The latest rumor buzzing around the draft world involves the Panthers considering a trade up to acquire the second overall pick from the 49ers, as Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated yesterday. Carolina would reportedly move up with the intention of selecting either Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
But what would such a trade look like? San Francisco, in the midst of a full rebuild, would likely aim to secure more draft wealth, while the Panthers — presumably in win-now mode — are probably willing to part with draft assets. As Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com wrote earlier this week, Carolina has amassed the league’s seventh-most draft capital this offseason , so the club certainly has resources to utilize if it wants to make an upward leap.
According to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, the Panthers wouldn’t have to sacrifice all that much to move from No. 8 to No. 2. Per Stuart, the gap in the two picks is just 8.8 points of draft value, meaning Carolina’s 40th overall pick (worth 11.1 points) would be more than enough to get a deal done. The No. 64 pick — acquired from the Patriots in the Kony Ealy trade– is worth 8.1 points, meaning that it would almost be enough to entice the 49ers.
Let’s take a look at a few potential trades in chart form, using Stuart’s values:
That final trade listed involves the 49ers sending the No. 2 overall pick, an early fourth-rounder, and an early seventh-rounder to the Panthers in exchange for No. 8, No. 40, and an early fifth-round pick. The difference in draft value comes out to 0.0, meaning it’s a perfectly fair deal for both sides — at least on paper.
The classic, Jimmy Johnson-devised trade chart, however, assigns a much greater valuation to early first-round picks, so the Panthers would have to trade much more in order to secure the No. 2 selection. In Johnson’s table, the gap between the second and eighth selections is large enough that a combination of the No. 40 and the No. 64 picks (in addition to No. 8) wouldn’t be enough to convince San Francisco to swap choices. Instead, the Panthers would probably have to give up a 2018 first-rounder in order to complete the trade.
A Thomas acquisition, specifically, would be the latest signal that Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman values the defensive line above all else, as Carolina has already spent early picks on Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, and Vernon Butler, and has re-signed Mario Addison, Charles Johnson, and Wes Horton this offseason. Thomas for his part, ranks as the fourth overall player on Todd McShay of ESPN.com‘s big board.
Fournette, meanwhile, is considered the top running back of the 2017 class, and Panthers head coach Ron Rivera recently said no draft slot is “too high” to take a runner. Carolina inked incumbent back Jonathan Stewart to a one-year extension last week, but Gettleman said that deal won’t preclude the club from selecting a running back early in this year’s draft.
Cam,Fournette,Benjamin and Olsen would be a lot big bodied firepower.
Big bodied firepower? Haha. Olsen is the best football player of those four.
Cam is talented, but mentally he’s his own worst enemy. I do like him, but he needs to mature if they’re going to do anything.
I like Kelvin too but he’s been dinged up a lot. He plays a reckless style like Gronk. Fun to watch, but they take a pounding.
Spot on assessment turk
All 4 are big strong players for their positions,and all 4 are talented players.and Cam is 1 year removed from a mvp season, he’ll rebound,especially if they add Fournette to their backfield.
Typo in the 4th paragraph
A strong running back will help all the premier offensive players
Take away the MVP season and cams career has been mediocre … year before the MVP season the panthers went 7-8-1.. the MVP season he had 35 passing td .. last season he had 19 , year before MVP season he had 18 .. he’s not a good qb not even a top 10 qb .. the year they went to the super bowl they rode the back of their defense …he’s a mediocre rushing qb at best
If the Panthers make a trade for the 2nd pick it would be disaster. There are plenty of franchise players at the 8th pick. I hope Ron and DG gets fired!! I rather them trade back get more picks. Should draft OJ Howard at the 8th, I would trade 2018 1st or 2nd to move up high in the 1st. Trade 18 1st 64th, 4th round pick. Trade with Tennessee Titans for the 18th pick.
