It has been quite a while since I last posted. Since that time I enrolled in graduate school and wanted to take my first semester to determine if I would have the time to continue posting regularly without my affecting my schoolwork. Right now, I think that I should have no problem posting next year, so I am planning on doing exactly that. I will be simplifying the format of my posts a bit, trying to make more short posts rather than occasional lengthy posts.
The NFL draft is complete and so are the bulk of the signings of undrafted free agents. I will be analyzing one pick a day this week plus my favorite undrafted free agents to make the roster or practice squad. Keep Pounding!
Round 5, Pick 174: RB Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn University
I once slotted Artis-Payne to the Panthers with their first compensatory pick back on April 9th, and I approve of the real life selection here with their second one. Artis-Payne played just one season at Auburn (after previously playing in the JUCO ranks) and racked up over 1,600 yards rushing. A sturdy 5'10" and 212 pounds, Artis-Payne flashes the ability to either make a man miss or run through arm tackles, but he tends to get what his blockers provide him more often than not. There were a few times each game where the Auburn product would run into the backs of his blockers at the line of scrimmage and get wrestled to the ground without gaining any yardage. As a rotational back in Carolina, I think that Artis-Payne will be a solid backup to Jonathan Stewart and should not hold the offense back if forced into more playing time. He showed decent hands at the Senior Bowl and needs to work on his technique in pass protection. Running back projections are so volatile from the college ranks to the NFL, but Artis-Payne shows strong mental traits that should help him pick up the playbook quickly and allow him to provide value sooner. While he probably will never be a top-notch starter, Artis-Payne is a good back to have in the rotation that can provide 10 carries and 45 yards if called upon to carry a drive or two. My grade: 82/100 Cameron Artis-Payne will not be as great as the last Cam the Panthers drafted out of Auburn, but he shows enough burst and strength to develop into a solid backup running back with spot start potential. Projection: 13 games, 2 starts, 100 carries, 410 yards, 2 touchdowns, 14 receptions, 90 yards, 1 touchdown
The NFL draft is complete and so are the bulk of the signings of undrafted free agents. I will be analyzing one pick a day this week plus my favorite undrafted free agents to make the roster or practice squad. Keep Pounding!
Round 5, Pick 169: MLB David Mayo, Texas State University
If you were wondering who Mayo was when the Panthers selected him, you were not alone. However, the Panthers have been fairly successful with their last few fifth round picks: CB Bene' Benwikere, OLB A.J. Klein, and CB Josh Norman. Mayo was the second leading tackler in NCAAF last season but played in the Sun Belt Conference, which is not exactly known for its football talent. The video above is the first I watched of Mayo's game tape. I can now understand what GM Dave Gettleman was seeing. Mayo certainly has a nose for the ball and takes good angles towards the ball carrier. He also took strong swipes at the ball, forcing one fumble and almost causing another. There were a couple of missed tackles that speak to Mayo's lack of ideal athleticism (he was unable to close enough space to wrap up), but he was not terrible in coverage when lined up over the opposing team's running back. I found an article that listed him as running the 40 in the 4.7 to 4.8 range , which suggests Mayo will never be more than a depth and special teams player. This selection is part of why I was upset the Panthers gave up their 7th round pick. With only two selections left, Gettleman had to decide if he felt Mayo would last until undrafted free agency, and then he would have to compete with every other team to sign him as a free agent. Instead, Mayo decided to spend one of his fifth round compensatory picks to make sure that the Panthers could bring Mayo in to camp. I can see how Mayo can fulfill a valuable role on an NFL team, especially on a rookie contract, but I think that you could be shooting for a player with higher potential impact in the fifth round. My grade: 78/100 Mayo can be a solid backup to Luke Kuechly and fill a role on special teams, but that may be all he can ever do. Luke played in 989 out of a possible 1,028 defensive snaps last season for the Panthers, and his talent dictates that you would want him on the field as much as possible. Now, if Kuechly should ever go down with an injury (I knocked on wood, do not fret), Mayo should be able to step in and do a fine job, but hopefully, that situation will never arise. Projection: 12 games, 0 starts, 8 special teams tackles
The NFL draft is complete and so are the bulk of the signings of undrafted free agents. I will be analyzing one pick a day this week plus my favorite undrafted free agents to make the roster or practice squad. Keep Pounding!
