How Matt Rhule Ruled His Panthers Press Conference

I’m an infant when it comes to the depths of my Charlotte sports fandom. This is my second year with the Hornets, and the season that just wrapped was my first with the Panthers. I have essentially been welcomed to each organization the same way: with a new coaching staff. The Hornets hired James Borrego and the Panthers now famously gave the keys to Matt Rhule (7 years $60 million).

I’ve seen a lot of press conferences in my history as a sports fan. I’ve even been part of them during my brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, I have never seen someone — rule — an opening press conference the way that Matt Rhule did on Wednesday afternoon. Let’s get into the play by play.

The presser was hosted at the new practice bubble. Simply put, it was a damn party. Media members, staff, and even fans (shoutout to Roaring Riot) were in attendance. There was also a DJ??? Most press conferences are very strong in demeanor, but this one was a feel good vibe. It was like when you and your boys all pull up to the crib at the same time and everyone is dapping each other up.

The Panthers put together a brief video of Coach Rhule’s journey to Carolina that ultimately would set the tone for the presser. Passionate and motivated. When Rhule finally stepped up to the podium, he was greeted with chants of “Keep Pounding,” which would soon become a theme.

This man damn near starts his speech with, “I promise you (the Tepper’s) each day that I will work each day with everything I have and will make you proud of your organization.” Matt Rhule or 2008 Tim Tebow? He then adds a bit later, “There’s no doubt we share a common vision. There’s no doubt we believe in doing things the right way.”

Rhule then transitions into why the Carolina Panthers. In a brilliant two minute monologue he encapsulated his love for the game and how it has allowed him to achieve so much. Ultimately, he ended it his soliloquy with, “I wanted to be part of the greatest game at the highest stage. I just had to figure out where.” Are you ready to run through a wall yet?

So you still need more convincing, huh? Coach then begins to praise former Panthers’ legends, “I’m so excited to be part of this team. I’m walking in and I saw Steve Smith. I’m sitting there saying to myself, ‘My goodness. The people who have come before me. The greatness.’ I met Julius Peppers earlier — like, Julius Peppers!” Matt Rhule is someone who is clearly so gracious about people who paved the way before him and aspires to be the next person who carries the torch.

“I will work tirelessly to bring you guys [points to Roaring Riot] a championship, to bring you [points to Tepper family] a championship. Because that’s what this region [#OneCarolina] deserves, that’s what the players before us deserve, that’s what the guys in the locker room deserve.” Update: I’m like Pam from the Office right now walking on hot coals for this man.

“Everything counts. Everything is important. The way I park my car in the morning, the way I walk to the practice field, the way I watch tape. Everything I do, everything our players do… everything has to be our best each and every day.” *insert a thousand fire emojis here*

He just… gets it. Leadership is never given it is earned. Cheesy, but true. We’re looking at a guy who successfully rebuilt two collegiate programs within two years at each. Someone who embraces challenge, and someone who understands the effort and attention to detail it takes to not only win, but sustain a winning culture.

I could continue with quotes, but instead I’d like to end with my favorite. During his final dismount Rhule said, “‘Keep Pounding’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s a way of life.” Right then I knew we did it. We found our guy.

PS: After the presser it was reported that Rhule is leaving the smock in Waco. This is the only blemish on the day.

Carolina Panthers Dream Offseason

The Carolina Panthers are in a strange position this offseason.

With uncertainty at the quarterback position (at least from management, it seems), one of the worst run defenses in recent memory, and a roster full of aging talent, there was not much hope as the Panthers lost eight games in a row to end the season. 

In being an extremely unpredictable offseason, I am going to create what my dream offseason would look like for the Carolina Panthers.

Why?

Step One: Picking A Head Coach

There are really only three main coaches that I am considering for this: Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Lincoln Riley is not included on the assumption that he will not leave the Oklahoma Sooners.

But as the general manager of the Carolina Panthers, I am going to pick Eric Bieniemy of the proven Andy Reid coaching tree. In his first year as the Chiefs offensive coordinator in 2018, his Patrick Mahomes-led offense led the NFL in both yards and points scored. This year, his offense is fifth in passing yards per game and sixth in total offensive yards gained.

The offensive coordinator hired during this dream offseason is Joe Brady, the current mastermind behind Joe Burrow’s magical Heisman season. Brady was an assistant on the New Orleans Saints.

I know that Joe Brady is almost certainly going to be apart of Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s future head coaching staff, but this is a dream off-season, damn it.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jack Del Rio is going to come from the television booth. Del Rio has been a defensive coordinator for four whole seasons and had a top-5 defense essentially every single one of them. 

Del Rio was the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers in 2002 when he led them to become the second-best defense in the NFL. This isn’t a sexy pick by any means, but Del Rio is, by all means, a significantly better DC than head coach (especially for the Raiders).

Let’s get to the internal moves.

Rules:

I am going to be using the Fanspeak “Manage The Cap” Free Agency simulator to determine my free agency signings. I can cut, re-sign, and possibly franchise tag players. There are no limitations as to who I can cut. Anyone is on the table.

CUTS:

Dontari Poe

Poe simply has not lived up to his contract and entering a year where he is due upwards of $10 million, this is the only correct move. After this, though, the interior defensive line spot will have to be addressed with only Kawann Short under contract. 

Poe was injured for a large portion of this past season, but even so, the Panthers tied the record for most touchdown runs given up in a given season. That is not a good statistic. 

Savings: $10 million

Greg Olsen

Sure, this says “CUTS”, but I’m 90% sure Greg Olsen is retiring after this season anyway. The nine-year Panther legend has been incredibly reliable throughout his career but recently has not been able to match his once-elite production. 

Olsen retiring saves the Panthers a decent amount of money, and even if he were to keep playing, I’m not sure Carolina would bring him back for another year.

Savings: $8 million

Jarius Wright

Wright had five drops this past season while yielding less than 300 total receiving yards. Wright caught less than two passes per game and scored zero touchdowns. He is not worth his 2020 cap figure in any way whatsoever. Jarius Wright is, at worst, an easy cut and should not be a Panther next year.

Savings: $3 million

Mike Davis

It’s puzzling why the Panthers even claimed Mike Davis in the first place. He played little to no snaps behind Christian McCaffrey and Reggie Bonnafon and his cap number just is not reasonable given he is a third-string running back.

Mike Davis showed some skills during his short stint in Chicago but he is another easy cut along with Jarius Wright.

Savings: $3 million

Total Amount Saved Against the Cap: Roughly $24 million

WHO TO BRING BACK:

James Bradberry:

Bradberry apparently wants to be paid as if he is a top-5 corner in the NFL and as much as I want to believe that statement, he simply is not. The Panthers would likely have to give him over $14 million per year in order for him to stay. I only had about $60 million to use after cuts for this simulation. Giving ¼ of the available cap room to a corner that is not an elite player just is not understandable.

James Bradberry walks.

Mario Addison:

Initially, I was hesitant to re-sign Mario Addison. But he is Carolina’s most consistent edge rusher and, at worst, will provide mentorship to Brian Burns. Addison turns 33 in September but might retire following this coming year, so if anything, he will be back on a short-term deal.

New Contract: Two years, $15 million (about 7.5 guaranteed)

Gerald McCoy:

As much as I would love to have Gerald McCoy back on the Panthers, there are other options available in free agency that I prefer. McCoy is aging and a spectacular personality off of the field. I just do not believe bringing him back would benefit the long-term goals of this defense.

Gerald McCoy walks.

Vernon Butler:

Butler sealed his fate after he punched the wrong person after getting blocked 15 yards downfield by a Colts offensive lineman. Following an ejection, he gave the middle finger to a Colts crowd while trailing by over 20 points. After a somewhat positive season, I am still happy to let Butler walk and count towards the compensation pick formula.

Daryl Williams:

No.

Chris Hogan:

Hogan really did not have any major impact on the Panthers season this year, mainly because he was on IR for half of it. He is a solid depth receiver and could provide hands for another team. I don’t see the point in re-signing Hogan.

Ross Cockrell:

Cockrell was a great depth corner for the Panthers and even outplayed 2018 second-round draft pick Donte Jackson in the final quarter of the season. Cockrell was well worth his contract and should be back in the black-and-blue next year, for the right price.

New Contract: Two years, $10 million (about 4.5 guaranteed)

Greg Van Roten:

GVR was actually not as horrible as many people anticipated this past season. He was fine but was hurt towards the end of the season. I offered Van Roten a contract on Fanspeak’s simulator but he sadly declined it (was around the two years/$3.5M range). I was not going any higher than that.

Others that walked:

Bruce Irvin

Kyle Love

Javien Elliott

Tre Boston

FREEEEEEE AGENCYYYYYYYYYY

(roughly $60 million available to use on free agents after cuts)

Signing number one: DJ Reader, interior defensive line, Four years, $50 million (roughly 35 guaranteed)

DJ Reader is a 25-year old 330-pound behemoth of a nose-tackle. The Panthers HAVE to fix their run defense and signing Greensboro-born DJ Reader would be a huge step in accomplishing that. 

Reader was graded an 86.7 this past year by PFF and had nearly 40 solo tackles. He is an absolute monster anchoring a defense and would be spectacular next to Kawann Short. He is the biggest (literally and figuratively) signing in this simulation.

Signing number two: Joe Thuney, offensive guard, Four years, $30 million (roughly 23 guaranteed)

The Panthers need to get better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Thuney is a solid offensive guard and only allowed one sack this past year according to PFF. 

He would presumably go on the left side of the offensive line opposite of Trai Turner. Thuney is absolutely an upgrade over Daryl Williams, who gave up the most sacks of any guard in the NFL and definitely above the tier of guard that Van Roten finds himself as well.

