Personally I think our #14 pick should be a big receiver. My preference is Clemson’s “Nuke” Hopkins. With the team we have assembled, there is a gaping hole in our offense at the receiver position opposite Steve Smith. Hopkins would be able to fill that need. I like Hopkins because I believe he is very close to being ready right now for the NFL.

Oct 6, 2012; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Hopkins had 82 receptions for over 1400 yards this past college season. Not only that, he averaged 17 yards per catch and he also snagged 18 touch down passes. Sure, like all rookies he needs some refinement, but under the tutelage of Steve Smith I believe Hopkins could complete this offensive unit. Cam needs another weapon on this offense and Nuke could be the guy. I know there are all sorts of needs on this team but I am speaking of the first round pick only here.

Steve Smith does not have too much longer with this team. He needs to begin grooming someone to take his place and I believe Hopkins is the guy. I think he (Hopkins) and LaFell will be the future of the Panthers receiving core and I think that combination is a good pairing for our “franchise”, Cam Newton.

This draft will go a long way in determining the future of the Panthers organization and several others. The pressure is on and it is going to be a pepto-bismol kind of night. Lots of excitement, hope, and surely some disappointment will be going on tonight in the Big Apple.

Wanna bet not a single one is going to even be that close to the real thing? Or if so, can you say whose mock draft will be the closest?

Didn’t think so.

Mock drafts aren’t the only thing “overdone” in pre-draft coverage this year.

Nope. The NFL released the actual team schedules a few days ago and already the so-called “experts” have even taken THAT to the extreme. Column upon column has been written….sorting schedules by division, by team, by coaching style, by the tax on the stadium – well not really, but sheesh! You get the point!

Right about this time every year – the week or so before the draft – “experts” spin their wheels and try to figure out what that last angle is on the teams, trying to get into each GM’s head, and trying to externally determine the best fit for a particular team need.

Complicating this approach is the fact that each team has a slightly different approach to the type of player they’re looking for. Some teams want more “athletic” offensive linemen while others just want the big, strong guys.

Take tackle Jake Long for instance. His previous head coach, Tony Sparano, loved the type of player he is – a big, physically dominating LT. Brute force personified. When Sparano exited stage left and Joe Philbin arrived, the perception of the position there changed. Enter tackle Jonathan Martin last year. He lacks Long’s prototypical size and muscle but makes up for it in the angles he uses to engage his man with and just being more light on his feet overall than Long.

Therefore, Long is now in St. Louis and Martin remained.

With that in mind, these mock draft experts would have us believe they know more than we do. The fact is, in many cases, they do not.

Sure, the best ones (like the love him or hate him Mel Kiper, Jr.) have some insight we don’t while a handful of others, like NFL Network’s Charley Casserly, actually were GMs in a previous life – Casserly with the Redskins and Texans and is responsible for the Texans’ taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush as well as drafting WR Andre Johnson – but even these guys miss more often than not on a particular selection.

One thing that always seems to throw a wrench into the works is draft-day trades. With the rookie wage scale in place, trades have gone from a rarity to the other end of the spectrum. If you’ll recall last season, picks 2-7 were ALL traded in some form or fashion. The Colts stood on QB Andrew Luck with pick 1 and the Dolphins stood on QB Ryan Tannehill with pick 8.

Dec 30, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Redskins’ trading up to #2 overall to grab RG3 was done well before draft day but the others mostly were done at the draft. When there’s SO much movement up and down the board, it’s just about impossible to accurately predict who will go where.

Some teams are going to value certain players differently and will have different grades on all of them. Throw in the uncertainty of trades and you might as well throw darts blindfolded to figure out where a guy will be taken.

Yes, mock drafts are fun and interesting because they spur discussion about the team, the player, and “how that player fits that system.”

Too bad they’re almost never accurate, especially once you get out of the top ten.

By now, we know more about our favorite players than even the players know about themselves, almost. Analysts have been over everyone multiple times. Even team schedules have been analyzed to a ridiculous degree because we don’t even know what their final opening-day rosters are going to be yet.

So, just remember when you’re reading all these last-minute mock drafts and insights…they only go so far, so don’t be fooled too easily or get your hopes up or down until you see the draft class performing at least in the pre-season. Things change in the regular season then again in the playoffs.

