CarolinaLivin

What do you predict/expect us to be ranked by mid season? (Making the playoffs is gonna take us having a very strong first half of the season, as our schedule is easier in the first half) My Prediction: Between 15-18 with a 5-3 record

I definitely forgot to mention Smith as a returner

I think with Bouye suspended 2 games, that gives pride a chance to not only show in camp that he (does or doesn't) deserve more playing time, but also in a cupcake week 1 matchup and some could say the same for week 2. Some good confidence building games. As for Smith I think depends on how much they want to "take it slow" with terrace. Also Smith could take a few carries (jet sweeps maybe) to take a little bit of the load off of CMC, but he'll mainly be a slot guy. Edit: Im not saying Pride will be a CB1 or CB2, but he could become the next man up after that.

Didn't paste the article but below are a few topics it covers as well as the link, enjoy! Breaking down the possible trade partners for Julio More landing spots for Ertz, Moses, and Etc. Fantasy football nuggets, sleeper teams, and Tua https://nfltraderumors.co/nfltr-review-landing-spots-for-julio-jones/

1. Deonte Brown – Carolina Panthers OG There aren’t many players on the Carolina Panthers that come with more intrigue than Deonte Brown this offseason. The sixth-round pick has all the makings of a productive starter on the offensive line interior in the coming years, but there are certain areas that need to be monitored closely where the former Alabama star is concerned. Brown fell in the draft due to some character concerns and the fact his weight is a potential problem most teams just didn’t want to deal with. He is an absolute mountain of a man with the college production to match. So providing staff keeps him on the right track with nutrition and regular weigh-ins it should enable momentum to continue trending in the right direction. If the player’s transition to the professional ranks is a smooth one, he might just be a candidate to start Day 1 against the New York Jets. Carolina isn’t blessed with many solid options in this area of the field and it represents an opportunity for Brown to come in and make his presence felt right from the start. The Panthers obviously thought he was worth taking a chance on after spending the week with Brown at the 2021 Senior Bowl. There’s no doubt Matt Rhule also sounded out Nick Saban for a more detailed perspective on the lineman, who represents a significant upgrade on anything Carolina has at its disposal if he reaches his ceiling. 2. Sam Franklin – Carolina Panthers S One of the most surprising elements that emerged from the 2020 season was the encouraging impact made by Sam Franklin. The safety went undrafted before being signed up by his former college coach Matt Rhule and this familiarity enabled the player to hit the ground running and steadily force his way into the team’s plans. Franklin gave a very good account of himself in the four starts he made as a rookie, leaving plenty of reasons to be encouraged moving forward. The Carolina Panthers are set to move Jeremy Chinn to the backend after a starring campaign at outside linebacker, but whether Juston Burris can prove worthy of being a long-term partner for the Southern Illinois product remains to be seen. Much will depend on how Franklin develops his game this offseason. It was a pretty steep learning curve for every rookie player in 2020 due to virtual OTAs, a restricted training camp, and no preseason games to fully adjust. But it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the Panthers think an awful lot of the player and will give him every chance of securing a more substantial role next time around. Franklin has all the athleticism needed to forge a successful career at the next level. Last season’s experience will have done him the world of good, but what comes next will be equally as important. 3. Daviyon Nixon – Carolina Panthers DT Another who slid in the 2021 NFL Draft due to major character concerns was Daviyon Nixon. The defensive tackle’s production was unquestioned during his time at Iowa but reports suggested his off-the-field issues were so concerning that some teams wiped him off their big board entirely. The Carolina Panthers have shown a willingness to give players like this a chance. This has come with mixed success so far, but if Nixon is humbled by his concerning draft slide and reacts in a positive fashion, then defensive coordinator Phil Snow has a real player on his hands. Nixon is an absolute menace on the interior that has the potential to cause havoc on any given down. His relentless motor is matched by a pass-rushing technique that allows him to get to the spot extremely quickly for a player his size and although there is some refinement needed against the run, there is plenty to work with from a coaching standpoint. The Panthers brought in DaQuan Jones and Morgan Fox in free agency, so there isn’t any immediate pressure on Nixon to make an instant contribution. However, if he can display the right attitude, progress well during team drills, and make his time on the field during preseason games count, then he might just earn a prominent spot on the rotation during his rookie campaign. 4. Troy Pride Jr. – Carolina Panthers CB It was always going to be difficult for Troy Pride Jr. during his rookie campaign. The cornerback was a little raw coming out of Notre Dame despite his obvious athletic traits, which was reflected in some significant struggles when he saw the field for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Pride Jr. came into the league at a bad time and the Panthers needed him more than they thought thanks to Donte Jackson’s injury and the Eli Apple experiment failing miserably. Just how much this has knocked his confidence remains to be seen, but it might be a little too soon to give up on the player just yet. This is an immensely important offseason for Pride Jr., who needs to show a tremendous amount of growth to remain in Carolina’s plans. The Panthers will be without free-agent signing A.J. Bouye for the first two games due to suspension, so if the speedster can do enough to win the No. 3 spot in his absence then it could lead to a solid amount of reps during the season. Only time will tell as to whether Pride Jr. is capable of this. The fourth-round pick certainly needs to do a lot more against receivers who are ruthless when they go up against corners with little experience at the next level, which the player found out to his cost in 2020. A big adjustment from the first year to the second is absolutely key for any NFL cornerback. So the Panthers will get a better indication of what they can expect from Pride Jr. long-term this summer. 5. Shi Smith – Carolina Panthers WR It wasn’t a big need going into the 2021 NFL Draft. But that did not stop the Carolina Panthers from acquiring two promising wide receivers who could become integral parts of the offense sooner rather than later. Terrace Marshall Jr. was an opportunity the Panthers couldn’t pass up at No. 59 overall, especially when they found out the New Orleans Saints were about to take him with the very next selection. They later utilized a sixth-rounder on another enticing player who comes from a little closer to home. Shi Smith turned on the style during his time with South Carolina in college. He does his best work out of the slot and is a big play waiting to happen should the opportunity arise. So it wouldn’t be a great shock to see him stamp his authority on the Panthers and force his way into their plans immediately. Smith can line up on the outside, in the slot, or as a running back. This versatility is highly sought after by the Panthers and his ability to gain considerable yardage in the return game is another potential way Carolina could use him in 2021. https://catcrave.com/2021/05/21/5-young-carolina-panthers-players-beat-veterans-camp/6/

