imho the offensive line took a step forward. Not a giant leap but a significant step. Van Roten is a good player and a quality pass protector. McGovern is solid. An above average center. Darnold has never had that. He's had injured below average center launch footballs over his head. Literally couldn't get a guy in here who could snap out of the shotgun. Darnold has faced a lot of interior pressure. That stops now with McGovern Still think we need to draft one at 11. We can get a real blue chipper who's a 10 year quality starter on the line. That makes a world of a difference. Plus now with guys like Lewis, Fant (and a few others Douglas got...names escape me) we have athletic versatile backups. Douglas is doing things the right way it seems
There's supposedly more depth at WR than OL, especially OT, in this draft. Also, I think it's been harder to find All Pro OT than WR. I wouldn't scream and yell if they took Jeudy or Lamb at 11, but I think if one of the top 4 OTs fall, Douglas will take him. That said, this also opens up the possibility of a trade down.
Should we expect to have any? All Pro is extremely hard to find. And you can have a GREAT offensive line with exactly 0 all pro's but hey maybe we'll draft one this year. Has happened before
You don't necessarily need an All Pro on the OL (or 2 or 3), but it's desirable. If JD has a chance to get an All Pro-potential OT, I think he'd take him.
You really like someone you knew nothing about until yesterday?All these guys hes signed so far are just placeholders until he finds or drafts there replacements.
If you're asking about Van Roten, I've seen the Panthers play a few times the last couple of years, but didn't pay much attention to the OL. I remember hearing his name, that McCaffrey had some great holes to run through and their QBs usually had pretty good time to scan the field, but that's it. My excitement is more about the totality of the moves Douglas has made so far, his approach, than about Van Roten, although he's a solid starting OG. If you're asking if I've every seen Jimmy Walker play football, no, and I don't think I'd want to! LOL
But did you learn anything from it? Did that article enlighten you at all into understanding more about him?
A few of the posters here are cracking me up. They literally seem to think we are picking up scrubs that no one ever heard of. And further more we didn’t yet get an all pro or two. Wait, what?, scrubs or more precisely sub par OL is what we had to a T last year, Players with the propensity to get pushed around or called for holding at almost all big first down plays. We don’t need an all pro as much as we needed players that can do their job. It seems to me JD for the first time in over ten years, HAS A FREAKING PLAN. And oh by the way he is sticking to it. Get players that are versatile, commit few penalties, above average and PROPERLY VALUED for our team. We can go to the draft with as many options open as possible. OT, WR, End Rusher , CB you name it. Anyone in the first round could become an all pro, how refreshing. I for once couldn’t be more impressed with JD so far. He is not a boy amongst men like our prior GMs. Sorry TGG fans for venting.
Well, Winters wasn't good at it and he needs to go. Winters is the guy who got a penalty headbutting a guy after the play was over and concussed himself. Dumbest penalty I've ever seen.
If that's venting, keep doing it! I feel you man! Things feel really good right now. It's been a while that this franchise seems to be headed in the right direction with a GM who seems to know EXACTLY what he is doing. I am looking forward to this draft big time now
