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I think he'd make a good QB spy role in those mobile QB games, like Chicago. Just send him at Caleb every play.

#Panthers Jaelan Phillips: four years, $120 million, $80M gtd, $60M fully gtd, $20M inj gtd. $35M signing bonus APY: $30M Salaries $1.215M, $22.51M, $28.75M, $28.75M

#Panthers Jaelan Phillips: four years, $120 million, $80M gtd, $60M fully gtd, $20M inj gtd. $35M signing bonus APY: $30M Salaries $1.215M, $22.51M, $28.75M, $28.75M

Top 2026 Edge Defender Cash 1. Micah Parsons, $40.8M 2. Jaelan Phillips, $36.2M 3. Danielle Hunter, $32.5M 4. T.J. Watt, $32M 5. Myles Garrett, $31.5M https://x.com/spotrac/status/2033192083507577265?s=46

https://x.com/aaronwilson_nfl/status/2033195458147840084?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Great post. 5 different playbooks in 5 seasons then there’s the fact they wanted him to play multiple positions including edge? that’s got to be insane imagine having to have to learn basically every position on defense except DT. How can you ever focus to get good at just one position? Then on top of that he had to learn a new playbook every season? on top of that I bet coaches dealt with a lot of uncertainty on the roster with him. Wondering where they put him, having to compete with people that only do one or two positions. I bet he was also overlooked on depth charts cause he was never decided on what position he was. all those changes could really hamper a player. I’m not saying he’s going to be a star here but who knows what could happen when he stays on the same team with the same staff and playbook for more than one year.

. If he can be a great special teamer and we can at least use him in special roles on defense where he can make a big impact then I’m fine with that, I think that’s a win for a player who’s probably on a vet min deal. If we can somehow get him to be more than that then that’s a big win. While the odds are against him, it’s very possible that he puts it together here with a different coach/system. There’s been plenty of players who’s put it together later in their careers. He was on 2 bad teams that seem to be horribly coached as well. There’s a big possibility he wasn’t coached up or used to his strengths. I know people look at him as a scrub but it looks like he never missed a game in his career, playing 89 games, it looks like he started the majority of those games too. So he must not be horrible if two different teams would let him play for 3 entire seasons for them. no I’m not saying that means he’s good, but he’s at least a solid back up with lots of experience and he’s in his prime.

For a DT on THAT defense, that is unreal.

Yeah, and people are starting to mock him to us at 19.

One could fall, but doubtful. I am thinking a free agent who can't find a home or a player who is cut after the draft--something like that. The draft is not deep at DT. I do like the rookie I posted who could be a third round option. I love high motor DTs who can pressure the passer. After reading your post, I went to 2 mocks (Walter Football and Tankathon) to see how the DTs were falling--both had us drafting a DT at 19.)

that is it--a great athlete who has never really had to apply himself in things like preparation or developing a football I Q. just has always been way better than everyone else. There is a point and time when everyone around you is a great athlete. The point here is to take the thinking away from him. I image all the DCs who have had him have tried to "Swiss Army knife" him into a state of confusion. A confused (as opposed to reactive) player is not running 4.39. They get slower. He does not have the background or acumen to be a Swiss Army knife--like you say, he needs to "see the ball, get the ball." The point here is just that. Give him one thing to do in some situations, and he will get faster. I am not willing to take an athlete like that and say "he sucks" when there is a way to get the most out of him. That is what good coaches do. Until then, we should not label him. That is what bad coaches do.

I kinda see it as the same as any other position of arguable need. The thing is, I don't see any DT that may be available as the BPA at 19, but you never know.

Elite athlete who just isn't that good of a football player. But we may have found his sweet spot as a special teamer. No thinking, no having to read the offense and make adjustments, etc. Just take your big jumbo athlete ass and go cause a car crash.