Enjoy this time of information overload. If you can’t find out what you want to know about your favorite prospects, you’re just not looking.

At this point, I’d rather just wait, watch the draft, and then try to put the pieces together.

It’s only a week away.

Dec 22, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs for a touchdown as Oakland Raiders defensive end Andre Carter (97) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers 2013 Mock Draft: Combine

Now that we’re deep into the Pro days and after theCombine, team’s

needs are clearer and potential draftees are rising and falling daily.

All Star games are past us and I’ll try to show current draft positions.

Where they were previously and in the first round an alternate pick.

1. Kansas City OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M

Alternate pick: Jarvis Jones OLB GEORGIA.

2. Jacksonville QB Geno Smith WVU

Alternate pick: CB Dee Milliner ALABAMA

3. Oakland DT Sharif Floyd, Florida

Alternate pick: Demontre Moore, DE TEXAS A & M

4. Philadelphia DE Dion Jordan, Oregon

Alternate pick: Keenan Allen, WR CALIFORNIA

5. Detroit OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

Alternate pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB GEORGIA

6. Cleveland CB Dee Milliner, Alabama

Alternate pick: OLB Jarvis Jones, OLB GEORGIA

7. Arizona OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma

Alternate pick: Tyler Wilson QB ARKANSAS

8. Buffalo OG Chance Warmack, Alabama

Alternate pick: Ryan Nassib OB Syracuse

9. New York Jets DE Ziggy Ansah, BYU

Alternate picK: Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU

10. Tennessee OG Jonathan Cooper, UNC

Alternate pick: Jonathan Hankins DT, Ohio State

11. San Diego WR Cordorrelle Patterson, Tennessee

Alternate pick: Sam Montgomery DE, LSU

12. Miami DT Star Louteleli, Utah

Alternate pick: Sheldon Richardson DT SMU

13. Tampa Bay CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State

Alternate pick: Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU

14. Carolina WR Tavon Austin, WVU

Alternate pick: Eric Fisher OT C. Michigan

15. New Orleans DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU

Alternate Pick: Barrett Jones OC/G Alabama

16. ST. Louis OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Alternate pick: Lane Johnson OT, Oklahoma

17. Pittsburgh WR Keenan Allen, California

Alternate pick: Jonathan Cooper OG, UNC

18. Dallas DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri

Alternate pick, Travis Frederick OG Wisconsin

19. New York Giants S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas

Alternate pick: Matt Elam S, Florida

20. Chicago ILB Alec Ogletree, Georgia

Alternate Pick: Jonathan Cooper OG UNC

21. St. Louis D. J. Fluker, Alabama

Alternate pick: Giovani Bernard RB UNC

22. Cincinnati DE DeMontre Moore, Texas A &M

Alternate pick: Eddie Lacy RB Alabama

23. Indianapolis OLB Authur Brown, Kansas

Alternate pick: Alex Okafor DE, Texas

24. Indianapolis OT Menelik Watson, Florida State

Alternate pick: Cordorrelle Patterson WR, Tennessee

25. Indianapolis DE/OLB Alex Okafor, Texas

Alternate pick: Alex Okafor DE, Texas

26. Green Bay Eddie Lacy RB, ALABAMA

Alternate pick: Tyler Eifert Notre Dame

27. Houston WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee

Alternate pick: Matt Elam S Florida

28. Denver DE Bjorn Werner, Florida State

Alternate pick: Shariff Floyd DT Florida

29. New England WR Robert Woods,USC

Alternate pick: Cordorelle Patterson WR Tennessee

30. Atlanta TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Alternate pick: Margus Hunt DE SMU

31. San Francisco CB Desmond Trufant, Washington

Alternate pick: Tony Jefferson S, Oklahoma

      32. Baltimore SS Eric Reid, LSU

Alternate pick: Kevin Minter LSU

Now we take a look at the second round.

