After months of anticipation the 2014 NFL Draft is finally in the books. The Carolina Panthers had six selections over the seven rounds so let’s take a look at how they did.
First Round, 28th Pick: Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver, Florida State
The Panthers desperately needed to draft a wide receiver after losing their top-three wide-outs in free agency. Benjamin is a big-bodied playmaker who entered the draft after his redshirted sophomore season. He is still raw but the more football he plays the better he will become. (Grade: B+)
Second Round, 60th Pick: Kony Ealy, Defensive End, Missouri
Ealy was touted by many as a mid to late first round pick but, for whatever reason, he fell into the lap of the Panthers in the second round. The former Tiger is a versatile lineman who can play inside or outside and he displays good playmaking ability. (Grade: A+)
Third Round, 92nd Pick: Trai Turner, Guard, LSU
Turner is a strong offensive lineman who can push off the line and make holes for the Panthers’ running backs. He is still learning his trade and should develop into a very good NFL starter. (Grade: B+)
Fourth Round, 128th Pick: Tre Boston, Safety, North Carolina
The Panthers are trying to reassemble their defensive back group and chose Boston to help with that. However, better players were still available including Brock Vereen who would have been a smarter selection. This was the Panthers’ first reach of the draft. (Grade: C)
Fifth Round, 148th Pick: Bene Benwikere, Cornerback, San Jose State
Benwikere is a ball-hawking corner who loves to jump routes and make plays. With the Panthers boasting a stout front seven teams will have to attack the corners to win games. That is when the former Shark makes his money. (Grade: B+)
Sixth Round, 204th Pick: Tyler Gaffney, Running Back, Stanford
This is a bizarre selection. I love Tyler Gaffney and it appears the NFC South champions do too considering the amount of money they already have invested in the position. Gaffney is a workhorse who can pound the rock for 60 minutes. But is there room for him on the roster? (Grade: D+)
Final Grade: B+
It is feasible that three to four starters come from this draft class. The early selections were perfect and struck a good balance between need and value. Nevertheless, the offensive tackle position was not addressed and a selection was wasted on a running back. All in all this is a strong draft and Panther fans should be pleased.
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