Carolina Panthers: Making the case for Todd Gurley

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Apr 19, 2015

With the No. 25 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers have to make a solid pick to bolster their team. While the general consensus is for the Panthers to take an offensive lineman in this year’s draft, I’m not confident that some of the better options for their offensive line will still even be available. I can see athletes like Brandon Scherff, Andrus Peat and even Ereck Flowers already off the board before the Panthers are even on the clock. Should the Panthers actually think about taking a top running back? Perhaps someone like Todd Gurley?

Due to his injury history with a torn ACL suffered last season, Gurley is considered a risk by many teams and analysts. Before his injury though, he was one of the most productive running backs in college football and still has tremendous upside provided he can remain healthy.

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In his collegiate career with Georgia, Gurley contributed 3,285 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. He also added 615 receiving yards on 65 receptions which proves he could be quite the dual-threat. So far after tearing his ACL, Gurley is on a positive road to recovery. As per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport via Twitter, here’s the latest on his recovery:

#Georgia RB Todd Gurley (ACL), who had medical rechecks yesterday & today, checked out fine, source said. Viewed as good to go for the draft
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 18, 2015

There is always that fear that a running back could end up not transitioning well into the NFL, especially after an ACL injury. Truth of the matter is, the Panthers could truly use an upgrade at running back. I’m not confident in running back Jonathan Stewart in getting the job done come next season and beyond.

In eight seasons in the NFL, Stewart has only cracked over 1,000 yards once back in 2009 with 1,133. Last season he had a decent year with 809 yards and three touchdowns but he wasn’t exactly electrifying. The Panthers need an upgrade at the position that brings speed and someone that can come right in and contribute immediately.

Sep 27, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Tennessee 35-32. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Gurley has great speed and power which should mean he could become a catalyst for the Panthers’ offense. He’s a prototypical NFL running back in that he can break tackles easily and knows how to find the right gaps to really keep those chains moving. He has a high football IQ and with the right training, could be another favorite weapon for quarterback Cam Newton.

With running back Melvin Gordon being the top running back most likely coming out first in this year’s draft, I think it would be worth the risk for the Panthers to take Gurley if he’s still available. He should be good to go by training camps and could prove to be a hidden gem once he gets his opportunities to make a name for himself.

Overall, Gurley would give the Panthers a new dimension on offense and help revitalize their running game nicely. His skill-set is solid and would finally add a much-needed jolt on offense while allowing Newton to continue pushing this team deeper into the NFL Playoffs.

Next: Carolina Panthers: Making the case for Jake Fisher

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