I was literally just on eBay trying to find one unfortunately all are youth sizes listed right now

Brilliant! You should have a podcast.

hes a scrub theres my analysis

To understand why a player with all the tools to be successful in the NFL would bust is remarkably difficult. While Isaiah Simmons has had a disappointing career to this point, there is a reason he is back in Carolina. Yes, special teams are important and he does well in that role. My intent is to examine in what situations he has been successful and develop a theory about the reason he might have experienced success in some capacity vs. the times he has flopped. Is he a CB? A Safety? A LB? An Edge? No. He has been all of them at some point and has yet to settle into a position. I think the Panthers will do the same thing. I think I know (besides special teams) how they might use him effectively on defense. First, think of Simmons as a unicorn. Create a position that he does not have to fit into, but one that fits into his skill sets. I think we need to designate him as our Big Nickel, and then we need to modify that position into something of a rover, for lack of a better term. He is a hybrid--but lets not make him the hybrid, let's make the position the hybrid. Isaiah Simmons has been most effective in the NFL as a Big Nickel and on special teams, specifically in sub-packages where he can leverage his elite speed (4.39 40-yard dash) without the constant physical demands of a traditional linebacker. A big nickel is a third safety, designed to match up with the big TEs, basically, and provide better run support. Based on what I have read, Simmons is slowed when he has to know the Xs and Os and the position is focused on complex interpretations that may require adjustments in certain situations, etc. He excels in special teams, for example, because he is turned loose and he simple reacts to what he sees in front of him, it seems. I think the Panthers may create a big nickel role that turns him loose on defense. Simmons has been in the league for about 6 years and has been issued five playbooks. His position has shifted in an effort to find where he could best fit in. Getting back to basics, here is a chart that demonstrates how much more effective he was as a big nickel than a traditional LB, that required more reading blocking and run game schemes: Last season, Ransom was the big nickel, the Panthers are high on him and not looking to replace him by any means. It is my theory that Ransom will be used alongside Moehrig in some situations. He can also provide depth behind Moehrig. It is also my opinion that Simmons may not be the ideal fit for every situation involving the big nickel. Simmons could be used, for example, as a blitzing big nickel who can cover the flat and stuff the run, while Ransom may be the better lock-down TE coverage guy--I dunno. But I see Simmons playing a bigger role on D. Here is a comparison between Ransom and Simmons: Lathan Ransom: A 2025 fourth-round pick, he is viewed as a starter candidate to provide security opposite safety Tre'von Moehrig, with the Panthers high on his potential. Isaiah Simmons: Recently re-signed (March 2026), Simmons has thrived as a special teams ace but is considered a prime candidate to develop into a big nickel linebacker/safety hybrid due to his unique versatility. Context: The Panthers' defense under Ejiro Evero requires safety depth, and both players bring different strengths to that position group. Throw in Nick Scott, a pure free safety who just signed, it is starting to get a bit clearer. Does this mean we will not draft a S? Not at all. Who do we have to give depth at FS? Let's hope its Scott. It is my view that Simmons needs to find one or two things he does well on this defense and focus on that and not everything else. What are his natural talents (6'4" 238 and runs sub 4.4--who does that? Can you not make that work for you?) This tells me the problem is mental. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Instead of asking him to do everything behind the DL, let's get him to do one thing that aligns with his skill set and history of success. A situational big nickel/rover seems to be a fit.

Who had us getting arguably the best receiver in the draft last April? Dan believes in sticking with his board. That's what the Panthers will do. It's that simple.

Kayden McDonald is definitely growing on me as a serious option at #19, but I'd feel better about the pick if we were able to trade down a few spots and still get him.

Kayden McDonald was 5th on the Buckeyes with 65 tackles. His ability to take on blocks and locate the football is elite for the position

Guys built like that can do some major damage in a game. Want to get better in the trenches? Call out the big back brigade.

He's depth only at this point.

This is why kayden McDonald is on my priority list in round 1 even if that’s a bit of a stretch

You don’t need a retort for everything. Which, I am still trying to learn how to put that into practice. That is sort of hard for me to say as I haven’t even seen Simpson play more than a few series and that at a man cave thing we were shooting pool. The game was on. And I am generally biased, I admit it, against Alabama QBs post Joe Namath. Probably forgetting a couple of good ones over the years but generally they underperform in the NFL. But Simpson could be better than Bryce when it comes down to it. A few guys drafted after Bryce, have been. Right now I would say Bryce is better than a moderately talented rookie, for a single season but I can’t see the future especially not having really watched Simpson. All I know about Bryce is he has played to a good NFL level a handful of times a couple of years running. So he has that in the bank. But he doesn’t make enough deposits to pay the bills. There was no stacking going on. Wins, yardage, TD passes, points, impressive performances. It is the big leagues. People that really shine do stuff he has not done.