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Carolina Panthers: Four Draft Day Scenarios

By John Woodcock

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis announces the number twenty-five overall pick to the Panthers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis announces the number twenty-five overall pick to the Panthers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 20, 2015; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies players Michael Brewer and Kendall Fuller pose for a picture during the ACC football kickoff at Pinehurst Resort. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2015; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies players Michael Brewer and Kendall Fuller pose for a picture during the ACC football kickoff at Pinehurst Resort. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Trading Down

The 31st pick in the draft is really a glorified second round pick. There is a difference though, second round picks have lower salary cap requirements than first round picks in the rookie cap.

The logic for trading down into the second round works like this. The player the Panthers should target to fill their cornerback void is Kendall Fuller. Fuller is a second round draft grade and it is likely that he would be available about ten picks into that round.

The trade partner is not obvious, but it would have to a team who needs help at some position that will be weaker by the tie they pick. Offensive tackle, defensive end, and quarterback come to mind.

One team that may need a quarterback is the San Francisco 49ers, sitting on the sixth pick in the second round. Ahead of them are the Denver Broncos with the last pick in the first round and no clear long term starter. If the 49ers wanted Connor Cook or Paxton Lynch, they could not guarantee that the Broncos would not take them.

So the Panthers and the 49ers work out a deal with the Panthers sending the 31st pick in return for the 38th pick. According the draft value chart, the 31st pick is worth 600 points while the 38th pick is worth 520 points. To complete the trade, the 49ers would have to give up their fourth rounder (106th pick) and the Panthers would have a nice result.

The Panthers would get Fuller cheaper and be able to address another spot for depth early in the fourth round.

This scenario is just one way this might play out. The next thing to look at is trading up.

Next: Trading Up

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