Grade the Panthers 2009 Draft

Coincidentally, it looks like Robinson will be wearing Nelson's number -- 72.

 

Like the draft. We had options.

If instead of Martin at 59 we went with a DT like Jarron Gilbert, Roy Miller, or Alex Magee and then picked up someone like DJ Moore in the 3rd. So we'd end up with Brown, Gilbert, Moore. That's a pretty nice looking top 3 as well.
What if we didn't trade up at all? Stayed at 59 and drafted Martin, or maybe someone like Michael Johnson and then Irving or Moore in the 3rd.
Would you be as pleased with Johnson and Irving (Moore)?

Woulda, coulda, shoulda but grading our draft against the others I Think we came away with the best scenario. Trading away the 1st is always a risky move but they belive Brown could be worth it so they went for it. No complaints.

Another note: Our window of opportunity isn't as large anymore. We have a superstar that wants out at 34 year old QB and two WR's. We have some nice youth thrown in there as well. In all honesty we aren't that far off, and winning it all comes down to getting hot at the right time. And not giving up 300 yards on the ground.

 

with Johnson? Who was dinged for not caring much? Yeah, that's not as good. Similarly, it's tough to get graded on "Brown fell so that's a knock against him" but "Sidbury fell a round and is therefore a steal using nothing but hindsight" and "Robinson was a guy I wanted to kill Hurney for not drafting with the 3rd, and either fourth, but he's a steal in the 5th."

 

I would have preferred to see them add another DT in the draft but I am still very happy with this draft. I think we will find another DT we can sign cheap and be good enough to play in the rotation. There will probably be some more guys cut loose after minicamps. Once teams feel better about their draft picks in minicamp they will cut some vets.

 

maybe i just see things differently then most of you here, but whats with the hankering for a DT? Maybe its just me, but most of the problems i saw with the run defense came from overpursuit or being out of position from the linebackers and safeties-a perfect example was the Giants game. They ran the same plays with the same personel to the point i was screaming at my TV. It just seems that everyone thinks that Kemo and Lewis are responsible for bad play/bad coaching for the second level. Are they Haynesworth, no, but we dont have a 100 mil laying around or had a top 10 draft pick this year (even had it not been traded)to get a rookie of that caliber. Overall the draft seems good, but i wont grade it until i see them on the field during the season.

 

It's the lack of a complete game (repertoire) with them both. Kemo is a run stuff guy, no real ability to collaspe the pocket in passing situatations. Lewis, well, he's just mediocre at both, but leans more as an pass rushing tackle. We just didn't seem to collapse the pocket without Jenkins there last season. I took for granted (though an immature, whiney prick Jenx could be) how good of a DT he really was. There was a reason the pundits raved about his abilites when he was actually healthy enough to play.

 

It's a good point. Still, our DTs broke down over the last 8 games.