I really appreciate it. Just trying to give some type of quality info I know it gets slow around this time.

The chargers would depend on what the asking price is. They have plenty of talent in their WR room. Plus I doubt they would be able to outbid the Ravens they have been WR thirsty this offseason

I expect us to sign moton. Maybe sooner rather than later if this team does indeed want to pickup more free agents (OL/S/LB). Best to get those new players as much time to learn the playbook and system as possible.

It would. His tag is approx. 14M hit this year.

I felt the stress of house buying in this post

How many acres will tell you how big the contract is... lol

I think we're trying to be as friendly as possible with our cap and wanting to let some of what's left be for emergency pickup's if injuries occur. Also to rollover what's left into next year. Next off-season could be one of the biggest. We will improve this year, but I think we next off-season's additions will leap us into contention (playoff contention, hold off on any super bowl talks)

Ravens, Titans, Patriots, and maybe Packers (to make rodgers happy maybe?) are the teams I see as front runners for teams with a win now mentality, available cap space, and low talent WR depth. I think the Ravens have been the most aggressive looking for a WR than other teams and the Patriots want to continue the winning culture. So the Ravens and PAtriots are the two teams I could see IF it happens. A trade or restructure will happen. I don't think Atlanta can even afford to sign all of their rookies at the moment.

Both teams are in cap hell right now and some restructures/trades are coming soon. Seeing as most of the players that agreed to restructures did so at the beginning of the off-season... maybe trades will be what we see (for the teams like the Falcons)

Idk.. when they drafted Ian Book, it maybe made me believe they aren't as confident as I thought in Winston being able to fill those big shoes. I could be wrong though

I've said this in a previous thread... we can sweep the saints and/or atlanta, all just depends on our QB play this year.

Both BetMGM and VegasInsider have set the Panthers' win total at 7.5 for the season which is about where it should be. In my way-too-early game-by-game predictions, I have Carolina getting off to a sizzling 5-2 start before fading out in the second half of the season and finishing 7-10. How can the Panthers go OVER 7.5 wins? Analytically, the Panthers have the 6th easiest schedule in the NFL. They have several games in the first half of the season that are very winnable and if they get off to a hot start and rack up 5-6 wins in their first 8-9 games, they will have no trouble getting to at least eight wins. How can the Panthers go UNDER 7.5 wins? The final four games of Carolina's schedule are absolutely brutal. They go to Buffalo, host Tampa, and then end the year with back-to-back road games at New Orleans, and Tampa. If they get to this four-game stretch with just four or five wins, it will be extremely difficult for them to go over the total. Heck, even six wins may not be enough going into that stretch. My opinion: I think we will have a strong start to the season starting with week 1 vs. the Jets. 9-8 is very realistic and could very well be our record and could be enough to get us a wild-card game come playoff time. A lot of people have written off the Panthers for the last few games of the season. Not sure how much truth there is to this, but I believe Darnold has historically played his best football in the second half of seasons. Hopefully he can get comfortable in our offense early in the season with some lighter defensive matchups and build his confidence.

I understand what you're saying, but drafting a guy high that has no accomplishments would be a reach. Accomplished guys are always going to be atop the draft boards. I just don't get why its being debated. I guess the argument could be that Rhule (& the guys) took the BPA on his/their board and maybe he didn't have guys with no accomplishments high, but not many teams would unless you have some insider info.

