Seltzer

I know WR is currently a massive question mark with the loss of DJ. Hell, everyone should, and the national media is all over it. Having said that, I didn't start being a Panthers fan overnight, so I'm well attuned to our "glorious" tradition at WR. Look at these lists from 2010- Present. This list doesn't include WR's that went on IR during the corresponding season, but it gives you a flavor for what we have had to work with over the years. This current group heading into 2023 is obviously not great as presently constructed, but it's not going to take much to at least bring it in line with many of the other WR groups we've had over the past 13 years. And most importantly, I think there is an actual strategic plan to continue to build around Stroud/Young after this season. So undoubtedly, our WR corp is probably not going to set the world on fire in 2023, but if we're honest, for the most part over the past 13 seasons, it's not like we had a bunch of elite receivers besides an aging Smitty and Greg Olsen who wasn't even a WR. I think if we sign a couple of guys in FA and draft a WR, we will easily be on par with many of these groups. Anyway, was interesting to look back and gain some perspective. I think this team with a solid Oline and run game combined with a good offensive scheme is going to be just fine, especially in the NFC South this year. 2010 2015 2020 87 David Clowney 11 Brenton Bersin 11 Robby Anderson 10 Armanti Edwards 10 Corey Brown 14 Pharoh Cooper 12 David Gettis 82 Jerricho Cotchery 12 D. J. Moore 11 Brandon LaFell 17 Devin Funchess 10 Curtis Samuel 89 Steve Smith 19 Ted Ginn Jr. 16 Brandon Zylstra 81 Kevin Norwood 2011 2021 86 Darvin Adams 2016 11 Robby Anderson 19 Seyi Ajirotutu 13 Kelvin Benjamin 13 Alex Erickson 14 Armanti Edwards PR 11 Brenton Bersin 2 D. J. Moore 11 Brandon LaFell 10 Corey Brown 16 Brandon Zylstra 81 Kealoha Pilares KR 17 Devin Funchess 89 Steve Smith (C) 19 Ted Ginn Jr. 2022 17 Rashard Higgins 2012 2017 88 Terrace Marshall Jr. 15 Joe Adams 11 Brenton Bersin 2 D. J. Moore 14 Armanti Edwards 12 Kaelin Clay 18 Andre Roberts 12 David Gettis 14 Mose Frazier 15 Laviska Shenault 11 Brandon LaFell 17 Devin Funchess 12 Shi Smith 83 Louis Murphy 19 Russell Shepard 89 Steve Smith 2023 2018 Terrace Marshall, Jr. 2013 14 Mose Frazier Shi Smith 19 Ted Ginn Jr. 17 Devin Funchess Laviska Shenault 87 Domenik Hixon 12 D. J. Moore ??? 12 Tavarres King 10 Curtis Samuel ??? 11 Brandon LaFell 11 Torrey Smith ??? 15 Marvin McNutt 89 Steve Smith 2019 15 Chris Hogan 2014 12 D. J. Moore 13 Kelvin Benjamin 10 Curtis Samuel 11 Brenton Bersin PR 18 DeAndrew White 16 Philly Brown 13 Jarius Wright 82 Jerricho Cotchery 11 Brandon Zylstra

Ian Thomas is worth a roster spot as a blocker. Our room game down the stretch last years is nowhere as effective without him. I get he doesn't bring much as a receiver, but him taking a pay cut is a good move for both sides.

This was a great signing IMO. Some people just want to crap on anything and everything. And this current TE group (even if we don't add to it), is certainly better than last years and better than a lot of the TE groups in franchise history. People are acting like we've traditionally had good TE groups. We've literally only had 2 Pro Bowl caliber TEs in team history in Walls & Olsen. Hurst could easily end up being the 3rd best. I'll take it 100%. Not sure why other fans wouldn't.

Brayvion low-keyed played well last year. A really pleasant surprise. I think he can play a role on this defense too.

