The Carolina Panthers may pick 25th in the draft order, but there are other teams that you can attention to. This is because they will play the Panthers this year at least once. Naturally there are our NFC South rivals, all trying to improve on the strange performance delivered by the division this year.
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Outside the division are the AFC South teams and NFC East teams, both on the Panthers docket this year. Then there are Seattle and Green Bay, our fellow divisional winners. Both will be drafting after the Panthers, so they are not the focus of this quick glance.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are thought to looking at quarterback, and most experts have decided that the Bucs will take Jameis Winston. I would not entirely rule out a trade here though. Lovie Smith teams during his Bears heyday never relied on big name QBs, and when they went to Jay Cutler it slowly fell apart on Lovie. The Bucs need to fill lots of holes, and I think they could trade away the pick if they are able to do that. Then again, maybe I am giving Mike Glennon too much credit.
2. Tennessee Titans
The Titans, on the other hand, are expected to ship their pick to either Philly or Cleveland for a Robert Griffin type deal. The Titans do play the Panthers this year. Whatever course the Titans take will lead to the Panthers facing either Marcus Mariota or Zach Mettenberger behind center this year.
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3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags are one pick away from being where they would like to be. The would have traded down from number two in a second, but at three they could go a number of directions to fill a number of holes. Mock drafters are divided here. DT Leonard Williams is considered to be the best prospect in the draft. If the Jags look to arm Blake Bortles instead, look for West Virginia’s Kevin White instead.
5. Washington Redskins
The Redskins’ biggest issues are not draft related, and they will be sitting and watching what happens right above them. They could take the first tackle off the board, which of course would have a trickle down effect on what the Panthers can do later.
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8. Atlanta Falcons
Oh our dear I-85 brethren. Steven Jackson was not the answer. Which means the Todd Gurley era may be about to begin. I would hate playing Gurley twice a year. Otherwise the Falcons may go pass rush instead which means two games of Vic Beasley instead.
9. New York Giants
Look for the Giants to take some of the pressure off Eli Manning and drafting an offensive lineman. This means either one or two left tackles will be gone in the top ten with Lae’l Collins perhaps trying to pull out of the Draft all together. That would begin to shrink the Panthers’ chances of getting who they want.
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13. New Orleans Saints
Our bayou rivals signaled their intent when they traded Jimmy Graham for the Seahawks center. The Saints are about to become a more ball control oriented team, which is why I believe the second or third tackle comes off the board at this spot.
16. Houston Texans
The Texans need WR help on the other side of DeAndre Hopkins, but Bill O’Brien is a Bill Belichick guy who probably believes he can find receiver help later. If they are not sold on DeVante Parker of Louisville, then expect a defensive pick here. This could possibly take one of the Panthers’ preferred DBs off the board.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
No one thinks that the Eagles want to be at twenty by the time this pick happens. However if they are, this a spot to Dorial Green-Beckham go. He is a big target who played in a up tempo system. The Eagles could also snag a DB off the board.
Those are the Panthers’ opponents who will pick before the Panthers do. So you can see how their picks affect the Panthers at 25.
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