On the other hand, how in the world is DJ Moore left off this list? He hasn't had solid quarterback play since he's entered the league yet is still putting up huge numbers. In the past two seasons alone, Moore has hauled in 153 receptions for 2,368 yards and eight touchdowns. Again, he did this with the combination of Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, and P.J. Walker at quarterback. Part of being overlooked might have to do with playing on a small market team that hasn't had a winning season in his three seasons that he has been in the league. Regardless, it's hard to deny that Moore has been one of the most explosive and reliable receivers in the NFL over the last two seasons. To say that there are 20 receivers better than Moore is a bit of a stretch, let alone 32. https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/pff-excludes-dj-moore-robby-anderson-from-top-wrs-list

The Top draft prospects are going to have these kinds of accomplishments, I mean it is the reason they're placed high on draft boards.

This is what leaves me to believe we won't pickup anyone else. I think our FO is content on who we have and the competition we have brought in in positions of need like Safety, Tackle, D-Line, Linebacker, WR3, Corner, etc.

If Julio is traded, it should be for draft capitol and maybe a starting caliber player, maybe on the defensive side. They have Russell Gage that shows a lot of promise and Calvin as I mentioned. Not to mention Kyle Pitts who ATL fans already think is going to be the next Tony Gonzalez. But they have holes to fill on defense and they still have the QB of the future in the back of their minds. Next years draft may be the time for them to take one.

Would be better for chicago to do whatever it takes to keep a (Young) Allen Robinson. Also, Chicago has very little CAP space as of right now.

What happens when you don't have a legitimate plan with your cap space and contracts for the long term. Teams end up having to part ways with players and it's just business at that point. Luckily they already have their future WR1 on the roster in Ridley.

Atlanta Falcons Objective Achieved: Extra firepower on offense, reinforcements on defense Many say that the Falcons should start looking to the future at the quarterback position, but the team still firmly believes in Matt Ryan. So instead, new general manager Terry Fontenot instead gave Ryan and new head coach Arthur Smith a freak of nature at tight end in Florida's Kyle Pitts. Protecting Ryan, who is now 36, is of paramount importance, which is why Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield and Stanford center Drew Dalman were taken. Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby will try and claim a spot in the pecking order of a loaded receiving corps so he may need to make his mark on special teams early. The defense also needs plenty of attention after giving up nearly 400 yards per game last season. UCF safety Richie Grant figures to start right away and cornerbacks Darren Hall (San Diego State) and Avery Williams (Boise State) could claim their spots in the secondary rotation as well. Defensive linemen Adetokundo Ogundeji (Notre Dame) and Ta'Quon Graham (Texas) add fresh bodies up front. Carolina Panthers Objective Achieved: Weapons around Sam Darnold Things may have not worked out for Darnold in the Big Apple, but the Panthers believe that they can change his fortunes. So they used a good portion of their draft picks to put supporting pieces around him. Wide receivers Terrance Marshall Jr. (LSU) and Shi Smith (South Carolina), along with tight end Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame), bolster the receiving corps. Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard gives Carolina an intriguing backup for workhorse Christian McCaffrey, who missed all but three games last season because of injuries, and offensive tackle Brady Christensen (BYU) and guard Deonte Brown (Alabama) add much-needed depth up front. But the team didn't ignore the other side of the ball either with South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn the first defender off the board at eighth overall and Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon a potential steal in the fifth round. Washington cornerback Keith Taylor could primarily be a special teams player as a rookie. New Orleans Saints Objective Achieved: Filled roster holes and maybe found quarterback of the future? The defending four-time NFC South champs have undergone a lot of roster turnover this offseason between free agency and the retirement of Drew Brees. Some combination of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill is the expected plan under center for 2021 but could Notre Dame's Ian Book be the future? The team is reportedly very high on the fourth-round pick. The Saints used their first-round pick on Houston defensive end Payton Turner, who addressed a need but many are still questioning whether it was the right decision at 28th overall. Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo is expected to claim a starting spot on the back end, perhaps as soon as this season, and the same goes for Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner. Kentucky offensive tackle Landon Young will be a rotational guy early but could emerge as a future building block up front whereas South Alabama wide receiver Kawaan Baker may have to make his mark on special teams first.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers Objective Achieved: Quarterback of the future? When you return all 22 starters from the team that won the Super Bowl that means the roster is in pretty good shape. But the draft pick that's sure to get the most attention is that of Florida's Kyle Trask. The sixth quarterback taken, Trask gets the benefit of learning from Tom Brady and head coach Bruce Arians while dealing with the scrutiny that comes from the possibility that he could be the one to follow the GOAT. Brady turns 44 in August so his future will remain a hot topic. Otherwise, Tampa used its draft picks on adding depth pieces, including defensive end/edge rusher Joe Tyron (Washington), offensive tackle Robert Hainsey (Notre Dame), wide receiver Jaelon Darden (North Texas), linebackers K.J. Britt (Auburn) and Grant Stuard (Houston), and BYU cornerback Chris Wilcox. The team is particularly high on Tyron and Darden. — Gabe Salgado is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. He's also written for NBC, Fox, The Sporting News, The Sports Journal, The Undefeated and Complex. He can also be heard on WGN Radio. Follow him on Twitter @GabeSalgado82. https://athlonsports.com/nfl/nfc-south-what-buccaneers-falcons-panthers-saints-accomplished-2021-nfl-draft