Panthers clinch!

[The Lung]

The Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Carolina, currently 2-13, has secured the worst record in football regardless of the outcome of their Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Carolina lost on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-3; add that loss with wins by Denver and Cincinnati, who are both now 4-11 and Carolina is now ensured to have the worst record in the NFL and the No. 1 pick.

Who do they draft?

[Dawinner127]

There is no way I can see them invest more money into the QB position

[u_fig_eater]

Adam Schefter seems to think Andrew Luck, but I have no idea b/c I don't follow college ball.

[biju]

I don't think investing a 2nd rounder is too much of an investment to rule out Luck (if he declares). As a matter of fact, I suspect the Panthers will have a new coaching staff in 2011 so it's quite likely the new regime will want their own QB in place.

Clausen didn't really show enough to claim the spot in my eyes, but then again very few QBs have an immediate impact for their teams and start winning. My hope is that they don't take one, leaving more options for my Seahawks who *clearly* need a new QB.

[u_fig_eater]

I don't think investing a 2nd rounder is too much of an investment to rule out Luck (if he declares). As a matter of fact, I suspect the Panthers will have a new coaching staff in 2011 so it's quite likely the new regime will want their own QB in place.

Clausen didn't really show enough to claim the spot in my eyes, but then again very few QBs have an immediate impact for their teams and start winning. My hope is that they don't take one, leaving more options for my Seahawks who *clearly* need a new QB.

Do you think there's any shot at the Hawks nabbing Jake Locker (including them possibly trading up)?

[biju]

I don't think investing a 2nd rounder is too much of an investment to rule out Luck (if he declares). As a matter of fact, I suspect the Panthers will have a new coaching staff in 2011 so it's quite likely the new regime will want their own QB in place.

Clausen didn't really show enough to claim the spot in my eyes, but then again very few QBs have an immediate impact for their teams and start winning. My hope is that they don't take one, leaving more options for my Seahawks who *clearly* need a new QB.

Do you think there's any shot at the Hawks nabbing Jake Locker (including them possibly trading up)?

So much changes between now and the NFL draft that it's hard to speculate, but I don't think Locker did himself any favors by returning to school for one more year. Instead of being the #1 overall pick I believe he'll be around until about the 20th pick or so.

Of course, whether the Seahawks make the playoffs or not will mean the difference in having that option. If they lose and miss the playoffs, I think they are right around 10th pick (depending on a couple other games as well), but if they win they'll automatically be the 21st pick at the least (although I suspect they won't win that playoff game).

At #10 I think the Hawks have a great chance of getting one of the bigger named QBs this year. At #21 I think they *might* have a shot at Locker. All of this assumes however that Pete Carroll and John Schneider agree that Charlie Whitehurst is a stopgap in between Matt Hasselbeck and the new franchise QB is.

I sure hope they are thinking that way...

[woodson_28]

Throwing more money at the QB spot may not be an issue if they get the new CBA done and institute a rookie pay scale.

[moochman]

My guess is they may trade down. If there is a rookie salary cap teams may be much more willing to trade up because they won't have the burden of an outrageous early first round contract. Better to fill a couple holes than just one.
I hope whatever the Panthers do, they get it right. There is way too much garbage football in the NFL.

[benb18a]

They need to draft the best RB available with that pick.

[Holein1]

love it....panther clinch 1st pick and luck comes out and says he has not decided to declare