Few things can doom a franchise like whiffing on their first round picks. When first rounders work out the team gets an every-down difference maker with a ridiculously low cap hit for the first four years of his contract, often followed by an affordable fifth year option. If all goes as planned, they become franchise cornerstones for the next decade. Nailing first round picks is key in transforming good teams into perennial contenders.
And this brings us to the 2018 Carolina Panthers, an average team that is just a few players short from being truly competitive.