2014 NFL Draft grades: Carolina Panthers select Kelvin Benjamin

Feb 1, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (1) during the BCS National Championship Celebration at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

With the 28th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected WR Kelvin Benjamin out of Florida State.

There was no question what the Panthers needed this year – weapons for Cam Newton to use. The question was were they going to look at another running back or go wideout.

Benjamin has a lot of raw skills and great size at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, and shows amazing quickness for a guy his size. He almost has tight end type size and skills to be able to work in the slot or inside on the right side of the formation, so versatility is a key for picking this Seminole.

All things considered, this is a nice pick for the Panthers, but may be a bit of a reach if Benjamin’s 2013 season was just a flash in the pan. Carolina might have looked to someone who was less of a project.

Bottom line, Kelvin Benjamin is going to take some polish, which may frustrate Panthers fans at times. But if they’ll be patient and if Cam will work with him and not give up too quickly, they could be quite a tandem.

That, and hopefully Newton won’t hold a grudge that Benjamin scored what was the winning touchdown against Auburn in last year’s BCS National Championship game.

OVERALL PICK GRADE: B-

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