33. Jacksonville OT/G Kyle Long, Oregon

34. San Francisco WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

35. Philadelphia QB E. J. Manuel, Florida State

36. Detroit DE Sam Montgomery, LSU

37. Cincinnati RB Giovani Benard, UNC

38. Arizona QB Matt Barkley, USC

39. New York Jets S Jonathan Cyprien FIU

40. Tennessee TE Zack Ertz, Stanford

41. Buffalo Ryan Nassib QB, Syracuse

42. Miami OT Dallas Thomas, Tennessee

43. Tampa Bay DE Alex Okafor, Texas

44. Carolina DT Kawann Short, Purdue

45. San Diego OC/OG Barrett Jones, Alabama

46. St. Louis Terrance Williams, Baylor

47. Dallas ILB Manti T’eo, Notre Dame

48. Pittsburgh ILB Kevin Minter, LSU

49. New York Giants CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State

50. Chicago DT John Jenkins, Georgia

51. Washington DT Sylvester Williams, UNC

52. Minnesota OLB Chase Thomas, Stanford

53. Cincinatti OG Larry Warford, Kentucky

54. Miami CB Jordan Poyer, Oregon

55. Green Bay DT Jonathan Hankins, Ohio State

56. Seattle DL Datone Jones, UCLA

57. Houston DT Montori Hughes, Tennessee Martin

58. Denver S Matt Elam, Florida

59. New England DE Margus Hunt, So.Mississippi

60. Atlanta DE Coby Lemonier, Arkansas

61. San Francisco TE Jordan Reed, Florida

62. Baltimore DE Cory Lemonier, Auburn

Now the third round

63. Kansas City S Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

64. Jacksonville WR Quniton Patton, Louisana Tech

65. Detroit S Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

66. Oakland CB Blini Wren-Wilson, Cincinnati

67. Philadelphia TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego State

68. Cleveland OT Justin Pugh, Syracuse

69. Arizona S D.J. Swearinger, Clemson

70. Tennessee S T.J.McDonald, USC

71. Buffalo TE Levine Toilolo, Stanford

72. New York Jets WR Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

73. Tampa Bay DE Trevardo Williams, Connecticut

74. San Francisco LB Jelani Jenkins, Florida

75. New Orleans CB Danny Gratz, Connecticut

76. San Diego OT Oday Obushi, Virginia

77. Miami CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State

78. Saint Louis CB Darius Slay, Mississippi State

79. Pittsburgh RB Andre Ellington, Clemson

80. Dallas SS Philip Thomas, Fresno State

81. New York Giants OLB Jamie Collins, So. Mississippi

82. Miami TE Travis Kelce, Cincinnati

83. Minnesota QB Mike Glennon, NC State

84. Cincinnati DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

85. Washington S Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse

86. Indianapolis DE Tank Carradine, Florida State

87. Seattle OG Brian Winters, Kent State

88. Green Bay OC Travis Frederick, Wisconsin

89. Houston OT Chris Faulk, LSU

90. Denver RB Jonathan Franklin, UCLA

91. New England CB David Amerson, NC State

92. Atlanta RB Monte Ball, Wisconsin

93. San Francisco WR Markus Wheaton, Oregon ST.

94. Baltimore DT Brandon Williams, Missouri SO.

        95. Houston OLB John Simon, Ohio State

        96. Kansas City DE William Gholston, Michigan ST.

        97. Tennessee WR Kenny Still, Oklahoma

Round 4

98.  Jacksonville OLB Nathan Williams, Ohio ST.

99.  Kansas City Zack Dysert QB, Miami Ohio

100.  Oakland OLB Sio Moore, Connecticut

101.  Philadelphia OT David Bahktiari, Colorado

102.  Minnesota OT Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech

103.  Arizona RB Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

104.  Cleveland QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

105.  Buffalo Robert Alford, SE Louisana

106.  New York Jets QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

107.  Tennessee CB Tharold Simon, LSU

108.  Carolina OT Teron Armstead, Arkansas Pine Bluff

109.  New Orleans OLB Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

110.  San Diego LB Kiko Alonso, Oregon

