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Carolina Panthers: Thoughts on RBs, Trading Down

By John Woodcock

Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panters general manager Dave Gettleman speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panters general manager Dave Gettleman speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers seem to leaning toward running back in the first round, maybe they should consider something else.

The Carolina Panthers have moved in a particular direction early in free agency. That direction is to shore up the defense by signing four defensive ends, a safety, a nickel back, and franchising Kawann Short. Those moves appear to indicate that their first round draft pick will be used on the other side of the football, the offense.

Aside from showing Matt Kalil the money, the Panthers have also signed two wide receivers (three if you include bringing back Brenton Bersin). That means the major needs that are left would be right tackle and running back. Since there is better value at eight than the tackle pool would offer, that would suggest running back is the way to go.

At number eight, the Panthers will likely have their pick of the draft’s running backs. There is the occasional mock draft that has one leaving the board earlier, but CBS Sports’ mock draft has consistently pegged Leonard Fournette of LSU to the Panthers at number eight.

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I spent a whole article talking about why Fournette would make sense for the Panthers, and if you watched any LSU football then there should take little convincing. My personal feelings toward a Fournette pick kind of changed at the NFL Combine. There, Fournette showed up at 240 lbs. That was a little heavier than his playing weight. He also talked his way out of the final games of the season to protect his draft value. These things could be nothing, but they are there.

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Dalvin Cook is less of a pure fit for the Panthers, but still has plenty of talent. He would arguably be a better compliment to Jonathan Stewart than Fournette. Yet, if the Panthers are drafting running back, it is with an eye to replace Stewart eventually.

The best thing the Panthers could do in their current situation is trade down. Of course NFL teams talk about trading down all the time. The player the Panthers need is either Ryan Ramcyzk or Cam Robinson and they will be available in the early twenties of the first round. While Cook and Fournette are good prospects, running backs can be found with good value later in the draft.

Specifically the Panthers should target Pittsburgh running back James Conner. Conner has the size and running style the Panthers need for their offense. He also is a cancer survivor who will be plenty motivated to perform his best. Conner will likely have a second day draft grade to be available either at the Panthers’ second second round pick or possibly their conditional selection in the third round.

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