Signing number three: Jason Peters, offensive tackle, One year, $9M (roughly 7.5 guaranteed)

Jason Peters is going to be 38 years old this coming season. That also means he could be either a stop-gap at left-tackle or someone that could help Greg Little and Dennis Daley learn the position better themselves.

Peters has been a solid contributor for the Eagles for like, ever, and might even retire after this year. But in this simulation, he’s coming to Carolina for a final season.

Signing number four: Karl Joseph, safety, Three years, $15 million (roughly 10 guaranteed)

After letting Tre Boston walk, there simply are not enough draft picks to solve the problem that is the Carolina Panthers secondary. Eric Reid is probably the only solid starter in the back four as it stands, even with Donte Jackson.

Karl Joseph is another promising player that could have his best days ahead of him. Signing him for about $5M a year could look really good in a few years.

OTHER SIGNINGS:

WR Justin Hardy: Two years, $4M (2M guaranteed)

CB Cre’Von Leblanc: Two years, $4M (2M guaranteed)

TE Logan Thomas: One year, $1.5M (1M guaranteed)

EDGE Kamalei Correa: Two years, $8M (4M guaranteed)

DL Tyeler Davison: Three years, $13.5M (8M guaranteed)

WR Laquon Treadwell: Two years, $6M (2M guaranteed)

CB Trumaine Brock: One year, $3.5M (3M guaranteed)

DL Austin Johnson: Two years, $7M (4M guaranteed)

THE DRAFT

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*I used The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine to simulate what I would do for the Panthers on draft night*

First Round: Derrick Brown, Defensive Line, Auburn

Okay, look: I know that there is a lot of money poured into the defensive line as it is right now. But, Derrick Brown is an incredible player and could truly help the Panthers front-3 become elite once again. It would be extremely difficult to run the ball against a defensive line that contains Kawann Short, DJ Reader, and Derrick Brown. That is truly needed after the Panthers had one of the worst run-defenses in NFL history.

Other players considered/available: Tristan Wirfs, Isaiah Simmons, CeeDee Lamb, Grant Delpit

Second Round: Paulsen Adebo, Corner, Stanford

The Panthers really need another corner, even with investments in Ross Cockrell, Cre’Von Leblanc, and Trumaine Brock. Adebo is a tall, physical outside corner that gives the Panthers another option in coverage.

Third Round: Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, LSU

Justin Jefferson might fall in a loaded wide-receiver class. Standing at 6-foot-3 at almost 200 pounds, he has the height to become an X-receiver. Jefferson has over 1400 yards and 18 touchdowns as one of Joe Burrow’s top targets. He’s a threat outside and could have his stock rise, depending on how he tests at the combine.

Round Four: Najee Harris, Running Back, Alabama

Najee Harris is a powerful runner. He weighs nearly 230 pounds and could be the perfect compliment for Christian McCaffrey. Harris is just pure power and could be used in short situations. A backfield that has Harris, McCaffrey, and Cam Newton would just be so, so fun.

The rest: Jake Hanson (iOL, Oregon, R5), Terence Steele (OL, Texas Tech, R6), and Eric Stokes (CB, Georgia, R7) all provide depth for their positions and, in all likelihood, will not play much.

FINAL DEPTH CHART

Takeaways:

The quarterback position will be one to watch for the Panthers. I did not address it, because frankly, it does not need to be addressed. Cam Newton is a stellar quarterback and should absolutely be given a chance to thrive when fully healthy.

In this simulation, I invested over $100 million and three draft picks on the offensive and defensive line. The Panthers desperately need to get better up front (both protecting Cam Newton and stopping the run) and this is my way of doing that. The defense HAS to be better if Carolina would like to make a playoff run, and it all starts upfront.

The firepower of an offense led by Cam Newton with surrounding pieces like DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Justin Jefferson, and Christian McCaffrey is exciting — especially if a head coaching candidate such as Eric Bieniemy comes to the Panthers.

This simulation is a bit unrealistic, I know. But that’s the fun in it.

NFL Awards: Staff Picks

The Queen’s Guard is ramping up NFL coverage with the season starting up. That said, here are the staff picks at each and every NFL award (and more).

Offensive Player of the Year

Josh: Saquon Barkley, RB, NY Giants

Barkley is going to get a lot of touches with either Eli Manning or Daniel Jones at QB so expect big numbers. 1700 yards rushing isn’t out the question in my opinion.

Euan: Saquon Barkley, RB, NY Giants

Barkley managed to put up the most all-purpose yards in the league last season despite being in one of the worst offensive situations in the league and I expect him to be even better this upcoming year. Returning for his 2nd year in the same offense, with an improved Oline and more dependency on the run game, expect Saquon to put up some all-time numbers should he fulfill all 16 Games.

Steve: Saquon Barkley, RB, NY Giants

I honestly considered him as my MVP pick but we all know running backs don’t win that award anymore. So he’ll get the next best thing. With Odell gone and basically all of the Giants receivers being injured, I would expect Barkley to basically be the entire offense. His numbers this year might be absolutely insane.

Mike: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara is the best running back in football. He just never had the workload to prove it. Now with Mark Ingram in Baltimore, Kamara should see more work in the Saints high powered offense (yes, they brought in Latavius Murray, but I don’t think he sees the same work that Ingram did). Kamara is lightning in a bottle in both the ground game and passing game on one of the best offenses in football.

Dylan: Saquon Barkley, RB, NY Giants

Saquon Barkley is an exceptional talent. He is, without a doubt, the most talented halfback in the NFL. In an offense without Odell Beckham Jr., Barkley could near the 2,000-yard mark, and in a media market as large as New York, that is bound to get the attention of voters.

Defensive Player of the Year

Josh: Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams

The best defensive player in the league. Not much else to say here.

Euan: Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams

The way things stand, it’s hard to see anyone else winning this award for the foreseeable future. Having just been voted the best player in the NFL by his peers, and at the age of only 28, don’t expect Donald’s dominance to be stopping anytime soon.

Steve: Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Dude is just a freak and quite possibly the best player in the entire league.

Mike: Khalil Mack, OLB/DE, Chicago Bears

I’m still in disbelief that Mack didn’t win DPOY last year. If you watched the Bears defense at all last year there’s nothing I need to say here. He’s a monster (and I don’t want him to hurt me for not picking him).

Dylan: Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald is the clear-cut best defensive lineman in football. Last season, Donald had 20.5 sacks as an interior pass rusher, which is unheard of. At only 28-years old, Donald should have no problem having the same impact on the field as last year.

Coach of the Year

Josh: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

Really like the Ravens chances this year with Lamar Jackson being handed the reins and their pick up of Earl Thomas. Think I see 11-5 this year and a coach of the year win.

Euan: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

In each of the last 4 seasons, the coach winning this award has led their team to at least 7 wins more than the season before. With Shanahan being one of the most talented offensive minds in the league, expect his 49er team to make a real push for double-digit wins with the return of starting Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Steve: Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns

I don’t like this pick, but if the Browns actually have a good season as we all expect them too then he should come away with this award.

Mike: Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns

For those that don’t know, I live in Cleveland and I hate the Browns so this one hurts. However, I understand how over-reactionary the NFL would be if the Browns were to make the playoffs. That’s *all* (easier said than done) they have to do for Freddie to be the coach of the year.

Dylan: Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns

Freddie Kitchens entered last season as the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns. He grew internally and made a case to become the head coach. Now, he gets to utilize the talents of Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, and Nick Chubb on offense. Not to mention, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Damarious Randall on defense. I expect the Browns to make a play for a high seed in the AFC this season.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Josh: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

They’re handing him the reins this year and he should thrive in this offense. Pretty high on Kyler and I can see him having a big year.

Euan: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Having been given the keys to the team as the day 1 starter, Kyler Murray is in the driver’s seat to take home this year’s award. Whilst Arizona may not have a very successful season this year, new Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury should be able to put Kyler in good enough situations offensively for him to have a successful year and put up some impressive numbers for a first-year Quarterback.

Steve: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

This is a Kyler Stan account. This years number one pick will live up to expectation. His team won’t be good but he’ll be flashy enough to receive the votes.

Mike: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

In the past 12 years, there have been three quarterbacks drafted in the top 2 with incredible rushing abilities. All three went on to win OROY: Robert Griffin, Cam Newton, and Vince Young. Not only does Murray run, but he is a much better passer than all three of those players. Kyler Murray in the air raid system plus his rushing potential makes him an easy pick for ROY.

Dylan: David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

Look, I know that Montgomery has to split time with Tarik Cohen. That still won’t stop me from putting him here. With Mitch Trubisky at quarterback and Montgomery filling out a Jordan Howard-type role (with a little extra pass-catching), it isn’t out of the question that Montgomery gets 220+ touches. If he can get that amount with at least average efficiency, Montgomery will look like a premier RB in the NFL. Similar to Kareem Hunt for Kansas City.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Euan: Brian Burns, OLB/DE, Carolina Panthers

Another homer pick but man he looked terrific in the preseason. I can see him easily starting this year and making a lot of noise as the Panthers switch to a 3-4.

Euan: Devin Bush, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers

There may not have been a better fit in this past draft than Devin Bush going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 10 overall. After rave reviews coming out throughout training camp and the preseason, Bush looks poised to follow in the footsteps of the great AFC North Linebackers before him and help Pittsburgh work towards a bounce-back season after 2018 drama-filled campaign.

Steve: Brian Burns, OLB/DE, Carolina Panthers

The homer in me once again. Burns is already looking like he’s ready to bust out with a 15 sack season.

Mike: Josh Allen, OLB/DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Allen joins the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, one of the best defenses in football. Allen’s versatility will allow him to play all over the field, and I expect the Jags to disguise him for easy playmaking opportunities. Now you put him in defense with Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Calais Campbell, and Yannik Nagkoue? Good Lord.

