Panthers general manager Marty Hurney has made a habit of getting good returns with his first-round draft picks. The 2019 class should prove no exception to the rule.
With the No. 16 pick, the team chose Florida State EDGE Brian Burns, one of the top prospects in this draft at one of their two major positions of need. Hurney wasn’t done, though. He addressed two other key positions with his next two picks and reinforced other spots that needed it. Here’s our early grades for the picks. These grades are not just about the player’s ability, but also about the team’s decision to take that prospect at that particular spot.
Pick No. 16: DE Brian Burns
In retrospect, it seems like Burns was destined to play for the Panthers. For one thing, his brother was drafted by the team in the seventh round 13 years ago. Burns also checks so many boxes that passing on him for anything but a franchise left tackle might have been a bad decision. He’s a speed rusher with long arms, a great first step and an impressive variety of pass-rushing moves for such a young defender. You could have argued for Washington State’s pass protection expert Andre Dillard at No. 16 instead, but there’s nothing not to like about this pick.
Grade: A
Pick No. 37: OT Greg Little
In the next round, the Panthers traded up 10 spots with the Seahawks to get Little, who started 29 games at left tackle at Mississippi. The trade itself was not a good one, as Carolina gave up too much draft value to Seattle. However, the pick was solid and we won’t hold it against him. Little gives Carolina the true left tackle they’ve needed ever since Jordan Gross retired. There’s no question that Little is raw, but he should grow into a quality starter at a position that desperately needed one.
Grade: B
Pick No. 100: QB Will Grier
This was the team’s most controversial selection by far. A number of fans apparently freaked out on social media, perhaps assuming the Panthers meant to replace Cam Newton with Grier. That’s not going to happen anytime soon, if at all. Grier does give the team a major upgrade at backup quarterback over Kyle Allen or Taylor Heinicke, though. With time to grow his game, Grier might even develop into a legitimate starter some day. If Newton’s throwing shoulder regresses again, those same fans will be glad they made this pick, which was an excellent value for the No. 100 spot.
Grade: A+
PIck no. 115: DE/LB Christian Miller
Going into Day 3 of the draft, Hurney told reporters that the plan was to go best player available. If that’s truly the case, then they got a good one in Miller. Ron Rivera said he sees him as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end who can be used the same way as the recently-signed Bruce Irvin. Miller is not a monster sack artist like Burns, but he is capable both rushing the passer and defending the run. A safety in this spot would have been nice, but it’s hard to argue against boosting the edge rotation again.
Grade: B
Pick No. 154: RB Jordan Scarlett
This one was a real head-scratcher. Scarlett had an undrafted free agent grade and offers none of the same skills that make Christian McCaffrey a unique talent at the position. He can’t catch, is not a great athlete and has had off-the-field issues, as well. Scarlett might become a good short-yardage situation kind of rusher. That’s about the extent of his potential, though. There were also a number of better running backs available here.
Grade: D
Pick No. 212: OT Dennis Daley
Getting Greg Little in the second round gave the Panthers their starter on the blind side. However, they still needed to add more depth at the position. They addressed that here with Daley, who spent last season at South Carolina after a year at USC. He started a combined 23 games at left tackle over the last two seasons. Daley’s got a strong anchor and power to spare. He’ll need to develop his technique as a pass blocker. However, he’s got enough potential to be considered a sleeper pick.
Grade: B-
Pick No. 237: WR Terry Godwin
Like the Scarlett pick, this was another confusing selection. Godwin is a fine slot receiver and route runner who played a lot of games in four years at Georgia. Then again, the team doesn’t need another undersized receiver, especially one that projects near the bottom of the depth chart. Unless the plan is for him to replace Jarius Wright, Godwin is going to have to play a lot of special teams for this pick to make much sense.
Grade: C-
Overall grade
Through the first four rounds, it looked like the Panthers were going to get an absolute monster of a draft class.
While it’s still a strong haul overall, Hurney loses points for the extra trade value surrendered to the Seahawks in round two as well as the perplexing Scarlett and Godwin picks. What matters is he hit the team’s two major positions of need (EDGE, left tackle) hard by doubling down at each.
Upgrading the spot behind Cam Newton was also an important goal this offseason and they achieved that by getting Grier in the third. Passing on defensive backs completely is probably the most questionable move. The team is putting a ton of faith in Rashaan Gaulden and Ross Cockrell by not adding another DB in the draft.
Grade: B
