So my team has been cursed with the number one overall pick. The pick is such a disaster for most NFL teams it is one of reasons we are in a lock out. You have a better chance of surviving Russian roulette than getting value out of the pick. Number one overall picks require tons of guaranteed money for the rookie with zero guarantees that they will still be in the league four years from April (JaMarcus Russell). If he is as good as they say he is than we had a "lock" in Andrew Luck but his announcement to stay at Stanford gave TNT a better chance to succeed with "Franklin and Bash." Without free agency and the ability to trade players (Steve Smith) makes this year one of the worse to own that top pick. Truly limits what a GM can do with it. But enough bitching and moaning about my team's current predicament, I have some ideas for Thursday night:
Option A - Draft a Rookie Quarterback
- Take Cam Newton. Hope and pray that he becomes the first "dual threat" quarterback to win a Super Bowl but if Vick hasn't then I'm not convinced a wannabe has a better chance. Sure you can call Young and Rodgers "dual threat" quarterbacks but it’s a last resort for them unlike Vick, Tebow, and Newton. Scout's Inc. has him ranked 16 overall. SIXTEENTH!!! Doesn't he remind you a lot like Vince Young? National championship, off the field issues, star potential, but ultimately a huge risk. There has to be a better way to use a #1 pick.
- Unless you're a fan of a Big 12 school, had you heard of Blaine Gabbert prior to this draft? My guess is probably not. Apparently he has all the intangibles and tangibles you want in a starter but two years versus schools that aren't known for their defense doesn't have me sold on Gabbert.
- Moore and Clausen at times this year were more painful to watch than Dane Cook's movies. To their credit, the offensive line was banged up all year and the receiving core has to be considered one of the worse in the league. It takes a star to produce with that roster. Bailing on Moore and Clausen seems premature; remember when we let quarterbacks develop?
Option B - Draft a Defensive Player
- I'm a bigger fan of this than the quarterback pick. What’s the worst thing that happens? We draft Peterson or Dareus and yes in fact Moore and Clausen are as terrible as they were last year and we end up in the same place next year. Perfect, we get the quarterback we originally wanted and he can't escape his Panther destiny.
- Our secondary needs upgrading the most out of the three defensive units. We got burned for one of the league’s worst average yards per attempt, 8+yards. Everything you’ve heard about Peterson paints him as a lock for 10 years at corner. Would you want a lock to win a then million dollars or a one in 20 chance of winning a hundred million? If you are as poor as the Panthers I think you have to seriously look at the ten million
Option C – TRADE THE FREAKING PICK
- The Patriots are the masters of the draft, six picks in the first three rounds. While the majority of Carolina fans loathe the organization, it is time we take a page out of Belichick’s play book and turn some value out of our picks. Can anyone defend our move last year to move up in the third round to get Armanti Edwards? Giving up the 33rd overall pick for Edwards drastically changes our strategy. For a struggling and young franchise losing that pick can set back development another year if not five. Drives me bonkers that we traded this pick for a guy we could have drafted in the fifth round.
- With no second rounder trading down to get picks seems so logically to me. Obviously we have to find a suitor. But if we trade down the board we can get a second rounder or a high third rounder out the deal. Take Julio Jones or even Peterson if he falls in the late first round. With the second rounder we can look at Ponder or Dalton who everyone are ranting and raving about.
- Remember than Boise State versus Nevada game? Colin Kaepernick played out of his mind. I know its Boise State and I know it’s a stretch but he’s no more of a project than Newton. Taking him in the late second or early third round, a much smaller contract, and an NFL ready body make Kaepernick valuable pick.
All in all this is a futile plea for Jerry Richardson to fall out of love with Cam Newton and in all probability a long term disaster. But he won’t be reading this and won’t be changing his mind. Newton will be a Panther by 8:15 April 28, 2011. I’ve seen the fans at Radio city Music Hall boo their franchises’ selections. I watched the Texans scream in agony when they selected Mario Williams over Bush (which was a fantastic selection in hindsight). I won’t be one of those fans. I’m not a Jets fan. No I don’t agree with the pick. No I wasn’t a fan of him at Auburn. However, once Goodell hands him that Carolina hat that all that goes out the window. If he pans out as expected then well that’s that but I’ll be failing right along with him.