Dylan: Quinnen Williams, DL, New York Jets

Covering the draft for the Queen’s guard, Williams was the top overall player on my big board. That said, he’s one of the best interior linemen I’ve seen play college football. He should have an impact on the Jets defense. I would expect somewhere between 6-8 sacks (which is spectacular for a rookie interior linemen (Aaron Donald had nine his rookie year).

Breakout Player Prediction

Josh: Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers

WR1. This is the pick I believe in the most. Samuel is going to have a big year and all Panther fans know it. The guy has all the skills you want in an elite receiver and he’s going to put them on display. 1200 yds and 10 TDs this year at least.

Euan: Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Cook was seen as one of the steals of the 2017 NFL Draft after falling out of the 1st round and eventually being selected 41st overall by the Vikings. However, injuries have plagued his first 2 seasons in the NFL along with having to share a backfield with other talented backs – but coming into 2019 Cook looks poised to be a major part of the Vikings offense as the no doubt number 1 ball carrier on the team. Should his body hold up, Cook will see some major work this season and has the opportunity to have a huge year as one of the league’s breakout stars.

Steve: Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans

I’m assuming everyone else will pick Curtis Samuel so I’ll go with Corey Davis. We all know who Davis is but he hasn’t quite lived up to being a top 5 draft pick yet. He had a solid 2018 season and is looking to build off of that. Expect him to make some noise this year.

Mike: Sam Darnold, QB, NY Jets

Sam Darnold’s rookie season overall wasn’t good totaling 2800 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 picks. However, once Darnold came back from his injury in week 14 it’s like the game slowed down for him entirely. Over the four-game stretch to end the season Darnold put up 80/125 (64%), 931 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. With an upgraded receiving core, the addition of Leveon Bell, and QB friendly coach Adam Gase Darnold has the tools to break out this season.

Dylan: Dede Westbrook, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles was not good at football. It’s as simple as that. Nick Foles is better at football. He may not be the inevitable savior of this football team, but Foles is for damn sure better than Blake Bortles. As a slot man, Westbrook’s main strength is on short throws towards the middle of the field. Bortles seldom threw over the middle. Nick Foles, however, thrives in that area. As the most talented pass-catcher on the Jaguars with a competent quarterback, it would not surprise me to see Westbrook go north of 1,000 yards with ten touchdowns. It may not be superstar numbers, but any team would love that production from one of their receivers.

Most Valuable Player

Josh: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Homer pick obviously but I really do believe in this one. Cam has his best set of weapons since he’s been at Carolina and has improved his throwing mechanics. You can book 3500 yards and 35 TDs if he’s healthy.

Euan: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

After back to back seasons struggling with form and injury, I refuse to believe the best quarterback of all time will spend 3 consecutive years outside of the post-season. I expect Aaron to return with a vengeance in 2019 playing in Matt LaFleur’s more modern offense.

Steve: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

The homer in me is loud this season and I just can’t stray away from it. I want to put Patrick Mahomes here but I just can’t see a repeat happening and I feel as if a Brady/Brees fall off will happen. I think Newton is in the perfect position to have his team firing on all cylinders. He’s supposedly healthy, we know how good he was last year, was even in the MVP discussion before going down to injury. If Cam can return to that form and deliver a complete season with the added addition of actually being able to throw the ball further than 15 yards, then he could very well walk away with this award.

Mike: DeShaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

I don’t know if people fully realize how unbelievable Deshaun Watson is. And now with running back Lamar Miller already out for the year with a torn ACL, there is more put on the plate of Watson to carry the load. He also has an incredible wide receiver room with Deandre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Keke Coutee.

Dylan: DeShaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

DeShaun Watson is an incredible football player with incredible talent at the wide receiver position with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Keke Coutee. The Houston Texans are also going to be forced to throw the ball more than they want to with franchise RB Lamar Miller out for the season with a torn ACL. Should the Texans clinch a top-3 seed in the AFC with Watson scoring 40+ total touchdowns (passing and rushing combined), he will have a great case to be crowned MVP.

Super Bowl Prediction

Josh: Panthers Win Over Patriots

We get our revenge. I’m all in on us this year.

Euan: Patriots Win Over Eagles

A rematch of the Super Bowl from 2 years ago where an offensive showdown ended up with the Eagles winning their first Championship in franchise history. I predict they won’t be so fortunate this time though, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will work their way to another title as well as solidifying their already strong cases as the greatest Quarterback and Coach of all time.

Steve: Panthers Win Over Chiefs

Carolina gets back to the promised land led by MVP Cam Newton and this time to finish the job against last years MVP Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs. Speak it into existence am I right

Mike: Saints Win Over Chiefs

I’m a big believer in knowing when something is about to happen due to previous events. Astros winning the world series after Hurricane Harvey? Check. UNC basketball winning in 2017 after losing the previous year on a buzzer-beater? Check. Are the Saints missing out on a Super Bowl berth because of the worst no-call in NFL history? This seems like one of those moments.

Dylan: Texans Win Over Bears

Defense wins championships, and both of these teams have incredible defenses. Though the Texans may lose Jadaveon Clowney, they still have an incredible defense with JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus, Jordan Reid, DJ Reader, and more. The Texans also have world-class talent at wide receiver along with one of the best pass-catching RBs in football. If they can put it all together, the Texans will be a force.

Carolina Panthers Fantasy Outlook: DJ Moore

DJ Moore – Wide Receiver – 22 – Year 2

DJ Moore is entering his second year in the NFL after he was selected 24^thoverall in the 2018 draft by the Panthers. Moore, a 5’11 pass catcher, is a speedy receiver who was utilized all over the field last season. Though he mainly caught short yardage throws, his quickness allowed him to break off big runs. 

2018 Review

Moore’s rookie season went as expected for any rookie wide out; there were ups and there were downs. Moore started in ten of sixteen games, with his first start coming in week eight against the Ravens and remaining in the starting lineup the rest of the season. As previously mentioned, Moore mainly saw action in short yardage throws which limited his weekly fantasy upside unless he broke a tackle(s) on the play. He had sticky hands with a 67% catch rating (55 catches on 82 targets) which is great for a rookie. The biggest drawback to Moore’s rookie campaign was his lack of touchdowns where he only saw the endzone twice. 

Moore’s 2018 stat line: 82 targets, 55 catches, 788 yards, and 2 touchdowns. 

2019 Outlook

Now in year two, Moore is expected to take control of the Panthers’ receiving game, and is supposed to cement himself as Cam Newton’s number one option. Moore’s versatility to play at multiple spots on the field and starting a full 16 games should allow him to easily secure over 100 targets this season. In the final 7 games of last season, Moore had eight-plus targets five times, and one time he had seven. He’s going to need to find the endzone more if he wants to see an additional bump in fantasy value. The wide receiver position in fantasy is so deep and talented which will make hit hard for him to move up significantly in his second year. However, knowing what we know about fantasy football, while his upside maybe limited, his floor will be fine in PPR leagues due to his expected increase in targets and yards. In half-point PPR, Moore is currently being drafted in the early 7^thround at WR 26. This is ahead of Tyler Boyd and Alshon Jeffery, and after Calvin Ridley, Mike Williams, and Jarvis Landry (per Football Calculator). Truthfully, I’d rather have all five of these guys instead of Moore, all whom offer a high floor AND upside, but getting a team’s number one wide receiver in the seventh round is never a bad thing.  

2019 projected stat line: 105 targets, 77 receptions, 920 yards, 5 touchdowns  

NFL Mock Draft: Full First Round

This Mock Draft is based on what I believe will happen. Most picks are based on what most analysts (Dane Brugler, Daniel Jeremiah, Mel Kiper, the list goes on) are saying.

1. Cardinals – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

Kyler Murray will, in all likelihood, be an Arizona Cardinal. He’s a dual-threat quarterback with the arm talent to have tremendous success at the NFL level. The only question this pick creates is what the Cardinals should do with last years first round pick, Josh Rosen.

2. 49ers – Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State

Should he be there, the 49ers should not hesitate in taking Nick Bosa. I know there are slight injury concerns, but Bosa is far and away the best edge prospect in this class. He should have an immediate impact for whatever team he is drafted by, should it not be San Francisco.

TRADE:
Jets get: 10th overall pick, 41st overall pick
Broncos get: 3rd overall pick

3. Broncos* – Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

John Elway knows what kind of quarterback he wants. Lock fits his mold very well. So much, in fact, that the Broncos move up eight spots to get their guy. Lock has a great arm and impressed at the Senior Bowl.

4. Raiders – Quinnen Williams, iDL, Alabama

Quinnen Williams is the best player in this draft class. The Raiders should not hesitate in selecting him with the fourth overall pick. He’s the type of player you can mold a defense around.

5. Buccaneers – Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

Rashan Gary is going to be over-drafted, however, he does have the potential to be a decent 3-tech lineman. This pick likely also means that Gerald McCoy is on his way out of Tampa Bay.

6. Giants – Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

The Giants may end up waiting until the 17th pick to take Jones, but typically teams don’t sit and wait when it comes to selecting quarterbacks. Daniel Jones shouldn’t go this high. But, it’s the Giants.

7. Jaguars – TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa

There’s a lot of buzz that this pick could be Jawaan Taylor, however, the Jaguars need to surround their franchise quarterback with viable weapons. TJ Hockenson is a Gronk-esque tight end that can get it done in both the run and pass games.

8. Lions – Ed Oliver, iDL, Houston

Ed Oliver should be a top-five pick, but won’t be. His athleticism and skills are unparalleled for the defensive tackle position. If the Lions make this pick, they would have Trey Flowers, Ed Oliver, and Damon Harrison on the defensive line, which is really good.

