4 players the Panthers should have drafted over Thomas Fletcher
By Dean Jones
Trey Smith – OG
Let’s get the most obvious and painful one out of the way first. The Carolina Panthers and every other team across the league opted not to take a gamble on Trey Smith, and the offensive lineman is making everyone pay right out of the gate.
Smith’s talent coming out of Tennessee was never in question. His technical prowess saw many analysts predict he’d be taken in the late first or early second round, but some serious health concerns saw his stock tumble when it was time for organizations to finalize their choices.
This was obviously painful for Smith. But everything happens for a reason and he eventually ended up on the Kansas City Chiefs as the No. 226 overall selection, four spots after Thomas Fletcher was drafted by the Panthers.
To say Smith made his presence felt immediately would be an understatement. His outstanding production throughout training camp saw him earn a starting job, which has been enhanced by some incredible performances protecting Patrick Mahomes of late.
Smith is credited with giving up one sack and hasn’t conceded a penalty from 262 snaps on his way to a superb 73.3 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Considering the problems Carolina is having in pass protection from the interior, not taking a chance on Smith looks like a mistake.