For the Carolina Panthers, the only cure for a Super Bowl hangover season is a return to the playoffs. Luckily for them, they’re way better than the 6-10 record with which they finished 2016. This is a team that can use a couple of high draft picks to rebuild quickly and get back to the playoffs and maybe play for a title.
After all, the NFC Super Bowl representative from last season, the Atlanta Falcons, are due for the most epic Super Bowl hangover of all time. Hell, they’ve got to shake off getting roofied and alcohol poisoning for God’s sake.
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Round 1, Pick 8: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
2016: 129 carries, 843 yards, eight touchdowns, 15 catches, 146 yards
The Panthers just re-signed Jonathan Stewart, adding an extra year to his deal but that shouldn’t keep them from adding Fournette to their offensive arsenal in this draft. Fournette is the perfect power back to fit what the Panthers want to do. In retrospect, the fact that Fournette was a little banged up last season kept a lot of SEC miles off his body, which should only make him more valuable to the Panthers to plug in behind Cam Newton.
Round 2, Pick 40: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
2016: 35 tackles, four for a loss, 0.5 sacks, 14 passes defended, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown
In any other year White may be a first round pick, but this is a loaded draft, especially at his position. His loss is the Panthers’ gain as they get a starter-level cornerback to plug into a defensive backfield along with free agent additions Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Adams.
Round 2, Pick 64: Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan
Moton is a monster at 6-5 and 319 pounds and has the All-American pedigree to be worth a second round pick. Western Michigan is a pass-first offense so Moton should already be prepared for many of the spread concepts the Panthers use with Cam Newton in the shotgun. Carolina has invested some real cash to upgrade their tackle position in free agency, signing Matt Kalil to play on the same line as his brother Ryan. Moton is a guy that can plug into the right side of the line and start immediately.
Round 3, Pick 98: Will Holdon, OT, Vanderbilt
If the Panthers are picking Moton in the second round, why go with Holden in the third? Because you’ve got to get a starting-level right tackle out of this draft and also add a guy that can step in if one of the other starters get hurt. Holdon is 6-7 and 311 pounds. He’s more of a project than Moton, but the worst case scenario with both Holdon and Moton on the roster is one of them starts at guard.
Round 4, Pick 115: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
2016: 41 catches, 593 yards, three touchdowns
Years from now people will look back and find it hard to believe the Panthers were able to nab Dupre in the fourth round. He’ll end up being one of the five best wideouts in this draft class before its over and will be a full-time starter for the Panthers by October. He’s this year’s Jarvis Landry or T.Y. Hilton.
Round 5, Pick 152: Sean Harlow, OG, Oregon State
We’re still building up the line, trying to keep Cam Newton protected and get a solid push in that power run game. Harlow will be a back up and role player at first, but has the size (6-4, 303) and strength to develop into an NFL-level guard. He also can play most of the positions across the line, making multiple starts at right tackle for Oregon State in 2014.
Round 6, Pick 192: Travis Rudolph, WR, Florida State
2016: 56 catches, 840 yards, seven touchdowns
Hell yes another receiver. The Panthers have screwed around with this position long enough. Kelvin Benjamin is a legit NFL star, but after him there’s a huge drop-off. Devin Funchess might be ready to start opposite Benjamin, but my guess he’d get beaten out by Dupre in this scenario. Rudolph adds another NFL body at 6-1, 192 with good hands from a pro system.
Round 7, Pick 233: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB, Tennessee
2016: 20 tackles, two for a loss
Reeves-Maybin was hurt nearly all of 2016, which is the only reason he’s getting a seventh round grade. His 2015 season was good for 105 tackles (his second 100-plus tackle season), 14 for a loss, six sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. It’s larcenous to nab Reeves-Maybin this late in the draft.
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