9. Bills – Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky

Josh Allen could potentially fall on draft night-in part due to the number of quarterbacks taken prior to this pick. Should he fall, the Bills would simply take BPA. Though it isn’t quite a need, Allen carries great value here.

10. Jets* – Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

The Jets move down and still snag the best available offensive lineman in this draft class. Taylor would help Sam Darnold breathe and give a poor position group a much-needed boost for the Jets.

11. Bengals – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

The Bengals are able to capitalize on Haskins’s fall. Zac Taylor is able to now mold his offense around the future of Haskins, and though they don’t draft a player like Devin White, they get the new face of the franchise.

TRADE:
Steelers get: 12th overall pick
Packers get: 20th overall pick, 52nd overall pick, 2020 fourth round pick

12. Steelers* – Devin White, ILB, LSU

The Steelers move up and get the best overall player left on the board in Devin White. While he isn’t expected to be here, surprises happen all of the time on draft night, and the Steelers capitalize and get another building block on their defense.

13. Dolphins – Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State

The Dolphins are a true wild-card this year. They could take a quarterback, offensive lineman, wide receiver, or edge rusher like I have them taking in Sweat here. All in all, it’s very difficult to find an edge defender with both traits and production, and Sweat gives you both.

14. Falcons – Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma

Cody Ford is perhaps the best interior lineman in this class (if moved inside). The Falcons need all sorts of help up front and Ford is a versatile plug-and-play tackle.

15. Redskins – Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

I firmly believe that Brown will be the first wide receiver taken this year. He’s explosive and fits the “modern” NFL very well. Though he has injury concerns, NFL teams have ‘sky high’ grades on him according to Dane Brugler.

16. Panthers – Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State

The Panthers need an edge rusher desperately, and NFL teams seem to be low on Brian Burns. Despite this, he’s an extremely talented pass rusher and should start immediately for a struggling Panthers defensive line.

17. Giants – Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson

With the Giants taking ‘their guy’ with the sixth overall pick, they go Ferrell here, who’s a prototypical 4-3 defensive end that should be good in both the passing and running game.

18. Vikings – Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama

The Vikings should select the best overall offensive lineman. Here, that’s Jonah Williams.

19. Titans – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Noah Fant is a solid all-around tight end prospect that would effectively take over for a 34-year old Delanie Walker. Tight ends have growing value in the NFL and Fant should be a tremendous threat over the middle.

20. Packers* – Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

After moving down, the Packers are able to draft my first rated linebacker-Devin Bush. There are concerns about his size and ability to play linebacker, but Bush can flat-out ball.

21. Seahawks – Johnathan Abram, SS, Mississippi State

The Seahawks will probably move down here, but if Abram is on the board, I’m not sure that Seattle passes on him. He’s a hard-hitting safety with a high motor and great character.

22. Ravens – Garrett Bradbury, iOL, NC State

When protecting mobile quarterbacks, the center position is as crucial as it gets. Bradbury has the potential to be one of the best in the game.

23. Texans – Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

The Texans have to take the best offensive lineman available. DeShaun Watson could be even better with more than 0.5 seconds to throw. Dillard has flashy footwork and could possibly go in the top-10 if a team is sold on him.

24. Raiders – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

I don’t see the need for corners in this draft class, meaning Williams, Murphy, Baker, Ya-Sin, and Layne could slide. However, a defensive rebuild starting with Quinnen Williams and Greedy Williams would be a spectacular start for Oakland and Mike Mayock.

25. Eagles – Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

Wilkins can play the 1T, 3T, or even defensive end. While it isn’t quite a need for the Eagles, Wilkins is a high character-high motor player that almost any team wants in the locker room.

26. Colts – Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

I just love the thought of Josh Jacobs on the Colts. I could see Jeffrey Simmons here, or perhaps even a wide receiver, but Jacobs has the potential to be an elite back. Alongside a quarterback like Andrew Luck, that’s deadly.

27. Raiders – DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

To complete their trio of first-round picks, the Raiders select the best receiver available in DK Metcalf. While it isn’t the biggest need (with Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, and Ryan Grant), Metcalf would be an incredible value at 27.

28. Chargers – Dexter Lawrence, iDL, Clemson

The Chargers should be going all-in this year. Dexter Lawrence is the best natural 1-tech defensive tackle in this draft and to get him with the 28th pick would be unbelievable.

29. Chiefs – Eric McCoy, iOL, Texas A&M

Many will disagree with this pick, but the Chiefs *need* an interior offensive lineman. Mahomes is a great quarterback. But he can’t do it with more pressure. McCoy should be a plug-and-play lineman at center.

30. Packers – AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss

The Packers need a second receiver and Brown would compliment Devante Adams very well. As an outside receiver, his value should grow a lot more to any team utilizing Brown.

31. Rams – Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

I maintain the belief that Rock Ya-Sin goes somewhere in the first round. He’s a lengthy corner with lots of potential and could start in his first year.

32. Patriots – Jeffrey Simmons, DL, Mississippi State

It’s the Patriots selecting another talented young guy. Not sure what else you expect.

Mock Draft 2.0, Two Rounds

That’s right.

I’m back. With another mock draft.

This mock draft is two rounds long and is based on what I think will happen. I am using many draft analysts to base my picks on including Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks, Mel Kiper, Dane Brugler, and Matt Miller.

Enjoy.

1. Arizona Cardinals – Nick Bosa, Edge Rusher, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals have numerous options here including Alabama defender Quinnen Williams, but Bosa has the potential to be an elite edge rusher. Pairing him with Chandler Jones gives Arizona one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL.

2. San Francisco 49ers – Josh Allen, Edge Rusher, Kentucky
Edge is a desperate need for the 49ers and Josh Allen provides top-5 value. Quinnen Williams is still available here, but his skill set would be quite redundant given the amount of attention San Francisco has poured into their interior defensive line over the past four drafts.

3. New York Jets – Quinnen Williams, Interior Defensive Line, Alabama
The Jets would happily grab Williams, should he actually fall to New York with the third overall pick. There are rumors that the Jets may part with Leonard Williams, and should they choose to do so, Quinnen Williams would not only be the best player available at this spot, but also an excellent fit with the team.

4. Oakland Raiders – Rashan Gary, Defensive Line, Michigan
Rashan Gary is one of my favorite players in this year’s NFL Draft. He provides versatility along the defensive line. While Gary didn’t have an explosive year as many expected of him at Michigan, he still displayed freakish athletic ability and talent during the entirety of his tenure for the Wolverines.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cody Ford, Offensive Line, Oklahoma
The Bucs need help along the offensive line and Ford brings the versatility to do so. He’s a quality offensive lineman and should help tremendously both in the run and pass game.

6. New York Giants – Clelin Ferrell, Edge Rusher, Clemson
I firmly believe that the New York Giants aren’t interested in selecting a quarterback this year, sadly. Instead, they give Eli Manning another shot and Clelin Ferrell is the best player available. Gettleman’s draft strategy is an interesting one, nonetheless.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback, Ohio State
The Jaguars are finally done with the Blake Bortles experiment (rightfully so) and Haskins is probably the safest quarterback in this draft (if there is one). Not having to move up would be the dream, however, I’m not including trades in this mock draft in total. That may not be the case in April.

8. Detroit Lions – Jeffrey Simmons, Defensive Line, Mississippi St.
The projected three-technique is a versatile lineman that can play all three downs. The Detroit Lions may not get the chance to select Simmons, however, as Daniel Jeremiah reported teams were “buzzing” about his talent.

9. Buffalo Bills – Marquise Brown, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
The Buffalo Bills need to surround their young franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, with weapons. Dane Brugler of the Athletic reported that Brown was a receiver that many teams had “sky-high” grades on. With the way that the NFL is moving (with teams trying to find the next Tyreek Hill-esque player), Brown will likely be the first pass-catcher taken. The Bills desperately need weapons in all shapes and sizes.

10. Denver Broncos – Greedy Williams, Corner, LSU
The Broncos, ironically enough, need another outside corner after winning the Super Bowl three years ago with elite pass rushers and secondary players. Williams has the potential to be a true number one corner with ball-hawking skills and the size to cover almost any outside receiver.

11. Cincinnati Bengals – Devin White, Linebacker, LSU
The Bengals can’t overthink this pick. White should be an elite-level linebacker for years to come. If he can learn his keys, White will be a top-5 player from this class. Not to mention, the Bengals have a pretty pressing need at linebacker.

12. Green Bay Packers – Jachai Polite, Edge Rusher, Florida
The Packers need a youthful edge rusher and Polite is very efficient at getting to the quarterback with his speed. Polite is one of many pass rushers the Packers have to pick from so it may come down to personal preference. Regardless, it seems that Green Bay will start off day one with an edge rusher.

13. Miami Dolphins – Ed Oliver, Defensive Lineman, Houston
The Dolphins could get better with their interior pressure, and Houston’s Ed Oliver would be an absolute godsend this late in the draft. Oliver may not have gotten the production wanted by NFL teams in college, but he is a freak athlete and should be a force at the next level.

14. Atlanta Falcons – Jawaan Taylor, Offensive Tackle, Florida
Head Coach Dan Quinn said that the Falcons’ o-line needs massive work this off-season, and Taylor is a versatile lineman that can play right tackle or either guard spot. Realistically, it seems as if most people connected in the draft have Taylor mocked higher than this, so he may not last until the Falcons pick.

15. Washington Redskins – DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
The Redskins need a quarterback. But before they get one, they need to make sure he will have viable weapons. Metcalf is many analyst’s WR1 this draft cycle and rightfully so. While he is a boom-or-bust selection, it seems like Metcalf is much more likely to ‘boom’.

