Draft Day

[fatlever]

ho hum... not much to get excited about for us panther fans. hopefully we can get a trade for peppers done today.

[ohara]

Traded next years 1st for Everette Brown. Got him in the mid 2nd and he was rated as a mid 1st in value. I can live with that I guess. Will be a big help on the D-Line. And we still have our other 2nd at #59. Wonder where they are going?

We also get SAn Frans 4th at #111.

[ohara]

Sherrod Martin, a big CB from Troy. And we needed someone to replace Lucas, so we got what we needed on Day 1. A quality DE and CB.

[Rooster]

I can't be upset, but doesn't this team seem to have a trend of trading future picks for current prospects?

[ohara]

Yes it does. But my guess is that we may be lining up to trade Peppers after the draft for picks in the 2010 draft. Just a hunch.

I love the last 2 picks. Big DT and the RB who will play slot receiver as well as being backup RB. Good depth. Kinda hoping for a QB with #128 or Sidbury, the DE from Richmond.

[ohara]

Falcons got Sidbury, rats!

Fiammetta the FB was our 2nd 4th rounder. Did not see that coming. Might spell the end for Brad Hoover for the Panthers. Not sure if they are going to keep them both on the team. We let Nick Goings go in the off season as well. Likely we keep Hoover one more year to make sure this kid can play, but I think this is the last for Hoover with us. And Fiammetta is a real bruiser, so he'll be used often to bust open holes for the RB's and also on short yardage. I like him.

[ohara]

Great value getting the OL man Duke Robinson with a 5th. He was slated to go late 2nd. Gotta work on some things, but he has great potential for us on the O Line. And we need quality depth there.

Word is that we may go with the Michigan St. QB Hoyer with our 6th. They seem to like him on ESPN and also on Sirius NFL so I hope we grab him. Not much invested and he could turn out to be our future QB.

[ohara]

Captain Munnerlyn? No Hoyer or Harrelson for a QB position? Rats. Well. Munnerlyn was projected to go early 4th, ranked the #117 player, so good value.

[ohara]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports ... 89318.html

Nice little synopsis of some of the guys.

[ohara]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/200 ... gross.html

Some undrafted signings by Panthers after the Draft.

[TTown]

I thought it was a good draft. Brown was essential, so I'm not overly upset about the price, especially since I agree that we'll likely recoup a 1st rounder after Peppers is dealt.

Duke Robinson was a great get in the 5th, I can't believe he lasted as long as he did. He and Gerald Cadogan should make for solid depth on the OL. I might be biased because I'm an Oregon alum, but I think Geoff Schwartz will be just fine in a back-up role, too. I like the depth on the line a lot more than I did a few days ago.

Picked up a nickel back for '09 (much needed in this division), a potential weapon in Goodson, Hoover's eventual replacement, and a wildcard in Munnerlyn. Nothing flashy, but these are the types of drafts that build franchises.

[spaceman_E]

Ditto above. Added depth where needed, got another weapon for the O in Goodson, and a possible Julius replacement/helper in Brown.

[Icness]

They dealt up to get Brown in part to avoid having to pay a 1st rounder next year, aside from the fact that less than 2 weeks before the draft both Mel Kiper and Russ Lande of TSN had him going #5 overall. Very worth it IMO, esp. if Peppers leaves after next year.

Cadogan can be a major steal if the coaches reach him. He flashed 1st round ability at times, other times he looked terrible. Get him a rudder and a year of teaching and he can certainly be a quality backup swing tackle.

Duke Robinson plummeted and I have yet to ascertain why. He was in the 2nd round of every mock draft and was the unanimous #1 G. But players generally fall that far for a reason--don't get too excited.

The only UDFA who I give much of a chance to stick is Sundberg as the LS, maybe CJ Davis. I could see Ivy and Chery on the practice squad.

[Icness]

Everette Brown is performing well above expectations in early workouts. Could be a very shrewd move by Marty Hurney.

[ohara]

Everette Brown is performing well above expectations in early workouts. Could be a very shrewd move by Marty Hurney.

That is very good news! Just what this team needs. Now, if we can just get Peppers to see that no one is going to offer him the money he can make with Carolina and want to stay. This whole matter can be forgotten by the fans but if he starts missing mandatory, the fans will turn on him. And that can make for an ugly mess.