And not to mention the year they went to Super Bowl they had easily the easiest schedule in the league and literally didn’t play a top 10 defense until they met the broncos and we all know what happened there.. the same year the saints had the worst defense in NFL history and were giving up like 400 yards a game , good thing cam played them twice
Except for Houston and Seattle in the regular season and then Arizona and Seattle again in the playoffs…
Lol lol lol no protection for Cam Newton insight and it’s mind-boggling to me with such few above average qb’s in the league,Yah Kinda need them to win plus the cap money they cost,Sooooo what’s the plan build up the rest of the team and hopefully by the time you get to fixing the offensive line Cam Newtons Not Dead???
That’s why they had the highest scoring offense in the league that year right.. but they rode the back of their defense. You sir must’ve not watched them that year.
Mediocre? After 5 seasons he owns the record for most rushing touchdowns in NFL history! History in five seasons… hmmm mediocre though
That hater above is probably a bandwagon Pats or Pack fan
Haha, you’re an idiot you don’t remember Seattle (twice) and Arizona and don’t forget Watt and the Texans. We put a beat down on Arizona which happened to have the #1 overall D that year and btw I actually checked. Denver wasn’t even top 5. So next time shut up and think to yourself maybe I should think about what I’m about to say to make sure I don’t sound like a moron. Anyways thank you and goodnight.
And I love when people say “we” when talkin about a football team , very comical
This is a rare Draft class and there are to many RB’s, DE’s, TE’s and DB,s to fix slot of problems for teams.
Panthers would do much better trading players that could be starters in there 3rd year and one starter.
49ers for there 2rd pick 34, 3rd rd pick 109. For players WR Devin Funchess, Center Gino Gradkowski, QB Joe Webb, WR Breton Bersin, SS Brian Blechen and maybe a couple more.
Bills 1st Rd 10, 3rd pick 75, 5th Rd pick 171 for LB Shaq Thompson, SS Tre Boston, TE Ed Dickson, CB Zach Sanchez, LB Jarred Norris, DE Ryan Delaire.
Packers for picks 93, 134 and LT Kyle Murphy in return for loosing RG TJ Lang a 4th Rd pick 109 For Pro Bowl RG Training Turner 3 Rd pick 92 .
Bills get 6 players that has under or with HC Sean McDermott since bills only have 6 picks. Bills might get 1-2 more players to sweeten the deal.
49ers under new HC Kyle Shanahan and new GM John Lynch need everything. So they are getting 5 players for 2 picks. A veteran QB in Joe Webb a 2nd Rd pick in Devin Funchess and a Center in Gino Gradkowski another possession WR in Breton Bersin and SS in Brain Blechen.
So Panthers end up with picks 8,10,34, 40,64,75,93,98,109,115,152,171,192,233.
Panthers have picks 8,40,64,98,115,192,233 Panthers gain 7 picks.
You can double down on sever positions like RB, WR, DE, DB etc.
Players like Marcus Maybe, Jake Butt, Cam Robinson etc. And the rest well you don’t want me to spoil it do you?
You won’t be spoiling anything,you’re just playing fantasy football,Madden version.
Then why does he have all The passing Stats for the 1st 6 years as a QB. Tds, Yards, etc.. Luck does lead in turnovers tho.
Sean- please stop it. Do your hw before trying to bash Cam. Hater is reeking off you.
Carpan- Your definitely playing madden their buddy. Why would we let go of Shaq or even do all off that?
Look we keep our 8th pick get Len, one off them safeties, DE and Howard. Thats who we should be targeting with the 8th if they are on the board. We have 4 picks in the top 100. Let the other teams rise or sink with their picks. We are a yr removed from the super bowl we can get back. Defense WINS ball game and offens keeps you in the game. We saw that in super bowl 51. Cam just needs to focus on winning games and stop cross dressing as well as letting the media get too him. We need him to be consistent. We will win our division this year and have a first round bye in the playoffs and what defines that statement will be after the patriots game.
Yes while having the number 1 scoring offense in the lead
Yes they had a great Day doing the superbowl year while having the number 1 scoring offense to go along with it Seany boy