16. Carolina Panthers – Montez Sweat, Edge Rusher, Mississippi St.
The Panthers desperately need help on the edge, and with the way they value the defensive line in Charlotte, Sweat seems like the obvious pick. He helps an old Panthers defense get much younger and could become an integral part of an aging defense.

17. Cleveland Browns – Andre Dillard, Offensive Tackle, Washington St.
One of the more polished tackles in this year’s draft, many are split on Dillard’s value, whether it be in the first round or later. However, the one constant among those plugged into NFL teams and what they are thinking seems to be Dillard is one of the top tackles in this year’s draft, and has more value than Jonah Willaims. Somewhat surprising, but the Browns need to protect their franchise quarterback and Dillard may be the permanent fix after Joe Thomas retired a season ago.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Jonah Williams, Offensive Lineman, Alabama
Speaking of Jonah Williams, Dane Brugler of the Athletic also mentioned teams are split on Williams, whether he’s a tackle or guard. He could go in the top-10 or as late as round two, surprisingly enough. This is the middle ground, and he helps a Vikings line that needs it.

19. Tennessee Titans – TJ Hockenson, Tight End, Iowa
Despite not being TE1 at Iowa, Hockenson is the first tight end off of the board. He fits the modern NFL very well and the Titans need youth at the position with Delanie Walker aging rapidly.

20. Pittsburg Steelers – Devin Bush, Linebacker, Michigan
The Steelers are going to do something off-the-wall with this pick, like selecting Terrell Edmunds in the first round last year. Since I cannot predict what they’ll actually do, I’ve got them taking a relatively safe player with Devin Bush, a first-round caliber linebacker.

21. Seattle Seahawks – Brian Burns, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Another team that drafts in an unpredictable manner is the Seahawks, who took Rashad Penny in the first round last year. They also tend to trade down, but since I’m not projecting trades (yet), I have them selecting the best player available at a need, which would be Brian Burns.

22. Baltimore Ravens – Josh Jacobs, Running Back, Alabama
Okay. This is it. This is my off-the-wall pick. I love Josh Jacobs as a prospect and I truly believe a team is going to become sold on his skill-set and select him in the first round. It’s just a matter of where. I’m just dreaming of a Lamar Jackson/Josh Jacobs backfield, aren’t I?

23. Houston Texans – Noah Fant, Tight End, Iowa
Realistically, the Texans should pick an offensive lineman here. But I’m not sure they will, especially with some of the talent still available with this pick. Fant is a threat that would compliment Hopkins, Fuller, and Watson very well and complete a great Houston offensive skill group.

24. Oakland Raiders – Byron Murphy, Corner, Washington
Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock are ecstatic in this alternate universe. They are blessed with both Murphy and Gary with their first two picks. If they are looking to rebuild a bad defense, this certainly is not a bad start.

25. Philadelphia Eagles – Dexter Lawrence, Defensive Line, Clemson
The Eagles already have Fletcher Cox as a three-technique defensive tackle, so adding Lawrence to the mix as a nose-guard would complete an already-solid Eagles defensive line. If he didn’t fail a drug test before the college football playoff, Lawrence would be looking at a top-15 selection.

26. Indianapolis Colts – Christian Wilkins, Defensive Line, Clemson
Wilkins is a top-10 player but will fall due to positional value. Denico Autry was solid for the Colts last year, however, the value with Wilkins at 26 is far too strong for Chris Ballard to pass up. Knowing his track record however, whatever he does with this pick will probably work out for the Colts.

27. Oakland Raiders – Mack Wilson, Linebacker, Alabama
The Raiders finish off their first round with the selection of Mack Wilson, to help aid in a complete reset of their defense. Wilson is a pro-ready linebacker with athleticism and versatility. It’s hard to imagine him being a bust.

28. Los Angeles Chargers – Kyler Murray, Quarterback, Oklahoma
The Chargers are in an interesting spot. Phillip Rivers is aging, but I think Los Angeles will be able to utilize Murray even if Rivers returns next season. Regardless, it will be nice to have a quarterback of the future.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – DeAndre Baker, Corner, Georgia
The Chiefs need all kinds of help on defense, but firstly a corner to compliment Kendall Fuller in the secondary. Really any position other than edge rusher or defensive end, the Chiefs could draft and immediately benefit.

30. Green Bay Packers – Deebo Samuel, Wide Receiver, South Carolina
After lighting up the senior bowl in both practice and the game, Samuel deserves some round one buzz, and he may actually get it. As I mentioned earlier, Samuel fits the mold of a modern NFL receiver and teams may take notice of it thus boosting his draft stock.

31. New England Patriots – Drew Lock, Quarterback, Missouri
Death, taxes, and mock drafts with the Pats selecting a quarterback at the bottom of round one, right? Lock is a value here and should actually be the player of the future for New England, rather than Jimmy G after that whole debacle a few years ago.

32. Los Angeles Rams – Yodny Cajuste, Offensive Tackle, West Virginia
The Rams’ offensive line is spectacular. However, it’s old – really old. Cajuste is a prototypical pass-protecting offensive tackle. Getting depth and youth along the offensive line has to be one of the Rams’ top priorities.

ROUND TWO

33. Arizona Cardinals – N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
34. Indianapolis Colts – Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
35. Oakland Raiders – Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
36. San Francisco 49ers – Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
37. New York Giants – Dalton Risner, iOL, Kansas State
38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Amanu Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
40. Buffalo Bills – David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
41. Denver Broncos – Irv Smith, TE, Alabama
42. Cincinnati Bengals – Chris Lindstrom, iOL, Boston College
43. Detroit Lions – Te’Von Coney, LB, Notre Dame
44. Green Bay Packers – Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford
45. Atlanta Falcons – Jerry Tillery, DL, Notre Dame
46. Washington Redskins – Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
47. Carolina Panthers – Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
48. Miami Dolphins – Charles Omenihu, EDGE, Texas
49. Cleveland Browns – AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss
50. Minnesota Vikings – Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
51. Tennessee Titans – Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia
52. Pittsburg Steelers – Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
53. Philadelphia Eagles – Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
54. Houston Texans – Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
55. Houston Texans – Beau Benzschawel, iOL, Wisconsin
56. New England Patriots – Zach Allen, DL, Boston College
57. Philadelphia Eagles – David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
58. Dallas Cowboys – Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
59. Indianapolis Colts – JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
60. LA Chargers – Cameron Smith, LB, USC
61. Kansas City Chiefs – Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
62. New Orleans Saints – Kaleb Wilson, TE, UCLA
63. New England Patriots – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB, Florida
64. Kansas City Chiefs – Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

Carolina Panthers Offseason Roundtable

The Queen’s Guard writers answer the Panthers’ biggest questions about this offseason. A series of eight questions, we answer everything from possible draft picks to which players may or may not be re-signed.

Question One: The Panthers started the year 6-2 but only won a single game in the second half of the season. Would you consider this season successful (and why or why not)?

Dylan Jackson: No. This season was far from successful. The second-half-season collapse was detrimental and many players underperformed. You can put a lot of blame on the coach, however, there are so many areas that lacked skill and performance over the final eight games of the year.

Josh George: I think the season is obviously unsuccessful because no one ever really wants to be 7-9 but I don’t think too much outrage should be had. Our QB couldn’t throw past 20 yards because he was injured and that is ultimately why we didn’t make the playoffs. There are other problems (which we will discuss later) but that was the biggest. Even with the greatness of McCaffrey, this Panther team goes as far as Cam can take us.

Stephen Sears: Absolutely not, falling from 6-2 to 7-9 is catastrophic. Obviously, certain factors played into this but once going from being considered super bowl sleepers to not even coming close to sniffing the playoffs is a big L for the organization.

Chase Pletcher: If the Panthers had gotten off to a rough start and finished 7-9 this season would’ve been considered a failure, the fact that they started off 6-2 and finished that way makes it a historic failure. The team had made the playoffs 4 of the previous 5 seasons, and has a superstar on both sides of the ball, even if you don’t think it’s “Superbowl or Bust” every year, anything less than a playoff run is a failure for this group.

Euan Reynard: Given where the team was at the midpoint of the season, winning consistently and right in the hunt for a Play-Off BYE, this season has to go down as unsuccessful. Whether the team ‘underachieved’ or not, though, is a very interesting one. With all factors considered – Injury to Cam combined with the awful coaching throughout the year from Ron Rivera, the Defensive staff and the regression that seemed to get worse throughout the year from OC Norv Turner, one could easily conclude that to come out with 7 wins was a minor miracle for this football team.

Question Two: There are a lot of notable Carolina players possibly retiring/leaving such as Thomas Davis, Ryan Kalil, Julius Peppers, Mike Adams, and Greg Olsen. What is the one or two positions that you would say needs upgrading on the Carolina Panthers roster?

DJ: The Panthers have been bad in deep-field coverage for what seems like forever. Obtaining a center-fielding safety only aids a bleeding secondary when it comes to the deep ball. Mike Adams was decent during his first season, but likely won’t return. Colin Jones isn’t the answer either. And even if Eric Reid returns, which is more probable than not, he is more of a box safety.

JG: I think the obvious position is defensive end. Ian Thomas looked great last year and I think he’s ready to be TE1. We probably do need another LB but Luke is still an all-pro player so that isn’t as pressing. Our line needs improving as well but more at the tackle positions than at center. Hopefully, we resign Eric Reid and give Gaulden a starting spot. 38-year-old Julius Peppers was probably our best pass rusher last year and that’s just sad. We didn’t give our corners a lot of help this past year because we couldn’t generate any pressure at all. We ranked 27th in sacks last year. That just isn’t going to cut it.

SS: Defensive Line and linebacker would be my top two. We have zero edge rushers that I’m confident in and Kawaan Short and Dontari Poe severely underperformed last season. Luke Kuechly is a still force to be reckoned with but I’m not comfortable with Shaq Thompson being his running mate. After those two there’s a severe drop off in talent.

