SCO96

I'd keep Clowney (LB) and Robinson (DE). Each guy had 5.5 sacks to lead the team. No other DL had more than 3 sacks. We had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last season. No way I'm letting my two best pass rushers go and depend on the rookie or low/middle tier FA to replace them. Those numbers "may have been a little higher" if D. Brown had not been injured all last season. Then again Brown only has 8 sacks in 4 seasons. I don't know if he really would have made much of any impact on our sack totals. I'd target at least 2-3 pass rushing lineman in the 2025 draft to fortify the pass rush and run defense. Wonnum (LB) only played in 8 games but his 4 sacks still ranked 2nd on the team. Over the course of a 17 games that would average to almost a double digit sack total. It would be hard for me to cut him. There's no way I'd cut Thielen. He's our most reliable WR. I'd have to say adios to Sanders, Nijman, and probably Tuttle (although his salary is really not that high). As someone pointed out, restructuring some deals could clear up more cap space. Morgan really does have his work cut out for him this off-season. https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/car/table//sort/sacks/dir/desc (2024 Panther Stats)

No! Not by a long shot!

We sacked Mahomes 5 times this season when we played them and we had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL in 2024. Mahomes was lot more flustered in our matchup than he was in the AFC title game. Buffalo was down a starting corner and a safety so they weren't at full strength. Still, the 32 points KC put up last night was their highest point total of the season. It seems like every team KC played this year did a better job contain Mahomes than Buffalo did last night.

I found the below statistic/post on a Bills Forum. "Dating back to 1972, NFL teams that have scored 4 touchdowns and committed 0 turnovers in a playoff game are 85-6. The Bills' last two playoff losses at Arrowhead are 2 of the 6. Just brutal" ----- Looks like the offense is doing it's part. Those McDermott defenses aren't holding up on their side of the ball when it counts.

McDermott has not been able to slow down the Chiefs in any of the playoff games. He's a defensive oriented HC, but his defenses really don't slow down good offenses. I'm not impressed with their pass rush. They never seem to make Mahomes uncomfortable in the pocket when it matters. Those CB's leave a lot to be desired as well. A stout pass rusher and a solid CB would really improve that defense. Unfortunately, those players don't grow on trees. If they did, then everyone would have some.

I HATED the call to take away the extra point and go for 2 at the end of the half. I don't believe you should ever take points off the board. I also thought it was too early to go for 2 when they took the lead in the 3rd quarter. They should have been up 24-21 instead of 22-21. I sent out a text at 9:28pm and told several friends those missed PATs would cost them the game and they'd lose by 3. Guess what? Buffalo lost by 3. This game should have at least gone to OT which would have given the Bills a chance to win.

I'd be happy just to get a player in round 1 who makes us better on defense. I don't care what position he plays. A blue chip player that could start immediately at any level of the defense (d-line, LB, or secondary) would significantly improve the team. If Carolina plays their cards right, they should get 3 quality starters minimum for the defense between rounds 1 and 3. I wouldn't be opposed to taking TMAC in round one, but only if we went defense for rest of the draft and the team is able to plug some of the holes via trades and FA.

In 2023 Burns had 8.0 sacks in 16 games for the Panthers. In 2024 he had 8.5 sacks in 17 games for the Giants. He got that whopping contract from NY and finished with fewer sacks than Dexter Lawrence (9.0), a DT. The Giants were also a worse team this year than we were. I think we clearly made the right decision to let Burns go. He's a good player...not a great/elite player. His presence did not make a significant impact on NY, which is one of the worst teams in the NFL heading into 2025. We were wise to move on from him.

I'm hoping Bryce and the offense show out today and we lose a 41-38 thriller at the buzzer.

I'm a bit baffled myself on the lack of production from our TE's not just in recent games, but the season. Sanders 30 rec, 307 yards, 1 TD Tremble 21 rec, 204 yards, 1 TD Thomas 03 rec, 7 yards, 0 TD Not surprised at the latter guys lack of production. It's what we have come to expect from him. I thought Sanders would have simply averaged 3 catches a game he should have equaled that production by himself over the course of a 17 game season. I thought he would have been more of a redzone arget as well. I don't know if its the scheme, the guys aren't getting open, or the QB's don't trust them. If the passing game is going to thrive going forward we need to get more production from the TE position. You would think that next to Theilen, the TE would be option #2, especially in short yardage situations.

In theory I agree with you. Unfortunately, the Carolina Panther draft history in recent years is terrible. I'd be terrified if we got an extra pick in round 2 because I'd be almost willing to bet a month's salary we'd pick the wrong player. I think I'd jump out of my bedroom window if we picked a WR.

I wouldn't go into this draft thinking we'll be able to make a trade inside the top 10. Recent history is showing that these moves don't really pan out. The 49ers gave up a kings ransom to draft Trey Lance. He couldn't beat out a QB taken in the 7th round. Lance is now buried on the Dallas roster behind 2 other QBs. Moving up to get Bryce didn't exactly put us up over the hump either and we lost our best receiver and draft capital to do so. I don't see a player in this draft worth giving up a 2026 1st round, and a 2025 2nd round, and possibly a a 2027 2nd round. One of the worst things to happen was the creation of the draft chart. it's way to expensive to make deals at the TOP THE DRAFT. If some idiot GM approaches us with a deal then we should listen. But, I think GMs (especially the ones on bad teams) may start to wise up and just let the chips fall where they may.

