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Carolina Panthers: Best Available #2

By John Woodcock

Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnnie Stanley (42) squares off on a blocking drill against Indiana Hoosiers Jason Spriggs during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnnie Stanley (42) squares off on a blocking drill against Indiana Hoosiers Jason Spriggs during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Carolina Panthers look at a tackle in the NFL Draft, it might very well be Jason Spriggs.

The Carolina Panthers are still signing pieces to set up their draft position. They needed a fourth defensive tackle and they signed old stalwart Kyle Love. They needed a punter and so they are taking a flyer on Tennessee’s Michael Palardy. Neither move does much to tip the hand on the Panthers’ draft.

In the first best player available segment, we looked at the basic case for taking Derrick Henry of Alabama. This time we are going to go a little more conventional and look at an offensive tackle option late in the first round.

It is it not obvious right now as to what the Panthers will do at the right tackle spot. Mike Remmers remains unsigned. Nate Chandler was cut loose. It could be that the Panthers intend to hand that spot over to Daryl Williams, the second year man out of Oklahoma, but that is not an obvious move based on his play so far.

So the Panthers may be looking for someone to draft into that spot. A long time ago, I suggested that Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker might be available at that spot. That was a long time ago, Decker’s value seems to have placed him in the upper half of the first round. That would be out of reach for the Panthers shy of some deal.

A lineman who might be available at the Panthers pick is Jason Spriggs of Indiana. Spriggs is 6’6” and 301 lbs. He has experience pass blocking and run blocking in the Indiana spread system. That could be a sticking point for Spriggs, spread system tackles may have a hard time making the move to the pro game.

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Spriggs has great the feet that a tackle needs, but another concern is that he may not be strong enough to do all the things that you would want a right tackle to do. While it is easier to make someone stronger than it is to make them quicker, any perceived physical weakness will be tested by veteran defensive ends.

Some of Spriggs’ issues are just that he is a former tight end still adjusting to the demands of being an offensive lineman. Converted tight ends have a decent track record with the Panthers, if you remember Matt Campbell from the 90s. His status does seem to make Spriggs more of a project, while the Panthers will need someone who can contribute right away.

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If you watched Super Bowl 50 and came away with the idea that the Panthers were not quick enough at tackle to beat elite pass rushing, then perhaps Spriggs is the guy they need. That quickness is his calling card in spades.

Next: Best Player = Derrick Henry?

We’ll continue the best available player series by looking at defensive ends. The NFL Draft begins on April 28.

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