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DutchNugget DRAFTING FOR THEPanthers
Draft Selections
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Draft Grade — Panthers
Overall
D
ValueB-
NeedB
TradesF
FutureA+
The Panthers drew a line under the quarterback search with Maye: D. You can hear the double-takes from here. The Panthers took McKade Mettauer at the Round 7 slot, roughly 126 spots before his name belonged. The process wobbled, and the D is where it lands.
They lost the exchange badly enough to drag the whole class down. Drake Maye gives the offense a face and a plan, and the grade leans heavily on whether he hits. The Rogers pick reads as want over need, and the roster will feel it at safety.
They banked enough surplus on Egbuka to cover a lot of smaller sins. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through safety.
Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and safety is still a hole.
Pick Analysis
Pick3
Rnd1
Drake Maye
Drake Maye at the 3rd overall pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It fills a real need, too.
Pick17
Rnd1
Dallas Turner
A market-rate edge rusher, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Dallas Turner. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick21
Rnd1
T'Vondre Sweat
In Round 1, Pick 21 they get a wrecking ball inside, even if it was a touch early. More want than need.
Pick28
Rnd1
JC Latham
In the 28th pick they get a cornerstone up front at a price that makes it sweeter. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick29
Rnd1
Xavier Legette
In slot 29 they get a matchup problem out wide, outstanding value to boot. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick33
Rnd2
Terrion Arnold
Fair-plus on Terrion Arnold, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick35
Rnd2
Xavier Worthy
A tidy little value on Xavier Worthy in No. 35, a step better than break-even. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick53
Rnd2
Chris Braswell
Nothing to complain about; Chris Braswell went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick65
Rnd3
Christian Mahogany
Christian Mahogany at the Round 3 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick67
Rnd3
Zach Frazier
Zach Frazier at pick No. 67 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick74
Rnd3
Emeka Egbuka
A top-tier wide receiver at a bargain, Emeka Egbuka in Round 3, Pick 10, plain and simple. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick88
Rnd3
Michael Pratt
They paid sticker price for Michael Pratt in the 88th overall pick, and that is fine. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick101
Rnd4
Braelon Allen
No edge and no loss on Braelon Allen in pick 101; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick124
Rnd4
Justin Rogers
A curious use of slot 124. Safety needed the pick; an interior defensive lineman in Justin Rogers did not.
Pick125
Rnd4
Smael Mondon Jr.
They took Smael Mondon Jr. at par in pick No. 125, which is nothing to complain about. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick133
Rnd4
Kiran Amegadjie
You do not let an offensive lineman like Kiran Amegadjie reach pick 133 and blink. They did not. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick138
Rnd5
Cam Hart
Taking Cam Hart in No. 138 is close to grand larceny; a cornerback that good had no business lasting this long. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick161
Rnd5
Jordan Jefferson
Jordan Jefferson at the Round 5 slot is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Pick168
Rnd5
Theo Johnson
Theo Johnson at slot 168 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick181
Rnd6
Ainias Smith
They read the board right and Ainias Smith was the payoff at the 181st pick. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick202
Rnd6
Trey Knox
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Trey Knox. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick222
Rnd7
McKade Mettauer
Value said wait; McKade Mettauer in the 222nd overall pick says they were not listening. It patches a soft spot without any drama.























