2.5 GPA. That’s a solid C…story of my life. Like I said I didn’t set the bar very high.
Stay tuned for part two of this flashback series in which I go back five more mock drafts and reveal THE WORST PICK IN MODERN MOCK DRAFT HISTORY!
How would you grade my mock drafting performance Panthers fans?
Poll
What grade would you put on my most recent five mock drafts?
This poll is closed
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3%
A
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37%
B
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35%
C
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15%
D
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6%
F