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Finally, after I'd penciled him in about four different times, Star Lotulelei has finally checked out of RamView's green room. Which is, of course, a blue and gold room.
Carolina's a funny team; they were in the middle of the league in about everything last year. About every mock draft I saw last week slotted a DT here, but their overall run defense looked OK, and they're OK in the sack category. The career-long lack of a second WR opposite Steve Smith didn't prevent them from having an OK passing game. Their RBs are crap in fantasy football, but thanks to Cam Newton, their running game is top ten. Everywhere you look, the Panthers are a pretty OK team. Obviously, you want to be better than just OK in every category, that's how you end up 7-9.
So let's do what all football teams fundamentally must be able to do and stuff the run. Carolina's not overflowing with talented DTs, and by not having Lotulelei going earlier than this, I've probably strayed from the philosophy not to reach for need somewhere. The first mock drafts that came out early last fall had Lotulelei as the number one player overall, and Todd McShay still has him at #3; he's going to be considered a blue chip prospect and reside at the tip-top of the majority of draft room boards. He had a heart health scare at the Combine, but he's been medically cleared of that, and is ready to disrupt backfields in the NFL. I don't expect him to be much of a pass-rusher, but he's got the strength and explosion to blow up running plays and demand double-teams, which will improve the Panthers' rushing and passing defense. Pretty good deal for a guy who slipped all the way down to #14.
The Saints are on the clock!
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