CAROLINA PANTHER draft
Needs to be addressed via draft or free agency:
- Wide receiver—this is a critical need
- Secondary---need to continue to upgrade these groups
- Defensive End—they just cut Charles Johnson and Peppers is old
- Defensive tackle depth or starter—they expect to lose a starter in FA here
- Interior oline depth—they get guys back from injury but could use depth or even a starter here
- TE if Olsen can't get healthy
Starting picks:
24, 55, 85, 88
After two trades, I ended up with picks:
24, 49, 85, 114, 133
Round 1 pick 24:
Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Very talented, smooth, physical and aggressive cover corner. A true "press" corner.
I think he still needs some polishing, but liked the value enough here to take him at 24.
This also fills a team need.
Round 2, pick 49:
James Washington, WR, Oklahoma St
Vertical talent with great ball tracking skills and acceleration.
He should complement the tall, rangy Devin Funchess well and may end up the team's #1.
A huge need pick with value as well. Many mocks I looked at had the Panthers taking him in the first round, so getting him a full round later was nice.
Round 3, pick 85
Hayden Hurst, TE, S. Carolina
Not too many weaknesses in this guy's game. Very good at separating and making the catch in or out of traffic. A willing and physical blocker and strong runner after the catch.
Will not be surprised if Hurst goes late in the 1st round and almost certainly no later than the 2nd. With Olsen having a very hard time staying on the field the last two years, and with Carolina not afraid of using two TEs a times, Hurst will see the field a lot this year . I considered taking Austin Corbett here but just couldn't pass up this perceived value.
Round 4, pick 114
Chad Thomas, DE, Miami
This guy has everything physically and talent-wise to be a star. 6'6", 275, with power and agility. So athletic he can go from speed or power rush to coverage with that size.
A negative is that some do wonder if his heart is fully in because he's supposedly an extremely talented musician. He claims it's no problem at all, and getting a freak like this at pick 114 is worth that risk for me. He is projected my most for the 2nd or 3rd round..usually in the 60s.
DE is a very big need for Carolina, so this fit for me both for need and value.
Round 4, pick 133
RJ McIntosh, DT, Miami
6'4" 293. "Rocky" the explosion and power to penetrate gaps from the inside and agility to bend off the edge. The Panthers need some depth and versatility on the defensive interior, so I like McIntosh this late in the draft. I consider taking either Chad Thomas (who I took), McIntosh or Desean Elliott at 114. So I was happy that McIntosh was still there at 133.