CP: EDGE and anywhere on the O-Line. The Panthers pass rush is headed by a guy who while good, would not be the number one guy on many other teams (on the Raiders though!), and the Panthers are also in desperate need of a consistent tackle and guard on the left side, as well as a center. I am almost tempted to say O-Line is the top need since it’s an offensive league, but also just one dominant pass rusher can allow you to have a defense that is capable of making timely plays.

ER: The Offensive Line seems to be the obvious answer here – having had 3 Quarterbacks all suffer injuries this season playing behind it, in the case of Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen, being taken out of the game in their very 1st starts in the NFL. Special mention to the Defensive Line, that drastically underperformed considering the amount of money and draft capital that has gone into that position group.

CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 25: DJ Moore #12 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball against Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Question Three: The Panthers have also had many players excel this past season such as Christian McCaffrey, James Bradberry, Donte Jackson, Curtis Samuel, and Ian Thomas. What is the strongest position on the roster (excluding quarterback)?

DJ: The strongest position on the roster, at least in my opinion, might be the corners. James Bradberry played at a very high level last season and Donte Jackson wasn’t too far behind. Together those two are a promising young duo that should be very good for a long time.

JG: Kind of cheating here but I would like to say our receiving core (CMC, DJ, Curtis, Ian). It’s crazy because we always use to complain about Cam not having weapons. The past two drafts have finally delivered and we have so much talent. McCaffrey is probably a top-five back in the league. I’m super high on DJ and he showed us a lot this past year. I wish someone would please tell Ron Rivera to play Curtis Samuel because he’s a big play waiting to happen. Ian Thomas is another big play guy at the tight end position. I’m giddy just thinking what a healthy Cam can do with these guys actually starting.

SS: I would have ranked this group last a year ago but oddly enough I would go with the receivers. I think we have two gems in D.J Moore and Curtis Samuel who are going to stress defenses out for years to come. Also, Jairus Wright is a solid slot guy who simply gets the job done. They really only need one more piece in a possession guy –not named Devin Funchess– to be a complete group.

CP: I cannot believe I am saying this just one year after Cam Newton took the field with EMS workers at WR for him, but the receivers (tight ends included). Running back was the obvious choice, and it might be the correct choice, but I would’ve only said that if we had a strong second option like CJ Anderson or something. It’s not that CMC can’t carry the load, it’s that he shouldn’t have to. But back to the receivers, DJ Moore is probably already the best YAC receiver in the NFL. He still has some areas to improve upon such as his route running and ability to win on the outside before he can be “go to” number one, but I think he will get there. Curtis Samuel in my humble opinion is the greatest receiver of all time, but on a serious note, his emergence and (hopefully) continued good health has been huge in helping fill a much-needed hole for the Panthers. This is before I even get to Ian Thomas who has shown flashes of being a good TE1 and not just “Greg Olsen’s Backup”. If Greg comes back in a lesser role to help with blocking and in the red zone this group a hole is in great, young, hands.

ER: Right now, no one can say the Panthers have a position group that would be top 5 or even top 10 in the NFL. For years the position of strength on the team had been the Defensive Line, but as previously stated, we have seen them have a very down year. If any position group could be tipped as having the potential to be one of the league’s best, it would have to be the offensive skill group. With McCaffrey coming off a record-breaking year, DJ Moore being ranked by many as the best rookie receiver in football and Curtis Samuel showing just how valuable he is when he has the ball in his hands, this group will generate a lot of excitement going into the 2019 season.

Question Four: There’s a lot of talk about ‘getting younger, faster, and more versatile’. Could we see anyone get surprisingly cut that does not fit that mold?

DJ: I could see Dontari Poe being released. The interior defensive line wasn’t spectacular as expected last season and Dontari Poe should have been more of a force than he actually was. In fact, it’s arguable Kyle Love was better than Poe in this regard. And although even he is a free agent, it’s fairly obvious the Panthers need to find another young, promising defensive lineman.

JG: Thomas Davis was already let go and I see that as being the start of that trend to get faster and younger. Mike Adams is a guy that I can see get cut. Captain Munnerlyn as well. But, those don’t really surprise me so I don’t think anyone cut would be too dramatic.

SS: Think a guy like Mario Addison could be let go in this scenario. Panthers have kind of forced him into a starting role the past couple of seasons when really he should be a rotational guy. Think they would also save some money here but don’t quote me on that.

CP: In terms of a cut that would be “surprising” but possible I guess… Vernon Butler? Not sure if that would be a surprise, but the dead cap would only be $3.8M after June 1st. A huge surprise that I guess could maybe happen would be Greg Olsen who would be owed $7.9M in dead cap. It’s definitely not likely so don’t bank on it happening, but he’s older and beaten up and there are a lot less likely candidates on the team to get cut.

ER: The releasing of Thomas Davis could well be a sign of things to come in Carolina. I would not be shocked if we saw more veteran guys be let go by the team in the coming months as the team looks to rebuild its roster in the same fashion we watched the Seattle Seahawks do last offseason. Whether Ron Rivera can galvanize a group of young players in the way we watched Pete Carroll do in the season just gone remains to be seen, and with the way we have seen Ron treat young players during his time in Carolina, I highly doubt he can.

Question Five: The Draft is happening in April and the Carolina Panthers hold the 16th pick. Is there any particular player or position that you would like to see Hurney, Rivera, and Tepper invest in?

DJ: I would like to see the front office make an effort to get an elite pass rusher in this class. Whether it’s Clelin Ferrell, Brian Burns, or Jachai Polite, Carolina needs youth amongst its edge players and any of these three players would dramatically improve that.

JG: Haven’t done my research on the CFB guys yet so I will say my answer isn’t backed up that well. However, I’d want us to go S or DE.

SS: Defensive End would be the first option I look at in the draft. This draft is loaded with some good edge rushers at the top and very rarely do highly productive pass rushers get selected in later rounds. If one of these guys falls to us at 16 we have to take him.

CP: Yes, literally just the offensive and defensive lines. If they only draft guys in the trenches and maybe a safety by day two I will be pleased with the draft. Football really is won in the trenches and if Hurney just stockpiles these guys surely one on each side will end up good, right?

ER: The Panthers roster has a lot of needs right now, both in terms of talent and depth, so it is hard to pinpoint just one area I would like to see them target. Honestly, I would be very happy if the Panthers could trade out of the 16 spot if possible in order to accumulate more picks so long as the deal was sufficient. When you have a team with so many holes, it’s hard to imagine one guy in the middle of the 1st round would have a larger impact than if we were able to get 2 or 3 guys later on who could be solid day 1 contributors.

Question Six: In contrast, is there any player or position you do not want the Carolina Panthers to go after?

DJ: Unless a player like Jonah Williams is available, I would like to wait until the later rounds to draft an offensive lineman. I also wouldn’t be too hasty to select a safety in this position as there isn’t really an elite-level safety in this class. It’s debatable whether or not Deionte Thompson is good enough to go in the first round, but quality options at safety will always be there later on in the draft.

JG: I don’t want us to take a WR or RB in the first. For depth there, I think we could look into the later rounds. As I stated earlier, I think we have a really good young receiving core.

SS: Receiver. For one, there doesn’t seem to be a guy that stands out and deserving being selected there. Maybe one or two. However, we’re already set at the receiver position and shouldn’t really be shopping there in the early rounds of the draft.

CP: *Disclaimer* when I say don’t I mean don’t unless it’s a super late Day 3 pick that you are positive is going to have an impact. Okay, don’t draft a WR/TE. I think we need a tall guy that can play outside receiver but now is not the time to try to develop another young guy, and it’s certainly not the time to waste a top pick on one either. There are a couple other positions I would steer away from such as RB because of the success of UDFA over the past couple of seasons.

ER: After watching CJ Anderson have success since being cut by the Panthers I’m sure a lot of people will want to see Carolina draft a power runner to pair with McCaffrey. If we take one with a high draft pick when plenty will be available in free agency, I believe this would be a terrible use of resources, especially when CMC has shown his ability to thrive with a heavy load of carries.

Devin Funchess catches a touchdown pass in a Panthers’ loss to the Washington Redskins.

Question Seven: The NFL opens free agency before the draft. The Panthers will have roughly $27 million in cap space before cuts and re-signings. What player (you can only choose one) must the Panthers bring back?

DJ: There are only two players that the Panthers must re-sign. Those being Eric Reid and Daryl Williams. Reid was great for Carolina this year, and despite what Tom from Salisbury tells you, was not a distraction in the locker room. Williams, even not playing this year, is a must-re-sign with a weak Panthers offensive line.

JG: I think the guy we need to lock up at a reasonable price is Eric Reid. He definitely had an impact on our defense and is an above average guy at his position. We need him going forward.

SS: Has to be Eric Reid. Had a great year for us at safety and we’re notorious for having a revolving door at the safety position. If anything, bring him back for stability.

CP: This won’t be a common answer because he’s not a big name on the team, but I’d like to see Kyle Love back. He will be cheap and is a solid backup at the DT position. Maybe not the most important name we’d need to bring back, but it’s someone I’m positive we should bring back.

ER: Eric Reid. An obvious decision, for me. The ownership showed the bravery to go and sign him and should reward him now with a more long term deal after impressing in 2018 for the Panthers.

Question Eight: There are many premier free agents that will be available and Panthers owner David Tepper has noted that Carolina will have ‘selective aggression’ when it comes to signing players. Are there any realistic targets in particular that immediately come to mind?

DJ: The Panthers need an X-Receiver. It’s doubtful that Devin Funchess returns and Tyrell Williams would be an excellent fit alongside Curtis Samuel, DJ Moore, Jarius Wright, and Cam Newton. He would complete the wide receiver group in Carolina. Williams was a quality option on a Chargers team loaded with talent: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Melvin Gordon.

