buzz has mostly fizzled out. Here’s a look at where the Panthers stand in the aftermath." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomDo the Panthers still need to draft defensive ends both early and often in April?New Stitched Matt Paradis Jersey ,45commentsThe draft is one month away and the free agency buzz has mostly fizzled out. Here’s a look at where the Panthers stand in the aftermath.EDTShareTweetShareShareDo the Panthers still need to draft defensive ends both early and often in April?Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty ImagesThe Carolina Panthers entered free agency with only one real pass rusher, Mario Addison, and two offensive tackles, Taylor Moton and Matt Kalil, on their roster. They had no safeties to speak of. They had also had their generational, All-Pro center retire with no replacement in the wings. With limited cap space they managed to sign a defensive end, Bruce Irvin, an offensive tackle, Daryl Williams, a center, Matt Paradis Youth Shaq Thompson Jersey , and a safety, Eric Reid. The front office didn’t have the resources to completely fill every need, but they gave as much attention as they could to each hole while maximizing value with each signing. Frankly, they are in a better position than I expected them to be in with a month to go before the draft.The draft is the only real remaining opportunity for the Panthers to improve their roster. They probably have enough cap space to sign their rookies right now, but that’s about it. The rest of what they can do in free agency is churn the bottom of their roster with guys whose contracts won’t qualify as a Top 51 contract and thus won’t count against the cap.Where does that leave the Panthers?Still wanting pass rushers. The Panthers improved in free agency, assuming Williams can remain a healthy anchor for the right side of the offensive line, but they didn’t really change their needs. They still need at least one more defensive end, offensive tackle, and safety who can be expected to fill at least a rotational role. Their shrewdness in their free agency signings has lessened their needs and that allows them great flexibility to focus on their greatest one: defensive end.Yes, technically the Irvin signing gives them the flexibility to focus as much on interior pass rushers as edge rushers in the draft, but they already have talented guys on the interior. They need talent across the line if they are going to take that next competitive step to get back to actually winning play off games. Your introductory course to the Carolina Panthers inaugural 2019 draft."Are you an amateur scout Stitched Shaq Thompson Jersey , Panthers fanatic, mock draft maverick, or person who is bored at work? If so then this is the place for you. Consider this the starting syllabus for your introductory course on the Carolina Panthers in the context of the 2019 NFL Draft. This course will cover the picks, the needs, the compensatory injustice, and more.The 2019 draft picksFirst, let’s start with their picks. You should familiarize yourself with these picks and their relative value as per the definitely not outdated draft trade chart. You can trust the chart because it is older than almost everything you own.The following selections in the 2019 NFL draft are the only real resources the Panthers have in April and they will represent the very future of the franchise. Their power and consequence cannot be understated.The Carolina Panthers currently hold seven picks. They are Nos. 16, 47, 77, 100, 115 Youth James Bradberry Jersey , 154, and 187 overall. That is one pick in each of the first and second rounds and two in the third for four overall picks in the top 100. All seven of their picks are in the top 200, which is not a standard anybody uses to judge, or even pre-judge, draft quality. Every NFL hall of famer who was drafted was probably drafted in the top 200 picks. I’m not sure about that, but it sounds right. The rest of them were probably those plucky undrafted free agent types that the Panthers will have a shot at by virtue of having an unlimited ability to sign —if we ignore cap space and contract limits. Essentially, the Panthers will have a chance to draft or sign every future hall of famer to come out of the 2019 rookie class.The No. 100 overall pick, the Panthers’s second in the third round, is a compensatory pick. These picks are more valuable than regular picks because they were only announced recently, even though they were already expected. That means something?The term compensatory means that these picks were awarded as a means of replacement for something that a team lost. In the Panthers case, this pick comes from letting Andrew Norwell Stitched James Bradberry Jersey , a former undrafted free agent, walk in free agency.The philosophy of compensating teams for bad decisions is how the NFL promotes ‘parity’ or balanced competition between teams. The league’s unwavering commitment towards parity is why the New England Patriots have been in eight straight AFC Championship games, not to mention 14 of the last 18, you have such balanced and exciting seasons year to year.The Panthers’ needs in the 2019 NFL DraftSurprise, we already spent a whole week on this! The articles linked below are the Cat Scratch Reader staff’s opinions on the Panther’s top needs entering the 2019 NFL draft.Personally, I thought the biggest need the Panthers face in 2019 is at defensive end. This is on account of the fact that they don’t really have any and also the fact that everybody really needs them in the modern NFL.Meanwhile, our esteemed Managing Editor, Bradley Smith, made a convincing argument for offensive tackle as the biggest need the Panthers have to address in the draft this year. This team lives and dies by Cam Newton’s success, keeping him upright is an absolute priority.Then there was the guy we let run our Twitter handle. Brian Beversluis made an argument for safety as the biggest need before the team re-signed Eric Reid. It’s still worth a read anyway.Final gradingAll film studies, mock drafts Youth Vernon Butler Jersey , and dire prognostications will be due no later than Sunday, April 28th, 2019. This is the day after the last round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The performance of and evaluation of prospects are considered as completely separate and only related entities in one direction with regards to grading purposes. That direction is from performance towards evaluation. As such, a great prospect can receive a great grade only if they perform well and a poor prospect can receive a great grade if they can be proved to perform at a commensurate level with a great grade in future seasons. Note that all draft grades are not final and will be subject to change as the careers of players and the whims of instructors change. This may result in your, the student’s, retroactive failing of this course. Please also note that instructors are not responsible for draft day trades and will automatically fail any mock drafts that use them, regardless of ultimate accuracy.