111.  Miami RB Knile Davis, Arkansas

112.  Tampa Bay TE Dion Sims, Michigan State

113.  Saint Louis RB Marcus Lattimore, SO. CAROLINA

114.  Dallas OG Alvin Bailey, Arkansas

115.  Pittsburgh OLB Michael Buchanan, Illinois

116.  New York Giants OT Reid Fragel, Ohio State

117.  Chicago CB Will Davis, Utah State

118.  Cincinnati S Ronnie Lester, Alabama

119.  Washington Brian Scwenke, California

120.  Minnesota TE Vance McDonald, Rice

121.  Indianapolis S Shawn Williams, Georgia

122.  Green Bay TE Chris Gragg, Arkansas

123.  Seattle NT Kwame Geathers, Georgia

124.  Houston OG Hugh Thornton , Illinois

125.  Denver CB B. W. Webb, William & Mary

126. Tampa Bay QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee

127.  Atlanta OC Khalid Holmes, USC

128.  San Francisco K Dustin Hopkins, Florida State

129.  Baltimore WR Marquise Goodwin, Texas

130.  Baltimore OL David Quesenberry, San Jose St.

131.  San Francisco DT Akeem Spence, Illinois

132. Detroit WRStedman Bailey, WVU

133. Atlanta LB Kenny Tate, Maryland

Round 5

134. Kansas City WR Chris Harper, Kansas State

135. Jacksonville OLB Gerald Hodges, Penn St.

136. Philadelphia DT Brent Russell, Georgia SO.

137. Detroit ILB John Bostic, Florida

138. Seattle OLB Travis Long, Washington ST.

139. Cleveland RB LeVonn Bell,Michigan ST.

140. Arizona C Braxston Cave, Notre Dame

141. New York Jets RB Christine Michael, Texas A&M

142. Tennessee ILB Nico Johnson, Alabama

143. Buffalo ILB kevin Redick, UNC

144. New Orleans DT Bennie Logan, LSU

145. San Diego S Shamarko Taylor, Syracuse

146. Miami LB Michael Mauti, Penn ST.

147. Tampa Bay WR Aaron Dodson, Marshall

148. Carolina CB D. J. Hayden, Houston

149. Saint Louis S Zeke Motta, Notre Dame

150. Pittsburgh CB Tyrann Mattieu, LSU

151. Dallas WR Ryan Swope, Texas A&M

152. New York Giants TE Mychal Rivera, Tennessee

153. Chicago S Duke Williams, NEVADA

154. Washington OT Xavier Nixon, OT

155. Minnesota DE Lavar Edwards, LSU

156. Cincinnati OT RickWagner, Wisconsin

157. San Francisco QB Matt Scott, Arizona

158. Seattle WR Denard Robinson, Michigan

159. Green Bay WR Aaron Millette, Elon

160. Houston LB Tom Wort, Oklahoma

161. Denver Lb Chris Borland, Wisconsin

162. Washington CB Dwyane Gratz, Connecticut

163. Atlanta OT Brennan Williams, UNC

164. San Francisco S Josh Evans, Florida

165. Denver OLB Devonte Holloman, SO. Carolina

166.  Miami OG J. C. Tretter, Cornell

167. Green Bay OLB A.J.Klein, Iowa State

168. Baltimore TE Michael Williams, Alabama

   Round 6

169. Jacksonville RB  Mike Gillisee, Florida

170. Kansas City QB Brad Sorensen, SO. Utah

171. Detroit DT Jordan Hill, Penn St.

172. Oakland CB Johnny Adams, Michigan ST.

173. Cleveland OLB Larentee McCray, Florida

174. Arizona WR Ace Sanders, SO. Carolina

175. Buffalo DE Joe Kruger, Utah

176. New York Jets LB Meshak Williams, Kans St.

177. San Diego WR Conner Vernon, Duke

178. Tampa Bay DT Josh Boyd, Mississippi ST.

179. Carolina CB Micah Hyde, Iowa

180. New Orleans WR Josh Boyce, TCU

181. Saint Louis TE Ryan Otten, San Jose St.

182. Dallas RB Kenyon Barner, Oregon

183. Pittsburgh TE Jake Stoneburner, Ohio ST.

184. New York Giants NT Cory Grissom, So. Florida

185. Chicago TE Nick Kasa, Colorado

186. Minnesota OT Emmitt Cleary, Boston College

187. Cincinnati DE Damion Square, Alabama

188. Washington DT Chris jones, Bowling Green

189. Indianapolis LB Cornelius Washington, Georgia

190. Green Bay S Damion Stafford, Nebraska

191. Seattle TE Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard

192. Houston S Janoris Slaughter, notre Dame

193. Tampa Bay OG Earl Watford, james Madison

194.Cincinnati WR Marcus Davis, Virginia Tech

195. Atlanta CB Sanders Cummings, Georgia

196. Baltimore CB Nikell Robey, USC

