Keeping up with the Fans

Last Saturday I held a contest on Twitter to see which fan wanted a chance to write their own article on Pro Football Hotline. The winner got to choose what he/she wanted to write about, and last Saturday our winner was decided. Matt Johnson got the chance to write an article and took the advantage of it. Read his great article about the NFL Draft, and the interview we had!

When the Carolina Panthers are put On the Clock on Thursday, April 28th it will be one of the biggest decisions in the franchise’s history.
Fresh off a 2-14 record last year the firing of longtime coach John Fox (who is the new head coach of the Denver Broncos who has the 2nd overall pick). It will be a decision that can make or break the franchise. New Head Coach Ron Rivera will be looking to make a big impact on a team looking for a fresh start. Carolina has several holes to fill with the biggest need coming at the QB position. In the past 20 years a QB has been taken No.1 overall 11 times. So when the Carolina Panthers send Roger Goodell to the podium to announce their pick, you can bet it will be a QB. So the question remains who do they take? Is it the Heisman trophy winner and national Champion star Cameron "Cam" Newton or do they take the blonde haired Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert.

It certainly will be a long thought out process for the team, and one that will keep team scouts and front office workers up until the pick is made. They can take Cam Newton, a physical specimen coming in at 6'6 250 lbs of pure muscle and speed. He has the size and the tools to be a star QB who can lead the team down the field from the air, or by running it himself. The questions remain with Newton though. Does he have character issues, is he a hard-worker, and was the incident at Florida a sign of things to come or just a blip on the radar. He is certainly talented and what he did in just one year at Auburn is amazing, but is he the best pick? This is something that can change a franchise forever, and they want someone who they know can lead the team, and who they can trust off the field. The other option is Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert weighing in at a smaller but still impressive 6'4 and 234 lbs. His leadership capabilities are unquestioned, and concerns about accuracy are mostly due to dropped passes and inexperienced wide receivers, he also has a strong arm with great speed on the ball. But the questions with Gabbert are there as well. Can he adjust to a pro-style scheme, and will he be able to play against NFL defenses.

The decision will likely come down to the last day or two. Both QB's have their pros and cons, but one will be selected with that first pick. In the end, I think Carolina takes the safer pick and selects Blaine Gabbert who they see as potential Phillip Rivers, and then when you put him behind a good offensive line with a great RB in Jonathan Stewart and give him a smart fast receiver in Steve Smith, and I think he will flourish. Cam Newton will not fall far as I see Buffalo jumping at the chance to get him at No.3, but the questions about maturity and his lack of experience as a quarterback he will fall past No.1. I thank you for reading this article and I look forward to all the great reviews you all will have.

                                   Our Interview with Matt Johnson

Who is the best player talent wise in this draft class?


Matt Johnson: I would have to say Patrick Peterson. No other player can have the big impact that he can bring to a team. He is going to an elite corner, but he can also be an elite returner as well. We are talking about a guy who has Charles Woodson / Deion Sanders impact.


Who is the riskiest player to take in this year's draft?


Matt Johnson: I think you have to say Cam Newton. I mean here is a guy with the size, and the skills to be a star, but the questions with him are big. Can he stay away from trouble? Can he be an NFL QB? Was last year a fluke? He is going to be a guy that in five years people will look back and say either 'How could they pass him?' or they could say "Why did he even get drafted in the first round?'


Who's draft stock is rising, and who's is falling?


Matt Johnson: Rising: I would say Marcell Dareus. He went from being very underrated and a mid to late first rounder, and now he has surpassed Nick Fairley. Mock Drafts have him going number two overall which I think is where he goes.
Falling: Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett. Going into the year, Mallett and Locker were locks for being first round picks. Now, with just weeks to go before the draft, they are more than likely second rounders. Whether it being from accuracy issues, off the field issues, or poor performance. They have fallen far.


Give us a little taste of your mock draft.


Matt Johnson: I have Gabbert going number one, and Dareus at two. Newton goes to Buffalo. A.J. Green to the Bengals, and Von Miller to Arizona. As for Peterson, he slides to Cleveland at six. Bowers is a top ten pick for me. Julio Jones falls outside top ten.


Would you say that this is an offensive draft or a defensive one?


Matt Johnson: I think that this is a defensive draft. There are no real QB's outside of Gabbert who a coach can feel comfortable with starting early. Then after Green and Jones, there are no true WR's. There is only one RB in the first round, and the OL class is very weak. Meanwhile, you could have five or six defensive players going in the top ten.


What player are you most eager to see play in the pros?


Matt Johnson: I would have to say both Patrick Peterson and Von Miller. Both guys I feel could have a huge impact in their first year, and one of them makes the Pro Bowl.


Matt Johnson did a great job on this article. He sure knows NFL and NFL Draft. Matt wants you guys all to leave your comments and to spread the word! A great guy, and will talk NFL any time on Twitter. Follow him @PackfanMatt Always looking to talk some football. Talk about the draft in the comment box below please. Leave all of the comments you wish. Matt would probably talk some NFL Draft with you guys!