Burrow also plays in a stacked division come to think of it. The AFC North sent 3 teams to the playoffs last season...and could do so again if the Bengals beat Pittsburgh this weekend and then they get a little help. That Bengals defense is almost as bad as ours. They're another team that couldn't spend their entire draft on defense (or most of it) and not catch to much flak for doing so.

Perhaps I should have said make the team "better at their position". Sanders, TMaC, Mason, Hunter, or Carter would be an immediate upgrade (talentwise) for the team and would start immediately...unless they're busts...which could happen.

That really is the foundation in the modern NFL Good point. Most athletes aren't afraid of competition. I think what me and and the other poster was saying is that Sanders' chances at post-season success is going to be a little bit more difficult because of the teams he has to beat just to make it the playoff out his own division To make matters worse he'd be playing for the Raiders. When I grew up they were literally the "bad boys of the NFL". There truly was "Raider Mystique". Now, the Raiders are an irrelevant franchise. I can't remember a year since 2001 where I went into a season thinking "You'd better watch out for the Raiders this season". Something is amiss with that franchise from the top down with the ownership and front office. Having a guy like Brady coming in from NE could be just what they need. But, they have to get the right HC and GM before they can turn things around.

Look at our own Greg Olsen. He goes to Chicago. His HC, Mike Martz, has little interest in throwing to TE's in his offense. The GM trades Olsen to Carolina for a 3rd round pick. You can make a strong argument that Olsen is a HOF caliber TE. He'd possibly be a forgotten player had he stayed with Bears, who haven't had a true threat at that position since Mike Ditka played there in the 1960's.

Sanders and Brock Bowers aren't enough to get the Raiders past the Chiefs, Chargers, or even the Broncos. The Chiefs have been to the AFC title game the past 6 seasons. They've only failed to get to the SB in two of those seasons (2019 & 2022). Unless they get upset in the Divisional Round they're be there for 7 straight seasons...with homefield advantage yet again. Harbaugh wins everywhere he goes...college...pros...back to college...back to pros. Payton's teams are always going to score points, even when the defense is subpar, so they are never an easy out. The Raiders are can't seem to get the HC position right and overall they aren't very good at drafting players. Things could change with Tom Brady in the building. But unless some drastic changes occur they will continue to flounder at the bottom of the AFC West for the next foreseeable future.

I'm never a fan of "tanking". I can see maybe not going all out in the last game of the season, but I'd never try to lose games on the back end of a season to get a top 5 pick 1) The guy you want could be a bust. 2) He could get hurt. 3) The lack of talent or poor coaching could hinder his development 4) Or, he could just be a bad fit for the team and would do better elsewhere I remember the years where some people on this board were in favor of "tanking for Tua" or "tanking for Trevor". I don't think either of those guys has shown proven to be elite QBs. Tua was looking like a bust until Flores moved on and the Dolphins hired a coach who could maximize Tua's ability. Lawrence is still young and could improve, but we are all waiting to see him live up to the hype that he was the next great QB in the NFL. Where a player goes is much more important than where he is chosen in the draft.

That division is brutal. They may end up sending 3 teams to the playoffs this season. You can make an argument that Mahomes isn't' even in the prime of his career age-wise. Herbert and Nix are younger than Mahomes. And as you pointed out, there a 3 VERY COMPETENT coaches in the AFC West. I would not want to play the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos 2x a year as a rookie. Then again, it may make any QB better almost immediately having to face those teams out of the gate.

Morgan, Beason, Kuechly,.....TBD

I was thinking the same thing. I understand his reasoning, but if he comes out and says that SS won't play for so-and-so franchise I wouldn't be surprised to see SS drop in the draft. I'm looking for the Raiders to make a deal (either overtly or covertly) to draft S. Sanders. He's already got a relationship with Tom Brady, who is a minority owner with the team. The Raiders DESPARATELY need a franchise QB. I think the Sanders family and the NFL would be glad to see him end up in Las Vegas.

I agree that you have more versatility with the 3-4. But, unless you have a mountain playing NT and a couple of studs playing on each side at OLB you are going to have a hard time stopping the run. You also need some bigger ILB to take on those blockers at the guard position. I honestly thing they should go with the 4-3. I'm ok with the 3-4 if you can find the right players to run the scheme. I don't think our defenses have been nearly as good since we converted in to the 3-4 in 2019, and that's largely b/c we've never got the right talent to fill the front 7.

I may get flamed for this...and I'm sure Deion doesn't want his kid going to the Jets...but if A-Rod stayed for 1 more year, playing behind a HOF QB for a year and watching the game from the sideline for his rookie season wouldn't be the worst scenario for the SS.

Everyone of those players would make us instantly better.