OldhamA

Same with the BYU WR. Just saw an athletic footballer player and thought 'why not throw him a camp invite'. Which is a step up from Hurney seeing an athletic bloke and offering him a contract.

I've said for years I hated that we just drafted choir boys.

What were the 'character concerns'? Also I hope no potential Iowa recruit reads that piece - imagine the staff not going to bat for you. Good lord.

Sadly those that were desperate to draft a QB at #8 are now putting unrealistic parameters on Darnold to justify themselves. "Must show he's a franchise QB within two games or we're the Jets!" It's tiresome.

It's a good job all of my posts are text based then.

I was curious myself: Trade 1: Panthers received 52,83,204. Bears received 39 Teven Jenkins - OT (Ok St) + 151 Larry Bloom - OG (Miss) Trade 2: Panthers received 59 and 89. Browns received 52 Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - LB (ND) and 113 (traded to Detroit - Derrick Barnes - LB (Pur)) Trade 3: Panthers received 70. Eagles received 73 Milton Williams - DT (LTech) and 191 Tarron Jackson - DE (CCar) Trade 4: Panthers received 109,158,2022 4th rounder. Texans received 89 Nico Collins - WR (Mich) Trade 5: Panthers received 126,166,232. Titans received 109 Dez Fitzpatrick - WR (Lou)

We evidently had no interest trading down to #28. That takes us out of the running for all the elite first round talent.

That's definitely what scared people off, but I mean we also drafted an OG that turned up to the Senior Bowl (which is basically a job interview) at 376lbs. I'd have shot my shot.

Is that the block where he took his guy and the guy their phenom FR TE was meant to be blocking too?

The problem I have with trolls is when they're lazy. If you're going to commit to the bit - which is obviously no way to go through life, but you do you - at least put some effort in. Calling Teddy Bridgewater a 'coach maker' is just absurd. You're drawing no-one in when you lead off with that. F - do better.

I liked this Draft as the picks were being made, but the more I've looked into it this week I'm loving the Draft (I didn't do anything like my usual research this year). I'm obviously a huge fan of drafting athletic players, which is what we did over the first 5 rounds. I'm also a fan of drafting productive College players - what can I say, I'm a 'floor' guy when it comes to the Draft. We did both - the athleticism obviously provides these guys with a higher opportunity to succeed and develop in the NFL. Someone like Marshall, for example, will make us quickly forget about Samuel I feel. His contested catch rate is ridiculous - a stat that I only recently started to hone in on when evaluating WRs. Nixon being ridiculously productive AND athletic is also another example. On reflection I also like that they took players they'd worked with in Mobile with the later picks - less freakish athletes, but guys they had a good read on. The only two things I'd have really changed are drafting Smith out of Tennessee with that 6th round pick and Borregales out of Miami with that 7th round pick.

Fitterer conducted this offseason how I'd have done so - and I happen to think I'd be an incredible GM. As Rhule continues to harp on - believe in the process. Whatever the results, I can't fault the process we've followed this offseason; fill holes in FA with cost-effective pickups and draft BPA in the Draft. That's how you pick up fantastic players while everyone else reaches because they NEED a QB / LT / CB etc. If their talent evaluations are on point - and after last year (and his rapid turn around of Temple and Baylor) I have to think that Rhule is a sensational talent evaluator - then we're in a very, very good spot.

The more I watch Chuba Hubbard, the more he reminds me of McCaffrey. He's not so much a change of pace back, as he's very similar (on a tier or two below though, obviously), he's there to spell McCaffrey. We've definitely committed to the Zone running scheme though - there isn't a Power back on our roster.

I mean that Rhule quote from the Rich Eisen show puts it into context - and is what I saw too. In the games I've watched him play there's two or three 'sit up in your chair' moments per game from him. Plays that only the elite QBs make. It's up to Rhule / Fitterer to surround him with talent and for Rhule / Brady to coax more of that out of him - and eliminate the mistakes. I'd love to have a better Oline (this is the reason Allen made his big stride), but maybe we find 5 guys that work together as a unit this TC - we certainly have enough NFL calibre bodies to throw at the problem.

The annoying thing is Rhule is very professional and careful in his interviews - he thinks Fields and Jones are 'great players', but I do wonder what the behind the scenes view of them really was. He coached Jones for a week at the Senior Bowl - he passed on the kid, so evidently he thinks Darnold is better. Fields is more difficult to evaluate in that sense.

Technically we chose Darnold and Horn. That's how the coaching staff and the Front Office sees it.

I'd love to see Robinson step up to the plate.

A 2022 second round pick (after the trades - hell, even with the trades it was only the same combined value as our Christensen pick) is not mortgaging the future. He's the starting QB this year, but we jettisoned a QB making MORE money than Darnold is due to make next year in a heartbeat. He's the starter this year - beyond that nothing is certain. Fingers crossed he nails down the job because we're in a hell of a position if he lives up to his talent.

It was a smart move by the Panthers bringing Gantt in-house as he's a very good journalist - but damn I miss him being the grouchy outsider.

Imagine if he doesn't play football for three years. What a crazy, crazy trade that was.

I just see it as him being honest with fellow pros. "Look, before you commit to this team, just know that you're probably playing with a 2nd year QB rather than the reigning MVP". Players respect that. The Green Bay FO are to blame for this situation.

The best advice I could give him is to not wear an FSU t-shirt in his videos.

So basically the Panthers have significantly improved their roster AND get McCaffrey back... but we'll be a worse team?

God I hated those guys. Imagine being a multi-millionaire / billionaire and watching an interview of your two highest paid, most influential employees goofing off like this in a press conference. I'd have sacked them both on the spot. Bill Voth's 'feels like a big boy organisation now' comment was right.