197. Baltimore J. J. Wilcox, GA. Southern

198. Houston CB Terrance Brown, Stanford

199.Tennessee QB Colin Klein, Kansas State

200. Baltimore OLB Tourek Williams, FIU

201. Kansas City ILB Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers

202. Oakland T.J. Moore, WR,  Missouri

203. Pittsburgh DT Everett Dawkins, Florida State

   Round 7

   204. Kansas City OG Chris Barker, Nevada

205. Jacksonville OLB Ty Powell, Harding

206. Oakland QB Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt

207. Philadelphia CB Terry Hawthorne, Illinois

208. Detroit OC P.J. Longeran, LSU

209. Minnesota DE Quanterus Smith, Western KY.

210. Seattle OG Jeff Baca, UCLA

211.New York Jets DT Will Campbell, Michigan

212. Tennessee OT Luke Marquart, Azuza Pacific

213. Miami OLB Brandon McGee, Arizona State

214. New England OLB Etinne Sabino, Ohio ST.

215. Oakland RB Jawan Jamison, Rutgers

216. Seattle CB Adrian Bushnell, Louisville

217. San Diego CB Josh Jordan, Purdue

218. Saint Louis DT TJ Barnes, Georgia Tech

219. Pittsburgh S John Boyett, Oregon

220. Miami OG Travis Bonds, UNC

221. New York Giants CB Greg Reid, Valdosta ST.

222. Philadelphia WR Taverras King, Georgia

223. San Francisco TE Philip  Lutzenkichen, Auburn

224. Washington ILB Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech

225. Minnesota FB Lonnie Pryor, Florida State

226. Philadelphia OG Chris Hubbard, UAB

227. Minnesota TE Justin Cunningham, So.Carolina

228.Green Bay WR Marquis Wilson, Washington ST.

229. Houston QB Sean Renfree, Duke

230. Denver OLB Travis Johnson, San Jose ST.

231. New England OT Nick Becton, Virginia Tech

232. Atlanta DE Devin Taylor, SO. Carolina

233. San Francisco RB Zack Stacy, Vanderbilt

234. Baltimore WR Rodney Smith, Florida State

235. Philadelphia Rb Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

236. Cincinnati OC T.J.Johnson, SoO. Carolina

237. Seattle RB Spencer Ware, LSU

238. Seattle DE David Bass, Missouri West ST.

239. Atlanta RB Kerwynn Williams, Utah State

240. Atlanta CB Marc Anthony, California

241. Detroit K Calib Sturgis, Florida

242. San Francisco DE Maliciah Goodman, Clemson,

243.Baltimore S Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami

244. Tennessee OT O Johnson, Louisana Tech

245. Atlanta OG Edward Kubila, Valdosta State

246. Miami RB D.J. Harper, Boise State

247. Cincinnati RB Stephon Jefferson, Nevada

248. San Francisco TE Joseph Fauria, UCLA

249. New York Giants S Bradley McDonald, Kansas

250. Indianapolis RB Robert Rouse, Fresno ST.

So there’s the draft, now let’s look at the Carolina Panthers picks.

!sr. Round – WR Tavon Austin, WVU. This is a must pick if the

Panthers want to trade down. 2 teams want Austin (St Louis

And San Fransico.) St. Louis has the 16^th and the 22^nd picks

and would part with the 22^nd and a later mid round pick to move

up. San Fransisco has 2 picks 31^st and the 34^th that they picked up

when they traded Alex Smith to Kansas City and would package

these to move up. Either of these would be attractive.

2^nd. Round – 44^th., The need for a Defensive Tackle and this is a

deep draft at the position so the Panthers take Kawann Short,

Purdue. A player that would go higher except for a loaded

board. He  very strong against the run.

3^rd Round. – Currently no pick.

4^th. Round – Teron Armstead, OT Arkansas Pine Bluff. He was one

of the stars of the Senior Bowl and had incredible numbers at

the combine.

5t. round – CB D.J. Hayden. Houston. Except for a injury at the combine

that all most caused him his life he would be a 2^nd round pick, getting

him here would be a steal.

6^th. Round – CB Micah Hyde from Iowa. Backup at this position

that will play mostly special teams. This pick could change to a TE or

OLB by draft day.

7^th round – no current pick.