Potentially, LOTS of starters but very few stars in 2003

Whatever the 2003 draft lacks in dominant star quality it makes up for in an abundance of potential starters and solid contributors at the next level. However, there is practically an entire rounds worth of underclassmen talent that could make or break the 2003 draft There are not any clear-cut probable NFL stars like Vick or Peppers this time around and I think the entire draft is graded on a curve. If Leftwich had no injury concern and was a little more mobile he would be the closest thing. As it stands Rogers, MaGahee, Palmer, Kennedy and maybe Suggs rate the highest overall for the 2003 class. There could be a higher than usual number of effective starter caliber players in this draft available well into the 3rd round and a substantial number of second day sleepers. Below I compiled a list of 90 top-rated players & projected early picks (approximately 25 are underclassmen) from several scouting reports top prospect lists and mocks. Our first 3 picks will be CRUCIAL and we have to get 3 effective future starters.
Who would YOU draft 1-2-3 and why?

BTW – Let me know if I left anyone out, or if you are aware of any recent declarations to stay or enter that I missed.

POSISTION ANALYSIS FOR 2003

QB – After the top two (or 3 if Eli comes out) there may be as many as 6 or 7 projects that could EVENTUALLY help the Panthers but there are not likely to be any Carr or even Harrington level guys in that group from all I can determine. We may want to wait until the 3rd or even 4th to pick our new project QB like Banks, Kingsbury, Lorenzen, St Pierre, Gesser etc. I’m starting to think that along with a healthy (less porky) Pete and a NFLE experienced Fasani (if they send him) we may not need a FA QB “IF” we draft a guy that is a very good fit for our system.

WR – With guys like R Williams and Woods probably staying in school and injury concerns to a couple of other hot prospects this group is not what it could have been but it’s still probably the most loaded position. If we don’t get a shot at A Johnson or Woods in the 1st or if Manning is still available then there is likely to be at least one “complete” potential #1 WR left for us in the 2nd round. By the 3rd there will only be possession guys and reaches. I’m sure we will be signing a FA of SOME sort also.

RB – MaGahee and Suggs have the talent and they’re the type of RB we need but Suggs is too big an injury risk. MaGahee is leaning towards staying in school. Even if he comes out Dallas takes him ahead of us and we are just one Stephan Davis signing away from being set at RB for the next 2 or 3 years anyway (maybe Foster will be okay and ready to take over by 2004 but we can’t count on that).

FB – The only two decent ones for our purposes are probably a step down from Hoover and would probably not be worth the pick. Moore may never be big or fast enough but he’s an overachiever and tenacious blocker, and Johnson is a lot bigger and a little faster but apparently his heart ain’t in it. Do we roll the dice on one of these with a 4th or do we stick with Hoover (or we can sign a FA)? I say re-sign Hoover.)

TE – There are definitely no Shockeys or Walls’ in this draft. Pinkard and Utecht grade close to Witten but many others are either good blockers, or good receivers. Though he does it all well enough Witten isn’t outstanding at anything but he is probably the closest to a potential total NFL TE (eventual Walls replacement?). He won’t last beyond our 2nd and frankly I don’t see us drafting a TE that early.

OL – IMO beyond a dozen or so 1st day O-linemen taken there will be enough depth that we will be able to get at least an eventual backup in the 3rd round to improve our depth a little. There are lots of decent C/G and G/T prospects that project into the 3rd and maybe even the 4th. We should be re-signing Nesbit and release ol’ Donnalley. Regardless of whether we draft a decent RT project signing a FA RT seems mandatory and we keep Tuten one more year as insurance.


DL – If a half dozen underclassmen declare this might be the second strongest position in the draft. There could be a dozen starting quality D-linemen and as many as a dozen more with enough positives and potential to develop into contributors. There might be a potential serviceable DT left for us in the 5th. Unless we get dumb and don’t resign Wallace we can completely bypass DE this year.

ILB – After 3 or 4 likely future NFL starters the talent thins out dramatically and beyond a ST guy there is not much there.
OLB – After half a dozen very interesting prospects there are a couple of seniors and a couple more juniors with enough potential to contribute on the next level. If the 3 or 4 top underclassmen OLBs don’t come out this position will be even thinner than ILB.

DB – Though this position may be just as deep it doesn’t have the elite top end talent of WR (or DL). There are maybe a couple of 1st round quality safeties and a few corners that have genuine 1st round “potential” but there is no Jammer or Buchanon in 2003. There are no true shutdown corners in this bunch and none would be worthy of our 1st round pick IMO. We have more important needs and unless a prospect like Wilson, Banks, or Walton somehow falls to us in the 3rd we should just go with our roster and maybe reach for a sleeper late (like DT).

