The Panthers selected linebacker Shaq Thompson in the 2015 NFL Draft, a classic "best player available" type pick. Here's why that mentality is paying off now.
The NFL draft is always one of the hottest discussions in sports. Analysts, scouts, film junkies, even fans pour over hours of film looking for the next big thing. And the debates start. Who will replace X player? How will the team address Y weakness? In an era where athletes the likes of which we've never seen come out of college, where a new collective bargaining agreement makes top draft picks even more valuable and team friendly, missing on a high selection can be disastrous yet not completely hamstring a franchise.