Round 4, Pick 102: OT Daryl Williams, University of Oklahoma
Daryl Williams is a very large man, and his size is fairly indicative of his play style. He moves well north and south for his 6'5", 327 pound frame, but his lateral quickness will likely limit him to the right side of the line. He was First-team All-Big 12 as a RT last year and that is where Williams will compete with incumbent Mike Remmers for the starting spot this summer. Now, I am about to use a very scary name for Panthers fans, so if you hate bad memories, go ahead and skip to the next paragraph now. I warned you. Williams is the first tackle selected by the Panthers in the first 5 rounds since Jeff Otah, and he kinda reminds me off Otah, but without nearly the same injury concern. Williams did have an MCL sprain in his right knee during his sophomore year (2012), but has since started 26 straight games for the Sooners. I should discuss that we also traded up to select Williams, giving up picks 124, 161, and 242 for the 102nd pick in the draft. I would have liked to hold on to the 7th round pick, but if that was what was needed to move up to select Williams, then so be it. Williams is a true hog molly, road grading RT prospect who thrives in one-on-one power running matchups. The Panthers should expect to have good success running behind the tandem of Williams and RG Trai Turner for years to come. Williams is also no slouch in pass protection, having given up not a single sack last season. His success is more predicated on effort and determination than athletic ability though, and losing a few pounds might be beneficial if he can maintain his strength. Ultimately, I think Williams will be the starting RT come Week 1. My grade: 87/100 I knew the Panthers would not ignore the offensive line, but I was hoping that the "Michael Oher is our LT" talk was a little bit of a smoke screen or that the Panthers might at least pick up a developmental LT prospect that could sit behind Oher for a season. However, the right tackle position is just as unsettled, and in drafting Williams Gettleman was able to grab a guy I think is an immediate plug-and-play tackle. Without the trade, this pick would have had a higher grade, but I understand that it may have been a necessity. Projection: 16 games, 16 starts
The NFL draft is complete and so are the bulk of the signings of undrafted free agents. I will be analyzing one pick a day this week plus my favorite undrafted free agents to make the roster or practice squad. Keep Pounding!
Round 2, Pick 41: WR Devin Funchess, University of Michigan
To say I was surprised to see that the Panthers had moved up from 57 to 41 on Twitter would be an understatement. This did not seem to be a very Dave Gettleman-type move. The normally conservative GM traded away picks 57, 89, and 201 (Rounds 2, 3, and 6) to move up 16 spots, allowing the Panthers to select Devin Funchess out of the University of Michigan. I thought longer and harder about the implications of the trade rather than the selection of Funchess. Since the draft came to a close I have realized that the Panthers felt they did not have roster spots for nine draft selections, so it absolutely made sense to move up for a player they desired. Now, on to the player himself. Funchess is 6'4" and 232 pounds and lined up a a variety of spots for the Wolverines throughout his career. Many draft pundits saw him as a TE / WR hybrid or tweener, which knocked him down their draft boards, especially in combination with his poor combine showing (4.70 forty yard dash). Funchess's draft ranking did not really recover even with 4.47 and 4.53 second forties at Michigan's Pro Day. These numbers seem much more in-line with his game speed. Funchess is a similar prospect to Kelvin Benjamin in that both receivers present size mismatches, but they are more dissimilar than one might think at first glance. Funchess appears to play with better top-end speed than Benjamin and significantly more ability to make plays after the catch, while Benjamin has larger hands (freakish 10 1/4" versus still above average 9 3/4") and is a better jump ball receiver. One aspect of Funchess's senior season that I think is largely overlooked (or at least not mentioned) is how poor his quarterback play was. Devin Gardner was the 94th quarterback based on QB rating in the NCAAF, and he can thank some incredible Funchess plays for that high of a rating. Time and time again I watched as Gardner failed to scan the field or threw another terrifying jump pass with little to no zip or spiral on it. Funchess certainly had some disappointing drops and some missed opportunities for big plays, but his quarterback never helped him out. In the NFL Funchess has the size-speed combination to be a matchup issue for opposing defenses. I think he will probably be the #2 wide receiver in 2-WR sets, and may lineup in the slot with 3 or more receivers, especially if either Jarret Boykin or Stephen Hill is able to establish himself in training camp. In two offseasons the Panthers have transformed one of the weakest receiving corps into a potentially dynamic stable that could trot as many as 4 receivers at least 6' 4" (Benjamin, Funchess, Hill, and TE Greg Olsen), each of whom presents a unique look. My grade: 89/100 Gettleman went on record as having a first-round grade on Funchess in a draft with as few as 20 players with such grades. This, in combination with the lack of roster spots makes giving up a 3rd rounder and a 6th rounder well worth the move up from 57. The Panthers showed they have not forgotten about Cam, and are willing to move up to get talent they feel can succeed with him in Carolina. My grade is optimistic, as am I. Projection: 14 games, 12 starts, 45 catches, 700 yards, 6 touchdowns
