8 NFL Draft Prospects Carolina Panthers Should Be Watching at Combine
Despite finishing the regular season with a record of just 7-8-1, the Carolina Panthers managed to win the NFC South and make a second consecutive appearance in the postseason.
Getting into the playoffs is nice, and though the team did manage to win in the Wild Card Round, the Panthers would obviously like to improve in 2015.
Carolina still seems to be a few pieces away from legitimately challenging for a Super Bowl appearance. One of the best ways to remedy this is to add talent via the draft.
With the NFL Scouting Combine getting underway this week (on-field workouts begin Friday), the Panthers have an excellent opportunity to sift through draft-eligible prospects.
Over the next few pages, we will examine several of these prospects whom the Panthers should keep an eye on in Indianapolis.
OT Ereck Flowers, Miami
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Pass protection was a major problem for the Panthers in 2014. In fact, the team ranked dead-last in the category for the season, according to Pro Football Focus.
This is why a guy like Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers has to be intriguing for Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman.
A mammoth 320-plus-pound tackle, Flowers projects as the type of athletic lineman who can add to both the passing game and the running game.
With only two years of starting experience at left tackle, Flowers is far from a finished product. However, he could be a solid fit for the Panthers with their first-round selection (25th overall). The combine should give the Panthers an opportunity to examine Flowers' quickness, strength and technique up close.
OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
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Pitt tackles T.J. Clemmings is another relatively raw prospect whom the Panthers could hope to target with the 25th overall selection.
In fact, Bleacher Report Lead Draft Writer Matt Miller placed Clemmings in this very spot in his post-Super Bowl mock draft.
A former basketball standout, Clemmings could potentially bring Pro Bowl-caliber athleticism to the Carolina offensive line.
DE Danielle Hunter, LSU
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The Panthers registered 40 sacks in 2014 (13th in the NFL). This is respectable, but it shouldn't prevent Carolina from targeting a pass-rushing defensive end at some point in the middle rounds of the draft.
Unpolished but physically gifted LSU standout Danielle Hunter just might fit the bill.
A long, lean and athletic defender, Hunter didn't produce big sack numbers in 2014 (just 1.5), but he showed an ability to get past the line of scrimmage and make plays in the backfield (13 tackles for loss). His technique needs work, but his physical talents are likely to carry him early in his career.
The Panthers could potentially target Hunter in the second or third round, provided they like what they see in Indianapolis.
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DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas
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If Carolina looks to add a more traditional 4-3 end, the team could take a long look at Arkansas standout Trey Flowers.
Flowers is a shorter (6'3"), more compact player than Hunter (6'6") and will likely play in the NFL in the 270-290-pound range. This makes him more of an early-down end who is suited to defend both the run and the pass. However, he does not possess a large variety of pass-rushing moves.
Flowers is a tackling machine (63 combined stops in 2014) and another second- or third-round guy whom the Panthers should keep on their radar.
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
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The Panthers ranked just 19th in passing (219.4 yards per game) in 2014, which is why it couldn't hurt to add to their receiving corps.
Outside of 2014 rookie Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen, quarterback Cam Newton didn't have a lot of reliable targets on the field last season. Adding someone to complement Benjamin's exceptional ball skills would make the Panthers offense much more potent.
I wouldn't expect the Panthers to draft a receiver in the first round or second, but if they do, former Auburn receiver Sammie Coates could be the guy.
He is raw and didn't produce huge numbers in college (1,757 career yards), which is why he shouldn't be a Day 1 selection. However, he is strong and quick, which is why a standout combine performance could launch him up draft boards.
WR Devin Smith, Ohio State
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A guy I like for the Panthers in the second or third round is Ohio State product Devin Smith.
Smith has the speed and quickness to take the top off a defense, which would allow Benjamin and Olsen to wreak havoc underneath in the Carolina offense.
He also brings special teams experience, which a team should never be overlook when evaluating a young player.
WR Tre McBride, William & Mary
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Carolina should also keep an eye on William & Mary product Tre McBride during the combine. The small-school standout shined during the East-West Shrine Game and is an interesting fourth- or fifth-round prospect.
McBride has adequate size (6'2", 205 lbs) and above-average ball skills, but his ability to race away from NFL coverage will be in question.
If McBride can alleviate this concern with a top-tier combine performance, his stock will rise.
DB Alex Carter, Stanford
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The Panthers ranked a pedestrian 15th in pass coverage last season, according to Pro Football Focus. This is why the team should add a defensive back sooner rather than later.
Stanford cornerback Alex Carter would fit what the Panthers do well defensively. He is primarily a back-end zone defender with a great ability to read and react to the plays in front of him.
Carter isn't projected as a lockdown man-to-man corner, however, and may be better as a pro safety or rotational defensive back. His strong tackling ability could make him the perfect guy for Carolina to bring in on early downs or short-yardage situations.
He is likely to be a middle-round selection, which means the Panthers should have an opportunity to grab both depth and value if they like what they see in Carter.
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