Carolina Panthers: Five Options the Un-Lucky Club Has With No. 1 Pick

Sadly for the Carolina Panthers and NFL fans who appreciate talented signal callers, Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck has decided to stay for his Junior season. Luck, blessed with ideal physical tools at 6-4 and 235 lbs with plenty of athletic ability as well, finished second in the Heisman voting this past season after compiling 3332 Passing Yards, 35 Total Touchdowns, and an astounding 8.9 Yards Per Play (Passing or Running).

But enough about Andrew Luck and the foregone conclusion that the Carolina Panthers would have selected him with the first overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, had he declared; what do the Panthers do now? Maybe they still have some luck remaining and can find a way to trade out of the spot, but that is highly doubtful. Here are the five options I believe the 2-14 Carolina Panthers have come April.

With the First Selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers Select...

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Defensive End Da’Quan Bowers from Clemson
Despite the many changes going on in Carolina, one thing is staying the same, and that is General Manager Marty Hurney still has his job. Hurney’s very first draft in 2002, the Panthers had a desperate need for a Defensive End and selected Julius Peppers out of North Carolina. And now, a year after letting Peppers leave Carolina, the Panthers are left with Charlie Johnson and Everette Brown. Neither of these players are horrible, but the Panthers finished tied for 20th in the league in sacks and can certainly improve.

Da’Quan Bowers is being hyped as an all-world type of prospect (ever since High School, in fact), and could be a solution for the Panthers after putting up 15 sacks as a Junior. I'm not the biggest supporter of Bowers, but the facts are that Bowers will probably blow up the Combine, and probably end up in the Top 5. Da'Quan has drawn comparisons to two of the best ever, Reggie White and Bruce Smith, and that's an awful lot to live up for a guy who struggled his first couple seasons at Clemson.

The Cannon

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Quarterback Ryan Mallett from Arkansas
With Andrew Luck staying in school, Ryan Mallett is arguably the most gifted passer. When it comes to size and arm strength, Mallett has that in spades. Though he comes from an offense under Bobby Petrino that hasn’t produced a quality NFL signal caller, none of the previous Petrino quarterbacks have had the talent that Mallett has.

If you don’t have a Franchise Quarterback, draft one. If the Panthers honestly believe Mallett is one, then they should pull the trigger. Any Quarterback is going to come with some concerns, and for Mallett that would be mentally and fundamentally. But, if Ron Rivera has enough confidence in his coaching staff (Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach), selecting an incredibly gifted passer like Mallett should be no problem.

Mr. Heisman

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: Cam Newton, quarterback of the Auburn University Tigers, poses with the 2010 Heisman Memorial Trophy Award on December 11, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Quarterback Cameron Newton from Auburn
This option might be more for fanfare than anything else. But, should Cam Newton declare after leading the Auburn Tigers to the National Championship in just his first season under center while winning the Heisman trophy, he’d generate a lot of buzz and popularity for whomever drafts him.

And, that’s not even factoring in the whole deal with his father shopping him to schools.

Newton is a highly likeable player with a constant and beaming smile who brings elite size and stunning mobility to the position. Possibly the next Daunte Culpepper, there is no question Newton would sell jerseys, put fans in the seats, and keep eyes glued to television sets across the nation.

In-State Stud

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Quinn #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after a sack with teammate Marvin Austin #9 against the East Carolina Pirates at Kenan Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by St

Defensive End Robert Quinn from North Carolina
This one is a little out of left field, but nobody should forget about Robert Quinn.

Quinn was suspended for his entire Junior season, but people shouldn’t forget about the super freak who put up 11 sacks as a Sophomore.

I don’t believe anybody in the state of North Carolina has forgotten about the man who has battled back from brain surgery and is a former two time heavyweight wrestling champion in the state of South Carolina.

This pick would draw a lot of interest because of Quinn’s life story, but could also greatly improve their Defense because Quinn has drawn comparisons to the likes of All-Pro DeMarcus Ware.

Maybe the solution to replacing Julius Peppers is selecting another North Carolina product with freakish skills?

New Man In Charge

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera of the Chicago Bears looks on against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on November 20, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Panthers 13-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Panthers have many options now, even if none are as glorious as Andrew Luck. But, the Carolina Panthers are in obvious rebuilding mode and this selection will be crucial to their future. The selection of Ron Rivera as the Head Coach may be a hint that their leaning Defense with this pick, but nobody will truly know until April.