Imagine if 2012 Panthers draft pick

If we go linebacker the guy we take had better be special. We have such large needs at corner and defensive line that linebacker is almost a luxury. Anderson and Beason are probably going to be solid. Davis may never be healthy again but even if you have to plug in a scrub at WLB we are still better at linebacker than we are at DL or in the secondary.

 

There are definately options in the forth or fifth rounds for backup LB's. And we could still do with adding another even if we took Luke in the first.

Robinson, Acho, Manning, Cole to name a few.

But i think Keuchly is special and worthy of drafting if DL isnt value at #9.

Id take him over DeCastro if that's what we were left looking at.

 

Kuechly is a middle linebacker in the NFL. You only draft him if you intend to eventually cut Beason and his massive new contract.

 

What if the dolphins panic thinking the browns want him and trade up w Minn to get Tannenhill and Kalil somehow falls to 9?

 

Why wouldn't Minnesota take him at 8?

 

yeah, you beat me to my edit. Let me rephrase, if minn somehow decides to go a different direction and Kalil fell to us...

 

After a franchise QB a franchise LT is probably the most valuable thing you can have. If Kalil were to somehow fall to us we would almost have to take him. Gross could switch back to RT.

 

Why? Of all the guys mentioned that would be available to us none are as dominant as Decastro at his position. Theres no longer the same financial impact of a top 10 draft pick as there was before. Why not take a day 1 starter over these projects everyones pimping for on defense. Keluchy is a nice player but go look at the film, decastro is a beast. Yes hes a G. Its a new era of the draft you have to change with the times. Sure id love to have a DT or CB even a stud DE, but film doesnt lie. Link me somebody as dominant at any of these spots. Look yourself watch this dude get nasty down the field serving LBs and DBs.
Wish for whoever you want but dont discount someone based on the way the draft used to work.

 

No doubt we have issues at all 3 levels. I expect to see all 3 addressed during the draft.

It'll be interesting to see how BPA falls.

Bar Claiborne miraculously falling, I dont see Kirkpatrick or Jenkins at 9, not with their character concerns. Way too early for Gilmore.

That leaves help on the Dline, Coples, Brockers, Cox or Poe.

So that means we turn to the offensive side when we desperately need help on D.

OL seems to be the consensus need area so either Reiff or DeCastro (Kalil in the event of a miracle and its destiny).

WR is also an outside possibility if Blackmon falls. But with it becoming a passing league (and Smittys age) dont discount Wright and Floyd, Sanu or Jeffery later on.

Or we could gamble and possibly screw the pooch by drafting tweeners like Upshaw and Ingram.

 

Im not discounting DeCastro. Its a personal preference.

I think we'd see a bigger improvement on the D by drafting Luke than the O would see by DeCastro.

Plus, i think Marty is going cheap at the G spots with the re-signing of Hang and acquisition of Pollack.

Its great that everyone feels confident that Beason will be ready to go after tearing his achilles and Davis after 3 ACL's. Takeo Spikes isnt the player he used to be and the Texans shipped DeMeco for a reason. Now im not saying were buggered but would it be so bad to draft a guy that can start/cover at both guys spots. Do y'all remember who actaully played LB for us last year.

We do have a history of drafting LB's high (Morgan, Davis and Beason) its not such a wild and crazy idea.