Carolina Panthers
2012 NFL Draft Team Analysis - AFC
EAST
Buffalo |
Miami
| New
England |
NY
Jets
WEST
Denver |
Kansas City | Oakland |
San Diego
NORTH
Baltimore |
Cincinnati
Cleveland |
Pittsburgh
SOUTH
Houston
| Indy
|
Jacksonville |
Tennessee
2012 NFL Draft Team Analysis -
NFC
EAST
Dallas |
NY
Giants
|
Philadelphia |
Washington
WEST
Arizona |
San Francisco
|
Seattle |
St. Louis
NORTH
Chicago |
Detroit
|
Green Bay |
Minnesota
SOUTH
Atlanta
|
Carolina |
New Orleans |
Tampa Bay
- 2011
Carolina Draft Breakdown
- 2010
Carolina Draft Breakdown
The Draft Was ... not really going to help outside of the stud up top. The Panthers got their star linebacker in Luke Kuechly, but he was a no-brainer with the ninth overall pick. Amini Silatolu was a high-rising guard prospect and the Panthers got him at the 40, but everyone else was a big reach. Considering defensive tackle was a must-get, they didn’t do anything to fill the need in a draft loaded with great prospects for the interior. There weren’t any big steals in a boring draft.
Best Value Pick: WR Joe Adams, Arkansas, 4th round
Worst Value Pick: DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma, 4th round
They Should've ... beefed up the defensive interior. Kuechly is going to be fantastic, and there’s no arguing with the pick as a prospect, but the Panthers had to find a disruptive force for the defensive interior and didn’t. Dontari Poe went two picks later and Fletcher Cox went to Philadelphia at the 12.
Division Draft Ranking: 3
Overall Draft Ranking: 22
First Round
ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
(Jr.) 6-3, 242
Overall Pick No. 9 CFN Overall Ranking: 5
CFN Analysis: Carolina has its quarterback for the defense for the next
several years. A rock in the middle, he’s great
pick. However, the Panthers needed to find a
defensive tackle and passed over Dontari Poe and
Fletcher Cox for a linebacker who can do just as
much for the run defense, but now the Panthers have
to address the D line and the corner situation next.
There’s no arguing, though, with a player who’ll be
one of the top five tacklers in the league right
away.
A tackling machine, he has been among the best
linebackers in college football over the past three
years, but it wasn’t until last season until he
finally started to get his just due and recognition.
He doesn’t miss stops when he gets to a ball-carrier
and he’s always, always, in the right
position at the right time. His instincts are
peerless and he’s the type of leader and worker that
every coach wants to have. There were some concerns
about his overall athleticism, but he answered those
at the Combine showing enough quickness and speed –
he was among the best linebackers in the short
drills - to make everyone happy while doing it at a
beefed up 242 pounds. Throw in the 27 reps on the
bench, and he put it all together to be a top
15-caliber pick. The only downside is that this is
it. He’s not going to get bigger, faster, or much
stronger, and while some might think about putting
him on the outside, he’s an inside linebacker. That
should be just fine, though, as he’ll be a longtime
defensive mainstay and anchor.
CFN
Projection: First Round
Second Round
OG/OT Amini Silatolu, Midwestern
State 6-4, 312
Overall Pick No. 40 CFN Overall Ranking: 73
CFN Analysis: There was a time midway through the draft process when he
was considered to be an almost certain late first
rounder. He might be raw, but he’s a mauler with the
versatility to play just about anywhere on the line.
This is a little bit of a shocker considering the
Panthers still need more help for the defense, but
he’s a rising prospect who should be a key part of
the running game from Day One.
Versatile, he’s athletic for his size and could
easily fit at tackle without losing any of his
power. Phenomenally strong and with good explosion,
the raw tools are there to go along with a mauling
attitude. Getting him fired up to bury his man isn’t
an issue. A D-II product, he’ll need some work, but
there’s nothing major that needs tweaking or
working; he just needs a little bit of technique
work to harness his talent. If anything, his
mistakes usually come from trying too hard. There
are durability concerns, and schoolwork was an
issue, but he’s a promising developmental pick with
excellent upside.
CFN Projection: Third Round
Fourth Round
DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma 6-3, 270
Overall Pick No. 103 CFN Overall Ranking: 234
Very long with a big frame and great size, he’s
got the body to go along with the pass rushing
ability. When he gets around the edge and he’s able
to get to the quarterback it’s over. He’s a terrific
closer and has a great final step with the ability
to work in several alignments and produce. However,
he’s not a great athlete and doesn’t stand out
physically in any one way. While he was productive
and was a top-level Big 12 sacker, he doesn’t quite
have enough to be a specialist at the next level and
has a very, very short ceiling. If he makes it,
it’ll be as a backup.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
Fourth Round
WR Joe Adams, Arkansas
5-11, 179
Overall Pick No. 104 CFN Overall Ranking: 137
The straight-line speed might not be elite
considering his size, but he’s smooth as glass with
elite quickness and the ability to break down and
destroy defenders in the open field. On-field fast,
he can take the top off a defense and produced at a
high level as a punt returner. The versatility will
be a key to his career with the skills to be a
dangerous No. 3 target and a game-changer on special
teams. There’s a concern that he only caught three
touchdown passes last year even though he was a part
of the Arkansas high-octane puzzle, and there were
way too many drops. Not physical in any way, he’s
slight and should get pushed around by an NFL
defensive back. There’s a chance he’ll never be able
to get off the line.
CFN Projection: Third Round
Fifth Round
CB Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina 6-0, 197
Overall Pick No. 143 CFN Overall Ranking: 146
Slow, and that’s the problem. He couldn’t get under 4.6 and he’ll never have the wheels to stay with the faster receivers. However, he was terrific at the lower level as one of the most productive playmakers in the FCS over the last few years. With nice size, good jumping ability, and an uncanny knack for being around the ball all the time, he could be a free safety in the near future. That future has to be now at 24 years old, and turning 25 during the season; he has maxed out on what he’ll be physically. Good enough to be a reliable part of someone’s secondary in some way, shape, or form, but he’ll have a short career and needs to be what he’s going to be right away.
CFN Projection: Third Round
Sixth Round
S Trent Robinson, Michigan State (FS) 5-10, 195
Overall Pick No. 180 CFN Overall Ranking: 120
With just enough talent to be a very, very nice tweener who can play a variety of roles, he has decent enough size to get by as a corner and he’s as fast as any safety in the draft. A phenomenal athlete, he cranked out a terrific 4.48 this offseason and was just as quick and impressive in the short drills. However, he’s not huge and he gets shoved around a bit. He’ll be erased by blockers against the run and he’s not going blow anyone up, but he’s a battler who doesn’t back down from a challenge and seems able to rise up to the moment. There’s a chance to come up with a nice future in dime packages and could grow into a ball-hawk with a little bit of time and seasoning.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
Sixth Round
P Brad Nortman, Wisconsin 6-2, 213
Overall Pick No. 207 CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked
A big punter with a decent leg, he’s a veteran who doesn’t get rattled and is good at getting the offense out of a jam.
Consistent, he makes up for the lack of a blasting leg by making pinning teams deep and getting good direction. He won’t be a special punter, but he won’t hurt a team.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
Seventh Round
S D.J. Campbell, California
Overall Pick No. 216 CFN
Overall Rank: Unranked
CFN Projection: Free Agent