We bring you part two of this week’s fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We got a lot of questions about specific prospects and positions this time around, but I encourage you to go check out the thread itself for some great dialogue about prospects, and some info throughout the week on recent visits.
Let’s dive in!
panthers2112: Given your comments last week about trading up in the top five. I’m looking for recommendations on a table to flip in the event this happens. I’d like one that is well-balanced, and light enough to get some good rotational spin along it’s horizontal axis.
The only tables that should be getting flipped are those of other NFC South front offices WHEN the Panthers trade UP into the top five and get themselves a surefire cornerstone piece, and flip the script going forward for the division crown. Revel in it, my friends!
right_turn_clyde: Are there any players you think could be available in the early 2nd Rd. that would justify a trade-up to get them? If so, what do you think we’ll have to give up to make that move?
I think many of the edge rushers around that tier would be worth a trade up. Princely Umanmielen, Bradyn Swinson, etc. That’s the kind of position where the Panthers may not want to sit back and wait to see who falls. In that instance, they’ll probably need to get rid of a 3rd or 4th round pick to justify it, since the position is a premium. Or, trade future picks as always.
KeepPounding88: Everyone keeps talking about who our first pick is going to be, but who do you think the last pick of our draft will end up being?
Its gotta be a kicker, right? Depends to me on if the Panthers stay with their current batch of picks or if they end up using the late picks as part of trade packages.
Randallpink11: Here is a scenario…
Step 1: Take a swim to Trade Down Island. Jerry Jones has been drinking and he has fallen in love with Tyler Warren’s hairdo, so we accept a trade with the Cowboys to swap 1st rounders and get pick 44.
Step 2: Draft Malaki Starks with pick 12
Step 3. Draft Mason Taylor with pick 44
The rest has not come to me yet, but we have time. What do you think?
They aren’t taking Malaki Starks, I have accepted that and so should everyone else. Trading up for Tyler Warren would be an interesting choice, but you’ve identified a player that could be worth it to the right team. Adding more weapons for Dak Prescott does make sense. I like the trade, even if I do think its a little steep for The Cowboys.
Vashti2112: What color suit do you think pick no. 8 (whomever that is) will wear when they hug Goodell?
A) Salmon
B) Grey-silver
C) Pastel Blue
D) Metallic Royal Blue
E) Sea Foam Green
Gimme some good old Grey-Silver, with some white dress shoes.
WanderingGnome: Which NFC south team will have the best draft?
The Panthers, after they trade most of it to acquire Abdul Carter in the top 3.
GooseCreek: With the exception of a few high value prospects, the players available at any particular moment in this draft seem packed within a broad strata bands. Do you think this will mean that fans will be less likely to see their preferred favorites selected yet the disappointment level will be muted due to the relative prospect values being similar?
Stated differently, will fans be less derisive of the decisions that teams make during this draft?
I’ve always waited to make decisions on what I think of players picked after the 2nd round, because by then I only have a select few guys I might want to see the team take. However, fans (both casual and hardcore) are always going to be somewhat disappointed when a team like the Panthers can’t address every need they have. The reality is there’s going to be at least one position on defense we’re going to be looking at as a major weakness, and likely another where we’re hoping for the best based on whatever dart (or darts) they’ve thrown at it later in the draft. And Draft day is like Christmas, your gift could be anything until you actually open it. Even the draft’s highest rated safety prospect. But inevitably, some people will be sad because they didn’t realize he wasn’t going to be the gift they were hoping for weeks ago.
ericbuck: Are there any prospects the Panthers have NOT shown any (reported) interest in that surprises you?
I know recent history has shown the Panthers often taking guys they have shown at least some interest in, but I’ll never forget the 2013 NFL Draft for one simple reason: the Panthers did not visit with DT Star Lotulelei, even when DT was far and away their biggest need on defense going into that Draft. Star did end up falling to their pick, and they didn’t hesitate to take him. Then they took DT Kawann Short with their next pick, someone they did bring in for a visit.
I totally get monitoring the visits, but there’s always players out there where for some reason the team didn’t show express interest in them. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Panthers top picks WON”T have visited with the team, but when you’re not picking in the top 5 or so, the Draft can fall a ton of different ways.
MarloBarksdale88: If Shavon Revel Jr was there at 57? And he was BPA would you consider him?
I’d be absolutely fine with this selection, he appears to be someone who could go anywhere from the late 1st to early 2nd based on some admittedly limited research. Whether or not he is the best player available is going to be entirely up to the beholder at the time of the selection. But the Panthers cornerback room is still very thin even after they brought back Mike Jackson and extended Jaycee Horn.
Dcangio09: https://x.com/PanthersAnalyst/status/1909399440693346510
For those who don’t know. Here’s a semi up to date list of every prospect Carolina has shown a high level of interest in one way or another. Black is defense and blue is offense. Separated by round and with their current consensus ranking. Here are 3 more that will be added to the list:
1) Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA Round 2. Consensus: 56
2) Jordan Burch DE Oregon Round 3. Consensus: 71
3) Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DT/DE Georgia Round 6/7. Consensus 215
As you can tell they’re leaning heavy on defense with front 7 focus in particular. Good spread through all the rounds so far in different ranges.
Good observation and information from Dcangio here, wanted to highlight it. We might still end up scratching our heads by the end of the Draft, but the theme of this off-season has been very clear: fix the defense as best they can with their current resources.
dayneB12: Name 5 players you’d love to see the Panthers draft and 5 you don’t want to see them draft (any round)
S Xavier Watts, S Kevin Winston Jr, CB Azareye’h Thomas, S Lathan Ransom, DL Alfred Collins
I’m not in the business of hating draft picks on draft day. Sorry. The moves behind them such as trades, sure!
Join us next week for another round of questions and answers! KEEP POUNDING!