Draft Study Guide: Day Three Targets

Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2015 by with No comments
For this portion of the Draft Study Guide, I will highlight some prospects as names-to-remember on the third day of the draft.


These picks will obviously be influenced by who the Panthers select on days one and two. I will look at five prospects that I have not previously delved into in detail that I think could be selected regardless of rounds one and two. 

 OLB Kwan Alexander, LSU
Thomas Davis turns 32 today (happy birthday TD58!), and he cannot play forever, no matter how much he might like to do so. Grabbing Alexander early on day three will be a step to ensure that the Panthers will not be left scrambling when Davis eventually retires. Alexander is a bit slight (6'1" and 227 pounds), but some time in an NFL strength and conditioning program should remedy that quickly. He has good lateral quickness and straight line speed, possesses high character, and shows no fear when taking on offensive linemen. The main negative Alexander is indicted with is his lack of football awareness; he gets locked in on his assignment and can lose track of the ball, which led to some huge blown plays last season at LSU. However, bringing him in to study under Davis and Luke Kuechly would allow Alexander to learn the nuances of NFL linebacking from two of the greatest active linebackers. He can immediately come in and be a significant special teams performer, while providing depth at linebacker.

 Estimated round: 3 or 4

 DE Za'Darious Smith, Kentucky

With Greg Hardy officially not coming back, take a moment and examine the depth chart at the defensive end position. Charles Johnson is a Pro Bowl caliber end locked in on the left side. Then, there are a bunch of question marks. Kony Ealy showed flashes, but can he consistently hold up throughout a game? Mario Addison and Wes Horton are depth guys, and Frank Alexander has been suspended so much, it is kind of a surprise that he is still around considering Jerry Richardson's reputation. Smith has a strong motor, and could develop into a Mike Rucker-type run stopping anchor on the right side. He only played a single year in the SEC following a strong showing in the JUCO ranks, but was a significant part of Kentucky's defense last season. He will probably never have gaudy sack numbers, but he can become a strong run-defending defensive end in the NFL.

 Estimated round: 4 through 6

 CB / S Eric Rowe, Utah

 Rowe was a free safety his first three years at Utah before switching to cornerback as a senior. It is that flexibility that I think could appeal to the Panthers. He is long and had a strong overall combine performance, but his hips look tight on tape and he has only played corner for one year, which is why I think he falls to day three. The Panthers could bring Rowe in and let defensive coordinator Sean McDermott piece him into the puzzle. In reading about and watching Rowe he reminded me a lot of recent visitor Alan Ball as a long safety / cornerback who is a scheme-specific player.

 Estimated round: 4 or 5

 OC Shaquille Mason, Georgia Tech


I understand the limitations Mason possesses in terms of pass protecting ability having come from the option offense at Georgia Tech. As lagging as his pass protection may be, he is an absolute mauler in the run game and could succeed there from day one. I would bring him into training camp telling him he could compete for a starting spot at RG; the best of Andrew Norwell, Trai Turner, and Mason could be our starting duo with the third providing quality depth. Amini Silatolu and Edmund Kugbila cannot stay healthy, and I hope they have ended the Panthers' obsession with small-school guards with crazy names. Mason's size and limited experience in pass protection drive him down day three.


 Estimated round: 5 or 6

 WR Tre' McBride, William & Mary
He looks the part of an NFL wide receiver, but McBride does not come without his question marks. He ran a 4.41 40 at the combine, but he rarely appears to run away from defenders on tape. In fact, he often struggles to create separation, leading to some incredible acrobatic catches. McBride has become successful at fighting for contested balls, but having played at William & Mary, why were the catches so contested in the first place? McBride also has special teams experience. If WR coach Ricky Proehl feels confident he can teach McBride how to get open against NFL defenses, the W&M product could be a great day three selection. 

 Estimated round: 4 or 5
----------------------------------------------------------
Homework - Follow me on Twitter!

Please go to the social media page and follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute thoughts and updates!

0 Responses:

Post a Comment