LogFAQs > #954126907

Carolina Panthers

CB Will Blackmon (S2, 3rd)
WR Derek Hagan (S2, 9th)
HB Bobby Washington (S4, 20th)
WR Derrick Williams (S5, 18th)
DT Callahan Bright (S6, 11th)
QB Matt Ryan (S7, 11th)
FS Eric Berry (S7, 26th)
WR Marvin Jones (S11, 11th)
OLB Hau'oli Kikaha (S11, 13th)
OT Jack Conklin (S12, 25th)
QB Carson Wentz (S13, 3rd)

Blackmon was a nice coverage corner for the Panthers, but like many other unfortunate souls, he found his way to the Titans where many careers go to die (but at least get paid in the process). I know that he worked his way to the Jags where his career may have ended. He could have went to a fourth team, I don't remember. He definitely wasn't close to being the third-best player from his draft, and I don't think that the Panthers made the playoffs until after he was gone, but at least he contributed in what I believe was a positive way.

I was in charge of like four teams this season, one being the Seahawks. I remember making a bunch of small tradedowns to 4th-6th round picks and several trade ups in other rounds. I believe the 9th pick was one of at least three in that chain (I know that I traded with Titans and Washington as well). The Titans used that on WR Derek Hagan who was an excellent returner for them but got it going for them as a WR. He was a cap casualty last season, and the Bengals signed him mid-season where he produced 702 yards in 10 games, shattering the highest yards per game in his career (70 vs 49 previously).

It is a surprise that Washington lasted 8 seasons in Carolina. He was never the full-time starter, so I figured his morale would drop to levels where he would demand a trade. He struggled with efficiency at times in Carolina, but he had some seasons backing up DeShaun Foster and Reggie Bush that showed glimpses of his billing as a 1st rounder. He made his way to Oakland where he was an excellent backup to R.J. Jackson with over 750 rushing yards on 4.3 YPC. He wasn't signed last season and decided to hang it up this offseason. He finished with 3320 rushing yards, 785 rec yards, and 24 total TDs on over 4.0 rushing YPC.

Aside from one dud season, Derrick Williams, formerly a real life #1 high school prospect, was one of the best slot receivers in the league. He averaged nearly 400 yards a season on over 13.0 YPC and 3 TDs. Typically, when you draft someone in the 1st, you expect them to eventually have a larger role, so maybe he didn't live up to his billing, but he was great at his role. He wasn't signed to a team the past three seasons, but he's still a free agent.

Bright is a darkhorse Hall of Fame candidate. He has averaged over 50 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 FFs+FRs a season since he's entered the league. Despite being in his mid-30s after entering the league as a 25 year old, he has remained a consistent performer, so with a few more seasons and hopefully more recognition after going to just one Pro Bowl, maybe he can get the counting stats to get him into consideration.

Matt Ryan had such a promising start to his career. After starting off his career with two seasons of 83+ passer rating, 3300+ yards and 20+ TDs on 60+ completion %, he appeared to be on his way to being a Top 10 QB in the league, not to mention a career Panther/starter. However, his completion% sharply dropped and INT% ballooned after that. After seeing his passer rating drop every season since his rookie season, he was benched in his final season in Carolina. He didn't play in S13, and in S14, he was the second late-season injury signing by the Orcas but averaged just 110 passing yards in his three starts there and is back to being a free agent.

To make up for the sad trajectory of Matt Ryan, the Panthers later drafted Eric Berry in the same draft. He's proved to be one of their best defensive players since he's arrived. FSs are always weird to evaluate, but since the Panthers have typically been above average in pass defense, I'd say he's done well in that department. FSs statistically don't pop out on the stat sheet, but Berry has provided a healthy dose of tackles, sacks, and INTs, so the Panthers have to be extremely happy with how he's turned out.

I forget if this or the next pick was from when they traded with the Patriots the season during the draft, but regardless, that has been a trade that neither team has really benefitted from thus far (we'll get to the Pats eventually, but the player they selected hasn't been with the team for a few seasons now). If it was Jones, he has 96 rec for 1220 yards and 7 TDs across four seasons with his rookie season being the best at 28 rec for 475 yards and 3 TDs. He may be the top-rated WR on the team, but one could argue that he's their worst of the three.

If the pick from the Pats trade was Kikaha, that is probably worse. He's been a mediocre starter, spot starter, and backup. The FO saw enough to re-sign him though, so good for him?

Conklin might have been considered a Top 10 prospect? Either way, I know that he fell hard because users really underestimate the importance of building a great and deep OL, and just OL in general, but their loss was the Panther's gain as he's been fantastic for them. It does raise an eyebrow that his block totals have fallen every year in the league, but maybe it is just simply a regression to the mean after surprisingly leading the league in that department as a rookie.

Carson Wentz was the first QB taken in the S13 draft, and after two seasons, the Panthers would probably like any of the others. He had an absymal start to his career, but as the FO likes to point out, he was much improved down the final stretch. He still finished with a Bottom 5 passer rating, and well, his sophomore season was even worse. The passer rating dropped by 3.2 points, he threw for three fewer TDs (three fewer INTs as well), and his completion % dropped by 3.6 points. Time will tell if there will be a third season starting.
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