Preliminary musing on draft needs.

I'll take the time one weekend to write up a mock draft but, in the meantime, i got to thinking what do the Panthers exactly need?

The Panthers are walking in the draft with several glaring needs and what do we have to take care of them?

59th overall
93rd overall
4th rounder
5th rounder
6th rounder

Its kinda like being deployed into modern war grounds equipped with a screwdriver, a pocket knife, and a roman candle.

First off lets not think that all of our picks are going to become these superstars in their rookie season. There is a pathetic 14 starts between the last 10 picks of the 2nd round last year. No nobody's going to be an immediate improvement. Compound this problem with the fact that the Panthers have no money to sign free agents and a rock solid schedule with concrete balls, and the 2009 season is looking more and more like we are up shit's creek without a paddle. Carolina must nit and pick on every little detail to get the most value out of what little they have. However, they haven't been known to be the Macgyvers of the NFL draft, and I'm not so confident they start today.

Our needs? (in no particular order)

QB: ALL 3 of our QBs are scheduled for free agency after this year. You know honestly, I'd rather us just let Delhomme go with no contract extensions or re-signings. This team needs to seriously stop looking in the rearview mirror and focus on what's in front of them, and what little time they have until Jake gets even older and starts making what happened in Arizona look like a good game. Its a shame this coaching staff can't evaluate a QB for shit or wouldn't know a franchise signal caller if it was sitting right under their fucking noses but I digress.

Defensive line, defensive line, defensive line: Put Peppers in the equation, you're not even much better off. The pass rush was just not there last season, not consistently. QBs had too much time to throw on this defense and stopping the run was like the eternal struggle for this front four. It's hard for our superstar MLB to be a superstar when Rich Seubert is in his face every fucking play because Gary Gibson simply forgot what a defensive tackle's job is. I'd say DT seriously beats out DE as far as needing help is concerned but DE doesn't look very bright either.

Offensive line depth: Frank Omiyale, Geoff Hangartner. Two of our best line depth players gone to start on other teams. Jeremy Bridges was not very special himself but after him there's just nothing in the talent pool as far as backups go. And when the inevitable Panthers offensive lineman injury sprouts up like it does, many, many, many times in a season we'll feel the pain of weak pass blocking and interior penetration stopping our run game behind the LOS.

that's the biggest 3 needs as I see fit. WR could use a talent influx with Moose's age but I don't think it's worth to fix without getting our future right at QB because Jake doesn't throw to anybody else besides Moose and Smith. Secondary might need help but Meeks' strength is developing a ballhawk back 4 and part of the struggles back there were due to the front four not getting pressure for shit so...