JG: I’d like the Panthers to look at Ezekiel Ansah. He’s had some injury troubles which is concerning but that can also work in our favor. We could sign him at a good number. If he can get healthy, he’ll definitely outperform a reasonable contract. He’s still young too and would fit the talk of getting younger and faster.

SS: I’d go free safety here. Mainly because I don’t like the talent at the position in the draft and the options in free agency are actually really good. Tyrann Mathieu, Tre Boston, Earl Thomas, Adrian Amos, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix could be good options. If not safety invest in the protection of Cam Newton. I’m actually fairly positive about our offensive line going into the season. Daryl Williams returning at RT, move Moton to LT, Trai Turner at RG. If we can find a solid LG or center I will be happy.

CP: Tyrell Williams from the Chargers would be a really nice addition assuming Funchess won’t be back. As I’ve said we need a taller receiver to play on the outside and at 6’4 he can be just that. I have no clue what the rumors are in regards to whether or not the Chargers plan to bring him back, but if not it feels pretty realistic so long as he isn’t more expensive than what Funchess would command (I don’t think he will, but I also have no clue, really).

ER: Carolina passed on the opportunity to sign free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu last offseason after he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals. After signing a 1 year deal with the Texans and impressing as the team made the postseason, the honey badger is now back on the market and I think Panthers GM Marty Hurney would be smart to make the deal happen this time around. Tyrann will be 27 at the start of the 2019 season which is surprisingly young for a guy who feels like he’s been around forever and signing a guy who can mentor a group of young DB’s as well as plug a lot of holes as a jack of all trades seems like an easy decision. Add to this the growing number of players from ‘DBU’ LSU in the Panthers secondary, and bringing the Badger to the Bank of America Stadium starts to feel like a match made in heaven.

Nine Draft Prospects That May Be On Their Way To Charlotte

The Carolina Panthers will be picking 16th in the draft this coming April. The players mentioned here won’t all be projected to go in the first round, but could all be in play during the entirety of the NFL draft. Carolina has a plethora of needs and these players might end up filling them this offseason.

1. Brian Burns, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Standing at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Burns is undersized but has unique bend and quickness off of the edge. He’s also very intelligent during plays, often shifting which gap he’ll decide to rush. One of the weaker spots in his game, however, comes when trying to switch from speed-to-power. During the draft process, his weight will be closely monitored by most teams. The main question regarding Burns will be his ability to maintain his play with an additional 20 pounds on his frame.

Burns is currently projected as a mid-first round talent but may fall down the draft due to the immense amount of talent on the edge in this draft. He is a player that will likely be available when the Carolina Panthers pick at 16.

2. Cody Ford, Interior Offensive Line, Oklahoma
The Panthers desperately need to protect Cam Newton, and Cody Ford is a unique blocker that played right tackle at Oklahoma protecting another mobile quarterback in Kyler Murray. Ford is very quick for his size (similar to Trai Turner) and would help solidify a young Panthers line that already has Taylor Moton, Daryl Williams, and the aforementioned Trai Turner.

Ford is a strong player and almost nobody was able to bullrush him this past season for the Sooners. The only major concern with Ford would be his footwork, which, again, should improve once moved to the interior offensive line. He is projected to go in the first round, but many evaluators are struggling to project his stock further than that.

3. Devin Bush, Linebacker, Michigan
Devin Bush is an explosive, smart linebacker that is always involved in the play. While Bush is undersized (5-foot-11, 220), he’s powerful and has a very high football IQ. Bush is a dynamic blitzer who is able to shoot a given gap with ease. He isn’t the best block-shedder, but not all linebackers need to be.

Devin Bush is the type of linebacker that can take over any given football game. He is projected as a late-first round prospect, but his stock could improve if he tests well at the NFL combine.

4. Deionte Thompson, Safety, Alabama
Thompson is a player on the back end with elite speed and athleticism. He’s quick to the ball, and one of the better coverage safeties in this draft. Thompson struggled against Clemson in the college football championship game, but was an elite level player during the first half of the season.

While there is a debate between Thompson and Nasir Adderley of Delaware, the Alabama product will likely go late-first round. Unless Carolina either trades down or Thompson falls to their second round pick, I’m doubtful that Carolina will select him on day one.

5. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Defensive Back, Florida
I have CGJ listed as a defensive back because nobody is really sure of where he will be listed in the NFL. I personally see him as a nickel corner despite him playing most of his time at Florida at the safety position. CGJ intercepted a total of nine passes during his three-year career for the Gators. He can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time but is not consistent in man coverage.

Gardner-Johnson is a great fit for the modern safety/nickel position. He is seen by most evaluators as a day two pick, but there may be a team picking in the latter half of round one that falls in love with his skill set (just like the Pittsburg Steelers did with Terrell Edmunds in last year’s draft).

6. Ben Powers, Interior Offensive Line, Oklahoma
I know what you’re thinking. Cody Ford is already on this list. But hear me out, if the Panthers decide to abstain from picking an offensive lineman in the first round, Ben Powers will likely be available in round two.

Powers was not challenged by power rushers at the collegiate level, and his footwork was mostly solid. As a run blocker, Powers covers a lot of ground in zone schemes. He doesn’t have too much power (ironically), but his strength is functional. Powers is seen as a second-round prospect that may fly up draft boards due to the lack of availability in this draft’s interior offensive line class.

7. Jaylon Ferguson, Edge Rusher, Louisiana Tech
The FBS all-time sack leader, Ferguson was elite during his tenure at Louisiana Tech. Ferguson effectively uses his hands and is quick to the point of attack. At 6-foot-5, 265, he has a great edge frame and uses his body effectively.

Ferguson will likely be available when the Panthers pick in the second round (47th overall selection), and wouldn’t be a bad way to spend the pick, should Carolina go in another direction with their first-round choice.

8. Renell Wren, Interior Defensive Line, Arizona State
Renell Wren is a quick 1-technique defensive tackle that could add much-needed depth to a disappointing Panthers defensive line in 2018. He is physically dominant, and also extremely quick for his size (Wren is rumored to have run a 4.85 40-yard dash time.

While the interior line won’t be the most pressing need Carolina must address, getting a solid 1T tackle alongside Kawann Short would only benefit the line after Dontari Poe frustrated fans in his first season in Carolina. Wren is projected to go in the late-third to early-fourth round in the draft this year.

9. Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Wide Reciever, Texas
LJ Humphrey is a big-body receiver that can go up and make catches. It’s unlikely the Panthers bring back WRX in Devin Funchess, so getting another possession-based receiver would greatly benefit the team, and especially one of Humphrey’s caliber.

Not only is he good getting the ball, but Humphrey also excels in his unique ability after the catch. At 6-foot-4, 220, Humphrey may be exactly what Carolina needs. He is projected to go in either the third, fourth, or fifth round.

NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The NFL Draft always is one of the most exciting events in football as you learn where the next generation of talent will play. However, a major part of each draft cycle is attempting to predict where each and every player will end up.

This year, the Cardinals hold the first overall pick, followed by the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This mock draft is going to be two rounds long and includes trades. It is based on what I predict is going to happen – not what I would particularly do.

1. Arizona Cardinals – Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State

The Cardinals realistically have three choices here. They could select Nick Bosa (the consensus best edge prospect in this draft), Quinnen Williams (the best player at one of the team’s many needs), or trade back and let a quarterback-needy team select a player like Dwayne Haskins. In this scenario, however, Arizona takes Nick Bosa, who many have had pegged at this number one slot for months now.

TRADE

Jacksonville Jaguars receive: 2nd Overall Pick

San Francisco 49ers receive: 7th Overall Pick, 2019 Third Round Pick, 2019 Fourth Round Pick, 2020 First Round Pick, 2021 Second Round Pick

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (from SF) – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

The Jaguars make a trade to move up and select their guy. The Blake Bortles experiment has clearly failed and Jacksonville is looking to rebuild after just one season with a winning record. Dwayne Haskins could be a great quarterback to build your team around, and with Oregon quarter back, Justin Herbert, going back to college, this leaves the QB class thin making this the correct pick.

3. New York Jets – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Jets have a young quarterback that they need to protect, and Williams has been stellar for the Crimson Tide. Getting a star left tackle could immensely (and immediately) help Sam Darnold and the New York Jets.

4. Oakland Raiders – Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden would probably be very happy if Quinnen Williams fell to them with the fourth overall pick, and shouldn’t hesitate to select him. The now-first overall player on my big board should be a force for the Raiders for years to come. Williams is an interior monster in both the run and pass game.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

The Buccaneers number one corner Brent Grimes reportedly quit on the team before their season closer against Atlanta (not to mention Grimes’s expiring contract and relative age). Therefore, the Buccaneers need to find another player in the secondary after many of their young prospects have not panned out. Williams is a ball-hawk in the secondary and has a chance to be a lock-down corner on the outside.

6. New York Giants – Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky

After the 49ers trade out of the second draft spot, Josh Allen falls four spots from his original projected draft slot of number two. The Giants, however, don’t let him fall any further. The team could take an offensive lineman, linebacker, or possibly even an interior lineman, but with a premier player at a premier position available, this selection should be a no-brainer.

7. San Francisco 49ers (from JAX) – Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

After Josh Allen is taken one pick before Lynch makes his selection, the 49ers still decide to go with a pass rusher. Burns would help along the edge after Solomon Thomas has failed to develop as a pass rusher (but is good at getting in on rushing plays). Burns helps the 49ers pass rush immensely.

