PFF is putting together team-specific draft boards for all 32 teams, using our draft rankings and our evaluation of how each player fits in specific schemes.
Included are three ideal targets for each team with their first-, second- and third-round picks, along with the complete team-specific draft board including every player in PFF’s draft rankings.
Here is the entry for the Carolina Panthers:
Round 1 (31st overall)
Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
Joseph is the only true safety worthy of first-round status, even after tearing his ACL after just 240 snaps in 2015. The former Mountaineer was all over the field intercepting five passes and flying up in run defense. Any team that picks Joseph will be getting an active playmaker.
Emmanuel Ogbah, ED, Oklahoma State
The Panthers are in dire need of a playmaking pass rusher and Ogbah fits that bill. He graded as PFF’s third-best pass rusher in 2015 and did so with the third-best pass rushing productivity in the class as well.
Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
While we see the Ohio State version of Michael Thomas as someone that should be off the board by this time, his average production in the past two years on a talented Buckeyes team might scare some teams. Fear not, Thomas has the size, speed, route running and separation skills to succeed in the NFL and should not be overlooked.
Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Mississippi
Reed is a versatile corner that can play in any scheme. The Panthers have a reputation for playing a heavy cover-3 zone concept but in actuality, it’s one of many schemes they run. Reed has the prototypical size of an NFL corner with blazing sub-4.4 40 speed. The only question with Reed is his level of competition, but he dominated his competition, allowing just 48.3 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught and grading as our third best coverage corner in 2015.
Round 2 (62nd overall)
Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State
If Joseph doesn’t fall in the first, Byard is a very good alternative as a deep safety. He shows good range and play recognition but struggles as an in-the-box safety.
Joe Thuney, OT, NC State
While Thuney isn’t getting much attention, especially not in the second round, we see it differently. He gets the job done, even if it is ugly as he rarely loses in the run or pass game; he surrendered just seven pressure on 507 snaps in pass protection.
Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
Cam Newton likes his receivers big and Garrett fits that profile at 6-3 and 220 pounds. With Kelvin Benjamin returning in 2016 and Devin Funchess hopefully making a second-year leap, the Panthers will have a receiving group that would be difficult for any secondary to cover with the addition of Garrett’s downfield-receiving ability.
Round 3 (93rd overall)
Cre’Von LeBlanc, CB, Florida Atlantic
LeBlanc has been excellent in our two years of grading for Florida Atlantic, especially in 2015 where he allowed just 39 percent of targets into his coverage to be caught. He excels in zone coverage, so he’ll add a nice depth piece for the Panthers’ secondary — especially given that Josh Norman is now on the open market.
Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
The Panthers need competition at the right tackle position and Coleman provides just that. He excels as a run blocker already (+19.7 run block grade, fifth in class) but will need to improve in pass protection to crack the starting lineup.
Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
While Jonathan Stewart has excelled the past two seasons, he is often injured. Collins provides insurance against that and is a physical presence while also grading positively as a run blocker when asked to do so in 2015.
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