 

*continued –

LIST OF LIKELY FIRST DAY PROSPECTS

WR
Rogers (top 5 and the safest bet overall)
*>Washington (top 10 but BIG injury concern and a head case – he’s too risky)
A Johnson (top 15 and is most likely to be our 1st pick IMO)
*Woods (top 15 complete package but leaning towards staying in school)
Lloyd (top 20 complete WR who has come all the way back from injury)
>Evans (1st round talent but was an injury red shirt all year)
B Johnson (1st round talent but more of a possession receiver)
Jacobs (borderline 1st potential complete package)
*Jenkins (borderline 1st who is 10 lbs shy of a Burress-type target)
Watts (borderline 1st round talent deep threat)
*BJ Johnson (2nd round WR with 1st round 4.3 speed)
Gabriel (2nd round possession type who gets good YAC)
Gage (2nd round big possession guy who catches in traffic)

RB
*MaGahee (top 5 but leaning towards staying in school)
L Johnson (top 20 Eddie George-like N/S RB)
>Suggs (knee is a serious concern but he has 1st round talent)
*Brown (not fast but hard to bring down 2nd)
*O Smith (opposite of Brown 2nd)

QB
>Leftwich (top 5 but leg and lack of mobility are both legitimate concerns)
Palmer (top 5 with all the tools but a possible slow developer in the NFL)
*Manning (talent and tools but might stay – too unproven but looked good last night)
Ragone (all the tools but recent ragged play causing him to drop)
Simms (1st round physical tools but his head and heart are a ”?” to many scouts)
Boller (Palmer-Lite climbing the charts with 2nd round talent)

TE
Witten (the most complete TE this year borderline 2nd)
Pinkard (a little faster than Witten but not as good a blocker)
T Johnson (not a blocker but 2nd rd talent as a receiver)

OT
*Carey (raw top 15 but will probably stay in school)
Gross (top 20 with mean streak polish and work ethic)
*Harris (raw top 20 talent but he might stay)
*Starks (1st round talent with size and power but very raw)
B Williams (polished 1st round talent)
B Johnson (G/T mauler who projects as RT 2nd round)
Sciullo (2nd powerful but takes plays off)
>Stinchcomb (2nd polished but injury prone and only 290)
T Williams (2nd climbing the charts)

G
Manuwai (top 20 talent but only 6’2” 290)
Steinbach (1st round talent but will need to bulk up from 290)
Dockery (better size than the top 2 but not as gifted)
Foster (G/T borderline 1st)
Ofenheusle (G/T 2nd round talent)
Tucker (2nd G/T on the rise)
Holland (2nd inconsistent and dropping)

C
*Faine (1st round talent who will probably stay)
A Johnson (2nd)

DT
Kennedy (top 5 and best bet as immediate impact D player)
*Wilfolk (top 10 potential but raw)
*Robertson (top 15 potential but raw)
*Tubbs (potential 1st who should stay and be the top DT drafted in 2004)
Joseph (fallen off but still 1st rd talent)
Warren (1st round talent but inconsistent)
J Johnson (2nd round skills)
*D Dockett (has the tools but needs to bulk up and develop physically)
King (JJ’s Bama teammate is 2nd talent should be a DE in the NFL)
Moorehead (the third Bama DL who could be a first day pick)

DE
*Suggs (flashes top 5 talent as a 3-4 rusher)
*White (top 15 talent)
McDougle (top 20 talent)
Redding (1st round talent but raw)
Haynes (borderline 1st)
K Williams (borderline 1st)
Pace (2nd round talent and rising)
>Kelsay (2nd and falling off a bit injury concern)
Peek (3-4 OLB with potential 1st round pass rushing skills)

ILB
Henderson (top 20 talent)
Haggan (solid pro prospect with 1st round talent)
Smith (he and Haggan are interchangeable)
Hayes (2nd round talent)

OLB
*DJ Williams (limitless potential but will probably stay)
>Bailey (top 20 but a little small and an injury risk)
*Dansby (raw with huge upside and 1st round talent)
*Boulware (small fast LB who makes 1st round plays)
Briggs (small MLB but a playmaker with borderline 1st round talent)
*Thomas (quick fast, strong side guy 2nd round talent)
*Pope (2nd with good coverage skills)

CB
Woolfolk (1st - very athletic but relatively unproven as a DB)
Newman (1st - blazing speed but raw as a cover corner)
Davis (1st - fast cover corner with good size - rising fast)
Weathersby (1st round physical tools but a “?” from the neck up)
Trufant (borderline 1st cover corner who might be a little slow for the NFL)
*Strait (less gifted than Woolfolk with better cover instincts)
Wilson (playmaker with nose for the ball)
Banks (underrated cover corner and return man with blazing speed)
Walton (good football player but not as physically gifted as most here)
Manning (good cover skills BUT only 5’9”)
Mathis (instinctive but raw small school product with tons of picks)

S
*Vasher (excellent cover skills will make him a starting NFL CB)
Doss (slipping a bit but still 1st round talent)
*Hamlin (all the physical tools BUT has off the field problems)
Palamula (2nd the best true SS this year)
J Battle (2nd probably the best true FS)


* Underclassmen who might stay in school. Obviously the more that declare the better for us (and every team).
> Injury concern (IMO the Panthers need to err on the side of caution and ANY injury or propensity towards injury should devalue that player if not entirely exclude him from consideration . . . same for off the field crap.

 

I just read in the paper this week that Steinbach is all set for Med School next fall...don't know if that means he won't be entering the draft or not? Just thought I'd throw that in there.
Funny you didn't mention David Porter though And then there is Bruce Nelson...the Hawks have three O-lineman w/ first round potential.
Funny thing is, I think they will be fully restocked next year!!! I just wish Robert Gallery was a SR. Can't wait to see him play on Sunday's!

 

If not that's too bad. From all that I can gather his low weight is his only significant knock. I was hoping that he might slip because of that and we could get him. If he bulked up to 315 or so that would be enough for his 6'6" frame and he would probably be a very good RT possibilty as well as being one of the top 3 interior linemen already.
Nelson is also listed under 290 and a lack of lateral movement is also a knock on him but if he bulked up he might be a good C/G project for us in round 4. He's fast quick and talented and with plenty of cheese cake and good coaching he might be worth picking up.