We bring you another edition of the Answers for this week’s fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! As the mock drafts roll in, as the coaches answer questions, and as predraft visits are reported, the murky picture of the Panthers draft plan becomes clearer by the day. And by clearer, I mean that we went from a complete smog that blots out the sun, to being able to see about 15 yards ahead of you. Fan speculation will continue to ramp up as the final weeks of draft prep come to a close. So, this week I fielded a bunch of questions from you, the fans, about the Panthers draft prospects. Let’s dive in to answering some of those questions from the comments earlier this week!
ericbuck: Is there any prospect projected in the top couple rounds of the draft that you are surprised the Panthers have not shown any reported interest in?
I’m surprised Carolina hasn’t shown much interest in the top of the tight end class, Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, etc. While wide receiver is not necessarily a position they can figure out with just one pick this season, I feel the tight end room could be locked down and relatively solid if they burn a first round or second round pick.
On defense, no real reported interest in my PSU dawgs, safeties Kevin Winston and Jaylen Reed, who both figure into the mid round conversation. Carolina also hasn’t seemed to be interested in any corners in the day one/two conversation. I think the first pick is going to be wide receiver or front seven right now.
panthers2112: What will be your go to whiskey when the Panther screw up the 8th pick?
Hard to screw up the 8th pick if the team trades up and selects in the top five. I’ll be drinking a Blue Moon when that happens.
KeepPounding88: Will we use the #8 pick on offense or defense?
I think they will end up picking defense, though I am a strong advocate for Tet McMillan at that spot.
Walker Clement: Do you view Malaki Starks as a safety pick for the Panthers if their top targets are all off the board by #8?
Since its Walker, you never know if he means “safety” as in “the position” or “a safe pick they can’t mess up”. Well TMG, I’m saying he’s a safe pick, but after the way Panthers fans have treated the last defensive back picked at 8, it’ll be a hot topic as to if he was ever worth it. But I am always an advocate for adding DB talent high in the draft. Starks may underwhelm some with the other talents on the board, but he is a plug and play starter right away in this defense from the jump if they take him.
Good_Ol_Boy: Is Tyler Warren rocking a full-fledged mullet under that beanie/helmet? If so, does such an open display of poor decision-making automatically disqualify him from being considered?
Warren seems to go anywhere from “Luke Kuechly style A+ varsity student” to “mid-life crisis man growing his hair out one last time” with his haircut depending on the time of year. However, Carolina added a guy with some party in the back in Christian Rozeboom on defense, would definitely balance things out to add another cult of personality hairdo on offense.
@WTMealey: The Giants loading up on vet QBs
Does this concern you in terms of who they might pick and leave less options for us because the pass on Sanders or does it mean we have a better chance of finding a trade partner at 8 for someone who wants to grab him at a “value”?
I think the second rated QB in the draft falling as far as they can prior to Carolina’s selection will certainly help them in the event a team is willing to trade up. I was hoping for a scenario where Carolina finds a trade partner for the 3rd QB taken in the draft, but if they stand pat at 8 and Sanders is still on the board with only one QB taken, they are missing out on some value unfortunately. But you can’t really strategize around the QB position when you aren’t looking to trade one, as things always get weird. It’s the one position where teams will throw a hail Mary out of nowhere looking for a home run.
Snarky_Comet: What would be the worst thing we could do with the 8th pick? Like, I know whomever we pick, somebody will be unhappy, but who would make make everyone collectively groan the most?
Gonna take a little shot at my fellow writer here Eric, but if they actually did take OT Armand Membou, that would likely cause fans to be very unhappy. Don’t get me wrong, I understand prioritizing the offensive line and taking the next starting tackle as Taylor Moton nears retirement WOULD make some sense, Carolina just has so many other needs that taking a guy who is likely going to be depth for 1-2 years would make fans sigh.
Vasti2112: Who are folks’ secret (or not so secret) guilty pleasure picks that you hope somehow happen if everything falls into place, but don’t expect?
Mine are:
Gray Zabel, OL:
Kyle McCord, QB
Tai Felton, WR
Charles Grant, OT
Jacob Gideon, C
Safeties Kevin Winston and Jaylen Reed are my mid-round pipe dream. Easiest way to build the depth chart is to add two guys who have already played together for that position groups. I’m also a sucker for RB Cam Skattebo and Trevor Ettiene, though they aren’t at a position of need at this time.
MarkoBarksdale99: When will we ever find our PR and KR?
Will this be the third times the charm for Matthew Wright? If not Ryan Fitzgerald with the last pick.
14/15 on field goal attempts. He connected on two field goals from 50-yards, two from 55-yards and one from 60-yard, while at the combine.
I don’t think Carolina has to prioritize a returner at this point after bringing back Raheem Blackshear this week. Kicker, on the other hand, is a position I absolutely expect them to address. Wright has bounced around so much that its hard for me to see the team handing him the keys without any competition there.
GooseCreek: Is Trey Hendrickson in play with the Panthers in a draft day trade? If so, would it take the #8 pick or could a later round Bengals’ pick(s) come back to the Panthers? The amount of salary Hendrickson demands makes it hard for me to decypher.
The Bengals kinda screwed Hendrickson over, as they haven’t given him a raise but didn’t appear to field any real offers for a trade. I think he could be in play for the Panthers, but I think its going to be a mid or late round pick. But I don’t think the Bengals will let him go, I think he stays there. But the Panthers make a lot of sense if they want to let him go, get something back, and not have to worry about facing him too much in the future.
RebuildingSince95: Do you think the Panthers will telegraph their first pick again, or do you think they have become better poker players?
So far, they’ve come closest to telegraphing EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, but not quite to the obvious degree they did with Xavier Legette last season. There’s been a lot of smoke about Mykell Williams as well, but overall Carolina has been linked to other players who could be available at 8. Ask me again the week before the Draft.
dayneb12: I’m curious who you think could be the Panthers pick for the second round. I have a bad feeling it could be an OT.
I think the 2nd round pick will be on the opposite side of the field of the first pick. If they go EDGE/front seven at 8, it’ll be a WR or TE in the 2nd. Or even an offensive linemen. This would be a prime spot to grab an heir apparent to Taylor Moton, even if the team has more pressing needs.
schrodingersblackcat: Will you miss the chain crew?
I haven’t made my decision yet. I don’t feel like I will miss them at the current moment, but I will need to see how the league handles the next chapter. They tend to struggle with big officiating changes early on.
That’s all for this week, Panthers fans! Join us for another batch of questions and answers in next week’s mailbag!