With less than a month until the NFL draft, I thought I should do my Carolina Panthers draft rumors 3.0. Before I get into the draft I wanted to go over all the players the Panthers have re-signed since after the first day of free-agency. Panthers have exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Running back Jonathan Stewart signed a one-year extension, he’s now under contract through 2018. Panthers re-signed cornerback/special team player Teddy Williams and guard Chris Scott to a one-year deal. The last deal is defensive tackle Kyle Love re-signed with the Panthers to a two-year deal. Now let’s get into the draft rumors involving the Panthers. A report came out today from Matt Barrows who cover the San Francisco 49ers tweeted out that there’s been lots of talk/rumors about Carolina trying to obtain the number two pick from the 49ers. But been told there’s nothing currently in the works. If that is true, I hope the Panthers back off, there would be giving up way too much to be moving up and there no prospects the Panthers are looking at that are going to be taken second in the draft. Sports Illustrated has the Panthers drafting tight end OJ Howard with the eighth pick in the draft. Bleacher Report has the Panthers picking cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the first round. CBS Sports are picking the Panthers to draft running back Leonard Fournette in the first round. NFL.com, FoxSports and Walter football all have the Panthers drafting running back Dalvin Cook with the eighth pick.
OJ Howard had a breakout season at Alabama in 2015 where he caught 38 passes for 602 yards and earned Offensive MVP in the National Championship game with 208 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 catches. Howard was a factor in the passing game in his final year with Tide earning third team All-American and second team All-SEC honors. Howard strengths are that he is a gifted athlete, has long arms and massive hands. Tremendous acceleration into routes, light on his feet and smooth out of his breaks. Can adjust to poorly thrown balls and secure contested catches. Can be lined up anywhere on the field, has the possibility of being an elite playmaker. His weaknesses are he needs more muscle and mass to be a good blocker in NFL. Appears passive and needs to be more serious, scouts have questioned his competitive nature. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore missed his freshman year at Ohio State because of surgery on his hamstrings. Played 7 games in 2015, but couldn’t finish the season due to the chronic issues coming up again. He finally got healthy for his redshirt sophomore campaign in 2016, he won a starting job and made the plays on the field that coaches hoped he would be. He was first-team All-Big Ten, had 4 interceptions and 9 pass breakups. His strengths are that he’s a great athlete, use inside hands to slow the release of receivers, Patient from his press, utilizing well-timed opening to match the receiver. Great balance and footwork, electric closing burst forceful open-field tackler. Works through blockers to get to both wide receivers screens and running plays. Lattimore weaknesses are that he only has one year of starting experience, wasn’t tested by the high-end receiving talent that often. Going to be tough to consistently slow NFL receivers with jam and might to learn to play some off coverage. Has issues recovering against speed merchants. The next player is running back Leonard Fournette from LSU. Coming out of high school Leonard Fournette was the number one recruit in the nation and decided to stay home and play for LSU. As a true freshman, he led SEC in all-purpose yards (137.4 per game; 1,034 rushing yards and 625 on kickoff returns). He followed that up his Sophomore year with nearly hitting the 2,000-yard mark (1,953) and scoring 22 touchdowns. But before his junior year, he suffered an ankle injury, which limited him to play seven games and skipping LSU bowl game. Fournette strengths are; he’s built like a linebacker with speed of a receiver. Long, powerful strides that hit second gear faster than most big backs. Has balance and power to plow through tackle attempts and with a punishing stiff arm. Has experience running from two-back, single-back and off-set looks. Hands are adequate in the passing game. Can create for himself with power and speed. Wins in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Leonard Fournette weaknesses are Aggressive, take on style could lead to shortened career. Struggled with a bad ankle for most of the season. Too quick to hit the accelerator and slam into defenders when there are still cuts and yards left on the play. Doesn't see cutback lanes developing as outside zone runner and prefers to keep runs play-side. Pass protection and routes need extensive work. And finally, the last player is Dalvin Cook is first FSU player to break the 1,000-yard mark as a freshman. Next two years only got better, scoring 19 times, and earning All-ACC both years. Also, named 2016 first-team All-American by Associated Press. But has had some injuries and run in with the law; had hamstring issues in 2015 and three shoulder surgeries since high school, also tore his rotator cuff in high school, then tore part of his labrum in 2014 and again in 2016. His run in with law started when he was in high school, robbery in 2009 (charges dropped); firing and possessing a weapon on school property in 2010 (charges dropped) and again in 2015 where he was charged with misdemeanor battery outside a bar (found not guilty). Dalvin Cook strengths, compact stride length downhill. Cook flourished in the zone, gap, and power schemes at FSU. His best is when running wide allowing lead blockers to set up. Able to escape defenders with good vision and hesitation steps and the ability to change directions with ease. Great red zone runner; brighter the lights, the better he plays. He’s comfortable in both one-back and two-back groupings. Can be dangerous out of the backfield. Delvin Cook weaknesses are not always a tough inside runner, needs to be more comfortable between the tackles. Needs to work on his stiff-arm, inconsistent hands; ball security is an issue with 13 career fumbles. Won’t square-up on blitzes and may not be reliable enough as a blocker to play on third downs.
Out of these four players, I hope the Panthers draft either Dalvin Cook or Leonard Fournette. I just think the Panthers need to draft a talented running back to be the backup of Jonathan Stewart and someday replace Stewart as the starting running back. I might have said take OJ Howard because he can be promising in the NFL and that the only positions Cam ever throws it too is the tight-end and we need someone to help Greg Olsen out. But I’m that he will just play and not be competitive, I hate players who are passive and look like they don’t want to be out there playing. But the one player I do hope they draft with the eighth pick is Derek Barnett defensive end from Tennessee. I believe he going to be a good player in the league and would help our already stack the defensive line. But enough of what I think the Panthers should, what do YOU think the Panthers should do? Tell in the comment tab below!
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