45catfan

Mays is on a 1-year deal. If we keep him as backup and re-sign him as a backup on a multi-year deal, then happens to win the starting spot...I consider that a win for the front office. That still doesn't preclude us from drafting a C/G type in the draft. The only starting caliber players on the OL we have under contract for longer than 2-years are Lewis and Hunt. The '26 OL will look closer to revamped than what it does today.

Yeah, we have to start drafting O-line as these FA guys we have acquired contract's start getting absurd. We have the most expensive OL in the League and until we start leveraging that money to other spots like LB and DBs, we are going to stay deficient in those areas and hope to hide the flaws by scheme. That's with the franchise LT still on his rookie contract. I think Moton is done as a Panther. A RT can't be your most expensive OL piece unless you have a left handed QB. Bryce better enjoy this season, because he definitely will not be getting back his entire OL completely intact again in '26.

Hey, at least we are ahead of the Saints who are all in on tank for Arch. If we don't sweep the Saints this year, it will be the ultimate humiliation...losing to a team in full tank mode.

Just groom Mays for Corbett's eventual departure. Remember, Corbett wasn't even a center until we made him one. Mays, while not a true center, at least played some there in college. Better yet, draft one in the spring. Dumping a ton of money into center is money not well spent. I liken it to paying top dollar for a punter. Are both positions important? Yes, but there are many other positions of greater importance.

Oh, so the entire upper bowl was grabbing a beer? In year's past at least some of the upper bowl had fans and the lower bowl was packed.

Was the upper bowl closed or unused? Looks like plenty of empty sets in the lower bowl.

Tepper has sucked the life force out of most of the fan base. He pissed off the SC fans when he yanked camp from Wofford and then went a step further by all but closing camp to the public citing construction as the reasoning. Sorry,but fielding a sh!tty product for years and then telling the fans loyal enough to still stick around you no longer have the right to watch camp practices after being able to do so for 30 years kinda hits the wrong way. Now he charges for Fan Fest? Excuse us for not being giddy like little school girls over Fan Fest anymore.

My favorite Ozzy tune

Oh yeah, then there's this. Levis to miss season due to shoulder surgery. The Titans were backed into a corner. They had the #1 pick they could use on a QB, versus taking stab in a crappy FA QB market while dealing with an ineffective incumbent QB with a bum shoulder needing to be medically repaired. What choice did they really have? Most Big Boards of course had Ward the QB1, but few had him prospect #1. Position group#1 and overall#1 don't always align, even at the QB position.

Sometimes the most simple answer is the best one. Anybody that follows the draft knew this was a rough class for QBs. The media tried like heck to prop up Sanders just to make it interesting. In most QB classes, Ward would not have gone #1 overall. You know that and I know that.

My hope is that nearly all the top QBs return for another year. With NIL, the need for a quick money grab is waning. Only a couple of the top guys will not be eligible for returning in '26. We need to see what Bryce looks like with no excuses and short of a full face plant he'll get to year 4 with the Panthers. Year 5? That will be a different story and one if he's not a lock as the future of the franchise for the next 10 years, we can hopefully find his replacement in the the '27 draft.

I would have put him in the 4-6 range in the '24 QB draft class. Ward was being discussed among the rest of the QB class before deciding to stay in college and if I remember correctly, that's about where he stacked up on average (4-6). I mean, a 5th round draft pick being the most discussed QB should be all you need to know about the strength of this year's QB draft class. It's not Kenny Pickett's draft class weak, but not that far behind.

Had there been a better QB, he wouldn't have been #1. Where do you think he stacked up verses the six first round QBs in 2024? He's okay, but not #1 overall quality. The Titans should be happy, with fanfare and media scrutiny usually comes lofty expectations. Ward flying under the radar shouldn't be an issue for them.

The Panthers begged him to come back so Bryce can have his security blanket once again. Without AT this season, Bryce may have regressed. The young WRs may be the chunk yardage or 'shot' guys, but AT will the the 3rd down (4th down) chain mover. If there is a must have play, Bryce won't be looking for the young guys, he's looking for AT.

I believe... his ceiling will be average.

This is the Buc's division to lose. We come out on top only if the wheels come off if Tampa. I agree we can be--and should be--better than the Saints and likely the Falcons. A 9-8 season would be nice, but it isn't great. It's mediocre and that something the Panthers haven't been in nearly a decade, but would be reason to celebrate. Heck, the Steelers will likely fire Tomlin over a 9-8 season because they are tired of being mediocre.

Yet being the best part for now. I see more similarities in these two other than their height.

I was at that game. Man, what a time to be a panthers fan!

The past 7 seasons have definitely left a mark.

And we will hang onto Bryce with an average season or two only to part ways in time for the '28 draft which probably will mirror the Kenny Pickett QB class. You know, one borderline franchise QB in the back half of the first round.

Yes, please. Wanted to draft him years ago anyway.

One word to describe next year's QB draft class...DEEP! To me, this is Bryce's make or break year. The organization probably doesn't feel that way and will likely anoint him as the starter to at least 2027 no matter what. Some of these dude's will likely stay in college, but the bulk of them will be coming out. Manning and Sellers are two probably staying. That's not to say that the 2027 QB class will be crappy or thin, because I honestly don't know. It usually does skip at least a year--or more, but rarely two bumper crops of QBs in consecutive years. https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/45453107/2026-nfl-draft-quarterback-class-top-prospects-klubnik-sellers-manning

Another case of a great college athlete and not a great football player. His hype was all about potential, not necessarily his tape in college. GMs that bet on traits over tape will get burned like this 90% of the time. Dumb move for a very underdeveloped prospect in the top 5 at a niche position.

Bryce has no excuses. His butt better be a Pro Bowler and have us in the playoffs. Yes, his supporting cast is good enough too....maybe not household names. but they aren't chopped liver either.