8. Detroit Lions – Ed Oliver, DL, Houston

The Lions luck out when Ed Oliver is still somehow on the board with this pick. An athletic freak, Oliver dominated all three of his years at Houston despite some issues with the coaching staff fairly recently. After trading for Damon Harrison, the Lions interior defensive line becomes an absolute unit.

TRADE

Miami Dolphins receive: 9th Overall Pick

Buffalo Bills receive 13th Overall Pick, 2019 Third Round Pick, 2019 Fifth Round Pick

9. Miami Dolphins (from BUF) – Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

Drew Lock has one of the highest ceilings for a quarterback in this draft. Last year for Missouri, Lock totaled 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions. For a team looking to move on from Ryan Tannehill, Lock just might be their best option in this draft.

10. Denver Broncos – Jeffrey Simmons, DL, Mississippi State

Denver has two elite edge rushers in Bradley Chubb and Von Miller. Gaining another interior lineman to create vertical pressure could not only help the run defense but also decrease the space at which a quarterback has to step up and make a throw. Simmons could possibly be a top-5 talent without the news of him being a bad character in the locker room.

11. Cincinnati Bengals – Devin White, LB, LSU

I’m going to steal this pick from Matt Miller, just because I love it so much. White has the potential to be a top-tier linebacker in the NFL and is most certainly a top-5 talent in this draft. If he can learn his keys, there isn’t anything stopping White from being the best player on the field.

12. Green Bay Packers – Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

The Green Bay Packers almost took Marcus Davenport last season but made the right decision to trade back and obtain an additional first round pick this year. Polite arguably is a better prospect than Davenport last year and is certainly more NFL-ready. For a roster that doesn’t have much outside of Aaron Rodgers, Polite is certainly a talent upgrade.

13. Buffalo Bills (from MIA) – Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia

Cajuste is a great pass blocker on the left side of the line. Josh Allen needs a team around him (just in general, a team – there’s way too many holes on that offense) to be a successful NFL quarterback. He has been successfully running the ball but could definitely use another tackle to help him have time to actually throw the ball.

14. Atlanta Falcons – Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

The Atlanta Falcons need an offensive lineman, but probably won’t be in the position to select one worth the 14th overall pick. Gary, if he tests well, could end up being a top-10 pick. As for now, though, he fits the Falcons seamlessly. Gary can play either the 3-technique defensive tackle spot or even on the edge some (a la Calais Campbell).

15. Washington Redskins – N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

The Redskins don’t really have a true number one wide receiver. Sure, there’s newly signed Paul Richardson and bust-Josh Dotson, but N’Keal Harry seems to be a special player. There isn’t really much he can’t do. Image Kelvin Benjamin, except athletic, faster, and about 10x better at football.

TRADE

Indianapolis Colts receive: 16th Overall Pick

Carolina Panthers receive: 22nd Overall Pick, 56th Overall Pick

16. Indianapolis Colts (from CAR) – Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

The Colts move up to grab their guy. Wilkins is a three-technique defensive tackle that should improve the interior pass rush immensely. While there is a lot of talent in this draft at the position, Wilkins is the last of an early-round tier, and the Colts have the assets to make a move for the particular player that they want.

17. Cleveland Browns – Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson

The Browns simply select the best player available, and that would be Clelin Ferrell at this point in the draft. In part due to the edge position being so stacked in this draft (and passing on Bradley Chubb for Denzel Ward last year), they upgrade the edge slot this year instead. While it would be nice to take an offensive lineman with this pick, there isn’t really one worth the selection. Ferrell could easily be a top-5 pick if a team in that range values his potential and fit.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

Devin Bush has recently come on as a first-round prospect. For a team that may move on from Anthony Barr, Bush helps in a lot of areas, from coverage skills to getting to the quarterback. Bush is an all-around linebacker that could help an already-great defense in many ways.

19. Tennessee Titans – DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

The Titans need more weapons. Corey Davis has been okay and still has plenty of potential, but getting another young pass-catcher on the opposite side of the field could help Marcus Mariota and the overall boring-ness of the Titans offense get… well… less boring.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

The Steelers desperately need help on the other side of Joe Haden, and Murphy could end up being the best corner from this class. The objective for Pittsburgh has to be to get more defensive help for an already electric team. They attempted this last year when they picked Terrell Edmunds, but that hasn’t turned out as well as expected after one year.

21. Philadelphia Eagles – Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

The Eagles don’t necessarily need a safety, but the value of Thompson at pick 21 is tremendous. Taking him to pair along with Malcolm Jenkins only makes the future brighter for Philadelphia.

22. Carolina Panthers – Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State

The Panthers desperately need edge help with Mario Addison aging rapidly and Julius Peppers likely retiring. Sweat brings immediate help and value this late in the draft. Carolina is able to move down and still get a player at a premier position.

23. Seattle Seahawks – Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson

Seattle tried to take a defensive lineman in the second round two years ago with Malik McDowell but after a major injury put his future in doubt, the team has still yet to solve the problem. Poona Ford, a UDFA from Texas has been solid, but Lawrence could be a long-term fix at the position, and possibly a future pro-bowler, as well.

24. Baltimore Ravens – Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia

Despite his low production numbers, Ridley remains one of the better all-around receiver prospects in the 2019 NFL draft. The Ravens still don’t have many weapons on the outside, and Ridley could be one of the steals at this point in the draft.

25. Oakland Raiders – DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia

The Raiders could use more help at the cornerback position (and anything else other than quarterback really), and Baker is one of the best left at the position. Paired with Gareon Conley, the young duo has the potential to be great.

26. Houston Texas – Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

The Texans need to protect DeShaun Watson after he was nearly killed this year, being sacked more than 65 times. Noah Fant could be considered here, but the need for offensive linemen is far too strong to pass on Little at this point.

27. Oakland Raiders – Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion

The Raiders took Quinnen Williams earlier in this mock draft, but that shouldn’t stop them from taking an edge with this pick. After they traded Khalil Mack early on in the season, Ximines certainly may not ever reach that level of production or skill, but he would certainly help a lackluster Raiders pass rush.

28. Los Angeles Chargers – Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama

The Chargers need some youth along the interior defensive line, and Davis is an underrated prospect that could be very good on a line that already includes Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Alabama also has produced many great defensive linemen over the past three years with Jon Allen, Da’Ron Payne, and Quinnen Williams.

29. New England Patriots – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Fant is a top-15 talent in this draft but will fall due to positional value. The Patriots could find Gronkowski’s successor with ease if they select Fant. A smart pick by New England, finding an all-around tight end that is good at mostly everything.

30. Los Angeles Rams – David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin

The Rams have a few aging offensive linemen and getting solid players to plug in the gaps could only help in protecting Jared Goff. Edwards is no exception here.

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

While Jacobs didn’t necessarily have the production you’d want to see in an SEC running back, someone is going to be sold on his potential. It’s just a matter of which team it is. In this case, it’s Kansas City, who need a feature back after the whole Kareem Hunt dilemma. Jacobs has shown flashes of Alvin Kamara in his time at Alabama and will have mixed reviews if he declares for the draft.

32. Green Bay Packers – Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State

The Packers could use another receiver on the opposite side of Devante Adams, and Harmon could be an explosive threat for the pack. After having over 1000 yards for the past two seasons, Harmon has a chance to be a first-round pick and may surpass expectations in his first season.

ROUND TWO

1. Arizona Cardinals – Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State

2. Indianapolis Colts – Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State

3. Oakland Raiders – Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

4. San Fransisco 49ers – AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss

5. NY Giants – Te’Von Coney, LB, Notre Dame

6. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington

8. Buffalo Bills – JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford

9. Denver Broncos – Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Chris Lindstrom, iOL, Boston College

11. Detroit Lions – Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami

12. Green Bay Packers – TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa

13. Atlanta Falcons – Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma

14. Washington Redskins – Zach Allen, EDGE, Boston College

15. Carolina Panthers – Elgton Jenkins, iOL, Mississippi State

16. Miami Dolphins – Jerry Tillery, DL, Notre Dame

17. Cleveland Browns – Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State

19. Tennessee Titans – Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan

20. Pittsburg Steelers – Cameron Smith, LB, USC

21. Philadelphia Eagles – David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State

22. Houston Texans – Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech

24. Carolina Panthers – Taylor Rapp, S, Washington

25. Dallas Cowboys – Lukas Denis, S, Boston College

26. Houston Texas – Bobby Evans, OT, Oklahoma

27. Los Angeles Chargers – Will Grier, QB, West Virginia

28. New England Patriots – Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

29. New England Patriots – D’Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Jalen Jelks, OLB, Oregon

32. New Orleans – Ryan Finley, QB, NC State

Dylan’s NFL Draft Big Board 1.0

If you are a Carolina Panthers fan, you’ve probably given up on this season – especially after the team has lost its last five games in a row. Looking forward to the draft process is one of the most fun aspects of the NFL (at least in my opinion), especially when there’s another player named Josh Allen.

Anyways, here are my top-50 players (as of right now) for the 2019 NFL Draft:

1. Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
2. Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
3. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
4. Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
5. Devin White, ILB, LSU
6. Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
7. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
8. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
9. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
10. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
11. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
12. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
13. DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
14. Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
15. Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia
16. Jeffrey Simmons, DL, Mississippi State
17. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
18. Jachia Polite, EDGE, Florida
19. Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson
20. AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss
21. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
22. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
23. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
24. Bryon Murphy, CB, Washington
25. N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
26. Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
27. Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
28. Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
29. David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
30. Zach Allen, EDGE, Boston College
31. Jerry Tillery, DL, Notre Dame
32. Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
33. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
34. Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
35. Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
36. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
37. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
38. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
39. Dalton Risner, iOL, Kansas State
40. Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
41. David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
42. Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
43. Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia
44. Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
45. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
46. Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama
47. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
48. Tyler Biadasz, iOL, Wisconsin
49. Lukas Denis, S, Boston College
50. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma