70 Days until the NFL Draft....Check out the prospects at the 70 spot!
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It’s that time of year when there is very little to talk about beyond how the NFL Draft will shake out. Big boards are getting bigger by the day. Let’s take a look at the boards and see who sits at the 70-spot since we are 70 days out. These are not projections for the Panthers but simply a way to plow through the days left through the draft and learn a little about the prospects.
CBS-Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Interestingly, Carolina is rumored to be in the market for Deshaun Watson and some believe Christian McCaffrey is a piece that could make the deal happen. If so, Carolina would need a running back desperately.
“There is no doubt Harris has the ability to be an impactful NFL running back with the skill set of a three-down starter. He has an excellent combination of size and quickness that lets him run over tacklers, yet he retains the speed to hit the hole. Harris has a strong build and is difficult to bring down, as he can power through tackles and bounce off defenders to continue to gain yards.”
PFF-JALEN MAYFIELD, OT MICHIGAN
Carolina’s line is basically non-existent. Taylor Moton is the only shiny piece on that offensive line and we don’t know if the Panthers are negotiating to sign him in free agency or intend to use the franchise tag. Center Matt Paradise is the only contractually bound piece of the line.
“Mayfield was a tackle at Michigan but is a likely candidate to kick inside to guard in the NFL. He’s one of the most explosive linemen in the class.”
The Draft Network- Richie Grant, S, UCF
The Panther’s secondary is up in the air. Veteran Tre Boston currently mans the free safety position with Justin Burris at strong safety, with a mix of Jeremy Chinn linebacker to strong safety throughout the game. Sam Franklin filled in nicely during Burris's absence because of injury, but with Burris likely a salary cap casualty, the Panthers could use some secondary help. Grant was a hot name at the Senior Bowl, where the Panther’s staff surely was paying attention.
“Grant brings good size and athleticism to the table and doesn’t have physical limitations. The best components of Grant’s game are his ball skills and versatility. He’s an urgent football player that is always around the ball. When it comes to areas for Grant to develop, cleaning up some processing miscues, developing consistency with angles, and playing with better control as a tackler are at the top of the list. Grant has the makeup of a starting free safety in the NFL with the ability to make game-changing plays on the ball, there just may be a few missed tackles and blown assignments in coverage along the way. ”
Draftek-Darius Still, DT, WVU
The release of Kawaan Short opens a hole in the Panther’s defensive interior. Bravvion Roy played well in his rookie debut, and he has to be liked by the staff since he was a Baylor product. Nevertheless, the Panthers can only bank on Roy so much. Derrick Brown is holding it down, but we’ve seen what pairing two defensive tackles can do for a defensive line.
“ A consistent pressure generator, he can disrupt pockets with straight ahead rushing attacks or get home on twists/stunts as the looper. A motor that constantly runs hot, even as an interior rusher, he has outside of the tackle box type of range in ball pursuit when chasing plays down.”
By Tony Dunn
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