Just over twenty-four hours remain until the beginning of the marathon known as the NFL Draft. Months of coverage and analysis will come to a point tomorrow as the fortunes of thirty NFL teams are changed - for better or worse - for the next few years. The experts have weighed in and everyone's baby mama has compiled a "Mock Draft" (aka, guessing the first round with little actual knowledge of the teams, players, or anything besides what Mel Kiper Jr. thinks). Finally, tomorrow, we will actually find out where these talented, sometimes troubled, and usually overpaid future NFL stars (and busts) will be playing next season.
When I was a youngster, I compiled mock drafts for both the NFL & NBA. In the car, in church, at dinner or wherever I had time, I was ranking prospects and evaluating team needs. If you think I'm lying, come to my house sometime. My mama will cook you dinner, my dog will try to bite you, and I'll show you old mock drafts, as I still have them all. My NFL Drafts were not always the best - too many players I'd never heard of and not enough TVs to have seen them all play. My NBA Drafts, on the other hand, were quite solid for an eight year-old. I distinctly remember counting money with my Dad at church on Wednesday night, June 27, 1990 and informing my Dad's friend Jerry Blanchard that Derrick Coleman was about to go number one in the NBA Draft. Clearly, I was right. I still put together NBA Mock Drafts, as I did this past week for the upcoming June draft. The NFL, however, does not do much for me. I will be watching the draft tomorrow, but only to see the drama unfold and who the Carolina Panthers select.
So why do people love the draft so much? Three reasons: 1) every fan has an opinion and cannot be wrong. This is the same reason people love college recruiting so much. "I love our pick of Ryan Leaf, he's the real deal". It's not until three years later that anyone can tell you differently. Therefore, everyone's an expert and as a fan, you seemingly have equity in the draft because you know exactly what is going on (not). 2) every team does something exciting. "We traded up for the right guy!" "We traded down and got value picks!" "Our youth movement is on!" "Super Bowl or bust baby!" Most fans are excited, no matter what their team does, because someone has convinced them that it is the right thing to do. Of course, some fans are known more for their negativity than others. 3) optimism is abound. Every organization has a positive spin on their selections. The future is bright. Last season is officially last season and next season is now. That fat defensive lineman from Michigan State is the key to Super Bowl success. Then again, so is that slow, undersized receiver from Mississippi Valley State.
So, on to the only part that The Blue Team cares about: the Carolina Panthers. I have had a few draft-related discussions on the Panthers and their options, mostly with Rhino and Whitney. In those discussions, inevitably, we relive some good picks by the Panthers, some bad picks by the Panthers, and the worst selection of all-time.
Of course, the Charlotte Observer has been covering the draft for a month. After much analysis & consternation, the paper finally came to the same conclusion I've been at for over a month: draft Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida, if he's available. Unfortunately, much like Patrick Willis last season, I do not think Harvey will last until the Panthers' selection. Therefore, sitting at number 13 does not look fun to me. The need for a great pass rusher on the side opposite The Artist Formerly Known As Julius Peppers is clear and must be addressed somewhere in this draft. Of course, there are not a lot of great players at that position outside of the first round, so I think it is very important to draft an impact guy early. If Harvey is gone, Phillip Merling from Clemson and Calais Campbell from Miami are the next best available DEs. Merling was not spectacular in his time as a Tiger, but he was solid. Campbell has all of the physical "freak" measureables, but never really brought it every down in college at The U. Also note that if Vernon Gholston or Sedrick Ellis slipped down to number 13, the Panthers would poop their silver britches and grab either off the board immediately.
Offensive lineman galore in this draft's first round, and the Panthers would like to have a good one. As Rhino and I discussed, picking up a late first-rounder to grab an o-lineman would be nice. Anyone else for the fat guy from Boston College? Here here.
As for the two glamour positions the Charlotte Observer has been blabbering about for a month, the Panthers would like to select a running back at some point and would also like to add a quarterback to the roster for training camp. I wouldn't be shocked if Jonathan Stewart from Oregon or Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois became the 13th pick if Harvey is gone. However, drafting a running back that high would really make me question the team's confidence in DeAngelo Williams. I was not a huge fan of that selection when it was made, so I'm not arguing (even though I now own a DeAngelo jersey. Hey, it was $29.99 and Ma & Pa bought it for me). I'm of the opinion that waiting until one of our third round picks to draft a running back would be a good idea. For the record, I think Kevin Smith could be a problem waiting to happen, or feel he gets slighted in the draft and play pissed off for twelve years. Can you say boom or bust?
On the quarterback side, if the Panthers love Matt Ryan that much, then go get him. I mean it. When a team likes a player so much, then be aggressive, b-e aggressive and make sure he ends up on your squad. He does not fit the need for next year, he will not win games in 2008, but he might be the long-term QB answer after Delhomme. Just be ready for the catcalls and boo-birds that come with a quarterback-in-waiting situation. Remember, this is the same fanbase that thought David Carr was The Second Coming and wanted Delhomme benched for him. How'd that work out? Anyway, taking a QB later in the 3rd or 4th round is fine and quite frankly expected.
Ultimately, I think the Panthers take Ryan Clady from Boise St or trade down after Harvey is already gone before pick 13. Someone will make a nice offer in order to get to Stewart or Mendenhall, so options will arise.
Everyone keep in mind that the NFL Draft starts at 3:00pm this year, not 12:00pm as in the past. So enjoy the extra hours of sleep and get ready for a marathon of Mel Kiper Jr (good) & Chris Berman (bad).
So I let her lick the rapper...
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