45catfan

As much as I would like that, it ain't happening. Bryce is getting this year to prove himself. No serious competition. That's why I want to sign (FA or trade) a younger QB this year to compete next year after Dalton is gone. Andy isn't in the long term plans and drafting a rookie next year isn't appealing. We aren't cutting Bryce even in 2025, so the best thing to do if he doesn't drastically improve this year is give him legit competition for next season.

If not, they are drafting a QB and they will be down to QB5 at their pick. Not sure they bite there for Nix/Penix at #13. If they go elsewhere and there's only 1 QB left of the top 6 remaining on the board in the second round, there's our trade down target.

Throwing this out there. Should we trade for a borderline starter/backup QB this offseason and not wait until next season when Dalton's contract is up? The Mac Jones trade to Jacksonville got me thinking about something.

Vikings are picking a QB at #11, no question. Now we need to know where Justin Fields is landing.

If that's the case, then I'm down with a hypothetical Higgins/Burns trade. A top 10 WR deal is cheaper than the top 5 Edge money Burns is seeking. That's as long as we don't get hosed in the trade package.

The franchise tag for WRs this year is just under $22M. That's not chump change.

Anyone know what kind of money he is seeking? You all do know he's wanting out of Cincy due to a contract dispute, correct? If he's not happy with the franchise tag, then he's probably looking for $$$$$$.

Dude is looking for a mega-deal. Hard pass. Yes, that trade would GET him here in theory, but then we would have to offer him the contract he is looking for--a la Brain Burns. So the same situation, just a different position.

The home site has announced the JJ re-signing. I know it was leaked, but it's nice to actually see it finalized. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-re-sign-long-snapper-jj-jansen

We still need to look at YGM and if healthy, Haynes, to re-sign as edge depth. KGH is an inside depth piece needed as well. Obviously Luvu is top priority. We have too many LBs hitting FA to let them all walk.

Needed depth. He was one the VERY FEW of our FAs I wanted to re-sign.

Yup. So true.

In the words of Dave Gettleman, we had better be shopping at the thrift store. Don't expect any news of the Panthers signing anyone in the tampering period. That's how Fitterer got two expensive, but very average, O-linemen (Pat Elflein and Cam Erving).

Where does Cousins and Fields go? Maybe we find out today. Cousins isn't the hold up because the team he ditches is drafting a QB. Fields, on the other hand, could land somewhere either as a starter or backup. If it's a backup situation, then that could mean one more team looking for a stater in the draft. Ideally 5 of the 6 get drafted in the first round and we start taking calls at #33 to trade back for that last dude. Sorry, but there is a big drop off between Nix/Penix and Rattler.

Steelers' country, let's---make some steel? Nah, Russ has to cook up an entirely new motto.

We can't forget about Atlanta. Just because all the talking heads are saying Cousins' is landing there, it is just speculation to this point. If they don't get a FA QB, you had better bet they are drafting one. They ain't rolling with that QB room again this season without an upgrade, real or perceived.

That's a possible destination for Wilson. Jimmy G still has some years on his contract so it would be as a backup, initially, if Fields went to the Raiders. I don't think Fields can beat out a healthy Jimmy G. Wilson supposedly got a call from the Giants. I don't see that happening though as Jones' contract is too steep right now to ditch and Wilson isn't signing as a backup. Maybe Fields ends up there as a back up for a season and then the main guy if they cut Jones in 2025.

We'd take that amount in dead cap if we cut him. Call it a wash and with one less hole to fill.

If this is true, they took him all the way down to his base salary, no bonuses.

The QB dominoes are starting to fall. Mac Jones is out in New England, Baker is staying in Tampa and Russell Wilson is out in Denver. From everything I'm reading, Cousins to the Falcons is almost assured unless the Vikings have a last minute change of heart to keep him. The two wildcards are Wilson and Fields. Once those two have been settled, we will see all the teams remaining with holes at QB1.

I wouldn't mind Ridley on a WR2 contract. I mean, 821 yards was his worst full season. He still has that gambling stigma. Maybe that can work to our advantage in a reasonable deal.

Yup, anytime you can snag a young FA(healthy) starter from the Cowboy's OL, you do it. With the Cowboys cap situation, they can ill-afford to overspend on a center.

Which FA centers do you like? I don't think we draft one high unless Powers-Johnson falls to #33. After that, we wait until day 3. Usually only 6-7 centers get drafted in any given year. It's skewed a little higher in recent years, but the bulk are still not taken until day 3.

Yup, most reputable mock draft sites has Powers-Johnson gone in the back half or round 1. The next two guys should be be available even in a trade back. The FA market is actually pretty good at center this cycle. It makes more sense to draft the WR and get the center in FA financially.

FA Centers: