Carolina Panthers: Aiming for Best Player Available
The Carolina Panthers will be looking at the best available player on April 28. Is it Derrick Henry of Alabama?
The Carolina Panthers have been moving their way through the free agency period and picking up a piece here or there. If they needed secondary depth, now they have Brandon Boykin. If they needed defensive line help, now they have Paul Soliai. If they needed to bring back key contributors, now they have Charles Johnson, Josh Norman, Joe Webb, and Mike Tolbert back in the fold.
All of this sets up the Panthers for the NFL draft. While the Panthers have some needs, namely a fourth defensive tackle, fourth defensive end, and some solution at right offensive tackle, the team is set up to draft the best player available when the draft gets to the thirtieth pick.
Last year general manager Dave Gettleman took that opportunity to get guys who became important to the Panthers run to 15-1. Shaq Thompson was considered a reach by some. Trading for Devin Funchess was questioned by others. Both players made contributions to the Panthers.
So the obvious logic of drafting for need may not come up. Which means the Panthers may pick a guy they would like to have even if that player may not have an obvious fit right away.
The first round mock drafts this year all have something in common, they love the quarterback position. This is good for the Panthers because it will push other players deeper into the draft than their value would suggest. No position is as undervalued right now as running back is.
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The Panthers have some use for running backs. Rushing offense was a big element of the Panthers plan last year. What was troubling was that Jonathan Stewart played a good season and still could not get out of the year without injury. The Panthers were forced to rely on the Fozzi Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne show.
Two backs have been the way to go in the league when you do things like the Panthers do. The Giants had Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw when Gettleman was there. The Panthers had Stewart and DeAngelo Williams until last year when Williams’ price tag made him a casualty. So drafting back number two is more important for the Panthers than other teams.
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No running back is expected to be a first rounder in some mocks. However if a running back was to go in the first round it would have to be Alabama’s Derrick Henry. At 6’3” 242 lbs, he would be a natural fit for the Panthers ground game. He has foot quickness and patience that Trent Richardson lacked. The important thing is that he could get the three yards necessary to set up manageable down and distance situations.
He also would give the Panthers someone to supplant Stewart when the time comes. As the players around Cam Newton get better, Newton will start running less. That will open up additional carries for a second back.
Derrick Henry is not the only player the Panthers should consider, and no doubt they will have a whole list of ideas before the Draft hits at the end of the month.