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I've liked him since his rookie year as a prospect, but when he's been asked to play in a large capacity, he has simply not done well. He does not really add anything, rather muddies up the room. Fant is TERRIBLE as a blocker, a pure receiving TE. Let's just put Tremble aside since he's PUP (although I still like him as a TE2, but yeah he's not our future starter)... Sanders has already shown better receiving skills than a Fant and has a nice ceiling. Not to mention, he's got in-line run blocking skills. I really want to see what he's capable of this year. Also has a year+ experience now in Canales' offense, not to mention legit chemistry with Bryce. And after Sanders, I also imagine our staff is waiting to see how Mitchell Evans looks in camp as he's got the in-line blocking skills. If he looks fully capable of filling in behind Sanders, then I don't see a need. Overall, keep an eye out on early August moves. They are usually soft indicators of how staff's view their rookie late rounders and roster overall. This is a wait and see what the market presents and how they think their unit looks in camp.

Every team has different needs of the backup QB. On some teams a young hopeful makes sense and on others an old worn out dude makes sense. We are a little more in the in-between IMO where you probably would prefer a Fields, Pickett, Howell type IMO. So a young disappoint that you there is still some hail mary hope in.....given BY essentially was benched both seasons for performance (I know that's not the official line going into Seattle but I think most would agree he got a break and should of been benched later that year). I know we want Bryce to be the week 17 guy all season this upcoming year. But it's still in the reasonable thought process that the other dude could show back up.

I wouldn't mind it if they bring him in cheap for competition. I would imagine he would vie for the 3rd TE spot with the rookie.

49ers fans are rejoicing at this very moment.

Ultimately sounds like a signing that would be a slight upgrade over what we already had in Ian Thomas. I'd probably just be more interested in giving the young TE's those touches.

We saw the true Andy Dalton against the Commanders and the Bears. Let's also not forget that. The issue with any of those worst case scenarios you mention is that if any of that happens any chance at our young roster developing in a critical year goes out the window because they are not going to develop with Andy and they certainly aren't going to develop with whichever UDFA QB we have on the roster at QB3. The Panthers took a gamble. The bed has already been made. All we can do is hope it works out.

Pretty much anything and everything remotely critical said about the Panthers in some way or another leads back to Bryce hate in your mind.

He is a backup thst should never play. Good dude, he was a good player but he shouldn't still be on thr team because he adds so little. He is completely washed and this is just more fluff and self back patting.

*taps the sign*

First thing i thought of was Does he wear gloves .

Don't get me wrong. Bottom five is fine before 2025. If we're still bottom five after 2025, then we'll have a problem. It's possible, and, as you say, some would say probable. It all depends on the question marks. There's plenty enough NFL precedent however to give us hope, as there are surprises every year, and preseason rankings are never right.

I heard an interview with Brown and he said they have that clause in every contract and "he doesn't know why they do and maybe they shouldn't but oh well" or something of that nature so I think the ESPN article is wrong

I put sanders at TE2 because they want him to play lighter and split out wide more. Tremble and Mitchell will be the traditional blocking TEs.

Yeah when I read the article I immediately wondered if the Bengals representation was telling the truth. I think there would have been more 1st rounders kicking up dust, if legitimately so.

What else should they do? Sign a different, younger journeyman free agent QB? Draft another QB? Dalton already knows the offense made this team look competitive at times last year, lets not forget that. He could step in and win a game or two if called upon. And this is Bryce's make or break year. If Bryce sh*ts the bed this year he isn't getting his 5th year option picked up and they'll probably be in the market for another QB in the first round next offseason. So what difference does it make? You think signing someone like Mitch Trubisky is going to make a big difference over Andy Dalton?

They'd better sighed another punter.

Seriously. I certainly hope that Sanders is TE1. I don't know that he's the long-term solution there but I'm pretty damn certain that Tremble definitely isn't.

If Tremble is TE1, then I think I agree with the writer and Fant needs to be signed. I like Tremble, but he has a long way to go before he’s at Fant’s level. ETA: I believe Sanders will be our TE1 if the room stays as is.

The issue is who does he push down the depth chart? When tremble comes back he’s TE1 and Sanders is TE2. If we sign Fant are we ok limiting Sanders development and basically keeping the rookie we drafted off the field?

Makes sense. I mean, his receiving stats aren't terrible. Basically mid-marginal starter/high end #2 type numbers. Gotta be some reason why a guy with that type of production who is only 27 years old is sitting on a couch. Surprising for a guy coming out of Iowa. I mean, Iowa has basically become TE U in recent years.

I wouldn't be opposed to weighing it as an option but I don’t agree with presenting it as a major missed opportunity if we don't. Upon reading some comments on Reddit from fans of his recent teams he basically makes virtually no effort to block and does not like contact. The plus side is he will have some big games but then eventually completely disappear. All in all sounds like the quintessential Panthers TE.

To be fair, with Bryce as his QB, it's probably better for him to get holding penalties if his man is going to beat him than let Bryce take clean shots from his blindside, that's a good way to get your 5'10" 200 lbs QB broken in half if you don't take those penalties.

Icky is going to get paid big regardless. All we can do is hope he will slam the door on any lingering doubts this season.

Ok, good to know. I usually get places quicker than Google maps says anyhow as I never do the speed limit.