2008 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers

Previous Five Picks

8) NFL-Baltimore_Ravens-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Baltimore_Ravens-120208">Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State 

9) NFL-Cincinnati_<a%20href=">Bengals-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Cincinnati_Bengals-150208">Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC 

10) Saints-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_New_Orleans_Saints-170208">New Orleans Saints: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy 

11) Bills-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Buffalo_Bills-180208">Buffalo Bills: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State 

12) Broncos-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Denver_Broncos-220208">Denver Broncos: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami  

Click here to see the entire Mock Draft. 

The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...

I have some kind of psycho Arabian death flu, complete with every symptom imaginable. 

I’ve concocted a mixture of NyQuil, liquid Tylenol Flu (extra strength, of course), and cough drops that has at least gotten me to the point where I can sit upright and type.

I’m not sure if it’s curing the flu or just making me too high to realize I’m sick. 

On a possibly related note, I’ve spent the last nine hours watching a Jackass marathon on MTV while eating coffee ice cream directly out of the container.

Anyway, the point of all this is to warn you that what is about to transpire might not make any sense, could be full of insane ramblings, and might not make any sense. 

Or all of the above.  

Right. 

I would like to apologize in advance to the Carolina Panthers, their fans, their front office, and most of all, the great Vinny Testaverde.

Pick No. 13: Carolina Panthers

If you had asked me a month ago, I would have said the Panthers were going to select an offensive tackle with this pick.

It’s not often that both of your starting tackles reach free agency at the same time.  It’s even less often, should that happen, that you’re able to retain both of them.

The Panthers signed Travelle Wharton to a six-year extension and franchised Jordan Gross, all but assuring that both of their tackles are on the roster to start the 2008 NFL season.

Had that not happened, I was going to go with Jeff Otah at this spot. 

So I decided to take a second look at the Panthers to see if there was a greater need somewhere else.  What I found was a team that was completely destroyed by their lack of quarterback play and couldn’t possibly be judged based on last season.

Things got so bad, they actually called Tony Eason, Heath Shuler, and Tim Couch to see if any of them were available.  They all were, but sanity prevailed and the Panthers decided they would be better off without a quarterback.

So I’m giving their offense a pass.  Hopefully Jake Delhomme makes a full recovery.  With him back and a few minor tweaks, they can be solid offensively again.

After all, any offense with Steve Smith is going to be explosive. 

Cutting DeShaun Foster was a good start.  They will be a better team with DeAngelo Williams as their featured back.

Their defense was entirely mediocre in 2007.  They ranked 16th in the NFL—18th in rush defense and 17th against the pass.

So like the Bengals, Saints, Bills, and Broncos before them, I expect the Panthers to go defense with their first pick.

The Pick: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

Mike Rucker is 32 years old and just flat out isn’t a playmaker anymore. 

The Panthers need to get back to the days when their defensive line was feared.  A great defensive line will help everyone behind them.

Calais may have struggled a little last season, but I think it had more to do with his team than his own play.  He’s a great prospect with an enormously high ceiling. 

He’s 6'8", 280 pounds with a quick first step and a knack for getting to the quarterback.  His mere presence may help put Julius Peppers back on the map, as teams will need to concentrate more on Campbell than they would on Rucker.

Derrick Harvey and Philip Merling are both options here, but I think Campbell’s size and measurables are going to shoot him above the two of them on the Panther’s draft board.

I’m SeanMC.

SeanMC is a Columnist at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.

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