The NFL has announced that 14 teams will receive a combined total of 32 compensatory picks in the upcoming draft - the Panthers have received two. Where are those picks and who might the Panthers select with them?
Is it sad that I was looking for this announcement all day? Constantly refreshing my Twitter feed? I Googled "NFL compensatory picks 2015" at least half-a-dozen times. As I have mentioned previously, we were not necessarily projected to receive any compensatory picks based solely on numbers of free agents lost and signed, but I had a feeling that some combination of Joe Webb, Antoine Cason, and Ed Dickson would be ruled to not count against us. Anyways, on to the good stuff.
The Panthers will be selecting 169th overall (first compensatory pick of the fifth round) and 213th overall (sixth compensatory pick of the sixth round).
[Cue Panthers fans rejoicing everywhere]
This is great news for GM Dave Gettleman and the Panthers franchise. Gettleman was brought up in scouting, has been successful in recent drafts, and has excelled in finding quality undrafted free agents. While his sixth round picks have both flunked (RB Kenjon Barner in 2013 and RB Tyler Gaffney last year), Panthers fans can find solace - and confidence - in his track record in the fourth and fifth rounds. Last year's finds of CB Bene Benwikere and S Tre' Boston payed serious dividends down the stretch last season as the Panthers fought their way into the playoffs somehow. 2013 fifth round pick A.J. Klein has provided solid linebacker depth and special teams play the past two seasons, while fourth rounder Edmund Kugbila has seemingly been on the Injured Reserves list his entire pro career. Before I get into the picks, let me just establish that compensatory picks cannot be traded. The Panthers are locked into selecting at these two picks. Punter Brad Nortman is the last compensatory pick the Panthers made, in 2012.
WR, Austin Hill, Arizona University
He tore his ACL during his junior season, and he did not look the same last season. And yet, his recent pro day performance indicated Hill may be trusting his knee more, translating to better speed and exlposiveness. His 4.62 and 4.57 40 times will not make any scouts jump up and down, but that is the same range that Kelvin Bejamin ran in last year. Hill was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as a sophomore, and he has strong hands and knows how to use his 6'3" 212 pound frame. The Panthers will not have to rush him back, mostly because I do not think he would be the only wide receiver that the Panthers acquire between now and training camp. With patience and some professional strength and conditioning so that he can trust his knee again, Hill could be a real gem for the Panthers later in the draft.
FS, Adrian Amos, Penn State University
Amos is very athletic, running a 4.4 40 at his pro day after posting impressive shuttle numbers at the combine. He is much more of a center fielder-type safety than someone you want lining up in the box, but I believe much of that could be coached up by the Panthers staff. Amos has been criticized for seemingly shying away from making big plays and for weak tackling. Having watched his tape I wonder if it might be more of an attitude / swagger issue than actual technical form or football IQ. At this point in the draft, the Panthers should be looking for players they think have the potential to be serious contributors, and I believe Amos could become a starter with the right seasoning. At the very least, he could grow into a Colin Jones-type player with better coverage skills.
CB, Ladarius Gunter, University of Miami (Florida)
I cannot lie, when I saw that NFL.com had his comparable player as Carolina's own Josh Norman, my eyes lit up. The video I had seen of Gunter matched up. Neither Norman nor Gunter has blazing speed; both are big, physical receivers who like to get in the receiver's face. I will be keeping a close eye on how Gunter performs at Miami's pro day on April 1st - a strong performance there would validate the Josh Norman comparison more, and likely improve his draft stock. Gunter has experience on multiple phases of special teams and could contribute there immediately. He also possesses the versatility to play safety in single-high coverage.
RT Daryl Williams, Oklahoma University
If you like big, powerful offensive linemen, look no further. Williams is 100% hog molly and could be what Jeff Otah (shudder) was once meant to become as a road-grading right tackle to run behind. He definitely has more power than athleticism, which will lock him into being a right tackle or possibly necessitating a shift inside to guard. At this point in the draft, Williams potential value on the right side matches - if not exceeds - the draft capital the Panthers would be spending on him.
DT Leterrius Walton, Central Michigan University
Walton is a former offensive lineman, and that fact is evident in how he uses his hands and his lack of leverage. He demonstrates above average footwork and could become a dominant run stopper with time. Walton has a huge frame that could add on weight to allow him to better anchor against double teams. This would be a developmental pick in anticipation of Colin Cole's and Dwan Edwards's careers coming to a close soon.
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