Really doubt Foreman is back. We still got quite a few draft picks and Hubbard did quite well as a RB2 last year. But if we could pull it off, I wouldn't hate it. We need to give Young/Stroud a strong run game to work with.

Scott Barrett @ScottBarrettDFB Believe it or not… Last season, #Panthers QB Andy Dalton ranked: + 1st in Accurate Pass % + 3rd in depth-adjusted Cmp% + 6th in PFF Pass Grade All while throwing to a bottom-7 receiving corps

Exactly. That doesn't make us different from at least 25 other teams, maybe 31. That's why getting a franchise QB matters so damn much. B/c at that point, there are always veteran guys willing to come in for a chance at a ring.

That is the limitation. He's a starting caliber RB for his rushing ability, but he is not a complete back like CMC. Meaning a 3 down back. Not a knock bc I'd rather have a really good rusher (which he is) rather than someone who is mediocre at rushing and as a pass catcher out of the backfield. But honestly almost all RBs are fairly replaceable. I think a 2 year, 5M contract is fair for both sides, and I do want him back at that price

Outside of having to give up DJ (which definitely hurts), I can't imagine this offseason going any better. It's nice to have professionals running the show on Mint Street

Would be 2 wasted 3rd rounders in short order on QBs we hardly gave a chance to develop (Will Grier).

I think they see him as a NT primarily in 3-4 or DT in 4-3. Brayvion Roy actually played quite well last year and can play NT also. Both are good run stoppers. Henry Anderson (guy who had mini stroke last year) is also good against the run and can play DE in a 3-4. Not sure if he's under contract though

I will say this, he seemed to be smiling and enjoying life last year here (who wouldn't be making bank to do nothing) and the other offensive lineman gravitated towards him. So maybe he is willing to come back cheap, bc like you said, it's the only way it makes sense I think James Campen will also have a say

PJ is gone, although I think he will end up on a 53 man roster. Even Corral probably isn't guaranteed, especially if Reich plans to only have 2 QBs active. I think the plan is to start the rookie from Day 1, especially with this Oline. Still need a veteran backup. Would have been fine with Darnold, but think there's a good chance it will Brisset

I could live with both him and Elflein as depth pieces at the right price (certainly not the ridiculous contracts Rhule gave them).

Even though Tuttle wasn't a star, he was a quality player for the Saints last year. He was very good against the run, which I'm sure is why he is here. You need good run stoppers in the middle to run the 3-4. Anyone remember how bad the rush defense was during our 3-4 experiment in 2019? Had no one to stop the run and if the pass rush didn't get home, we were toast.

Saints fans slowly going to realize how jacked up their cap really is. They can parade around like they have found some secret formula regarding the cap that 31 other teams don't realize, but the truth is they are in awful, awful shape right now, and it's only going to get worse. Both starting DT's gone with no money to replace. Yeah there's the draft, but that's how you end up with Sione Fua and Terrell McClain as your starting DT's... we've been there and done that. But good luck to the geniuses down in New Orleans that know better than anyone else. They could have taken their medicine and been like the Falcons, or the Bucs after this season. But, I guess signing Carr and trying to be mediocre is their plan. The rest of the NFC South approves

He's been a starter for the Saints. Decent PFF grade for those who care Shy Tuttle | New Orleans Saints DI | NFL and PFF stats | PFF Evero & Capers obviously see him fitting in this new defense

He was a legit starting caliber WR for the Lions. Not sure what happened in NYG, but I would like to have him in a 1-year prove it deal. He would have a chance to reclaim a starting spot here.

100%.

It's unreal. I go to the games. Shaq flies around as much as anyone out there, and he has gotten better in coverage throughout his career. Him & Burns & Luvu are insanely fast when you see them live. He still has plenty of juice, unless he falls off a cliff this season. He is a very good player, but b/c he's not Luke or TD people try to slander him. Our defense next year is much better with him than without him. Behind the scenes, Scott Fitterer, Dan Morgan, Frank Reich, Ejiro Evero, & Dom Capers all wanted this to happen. If that group is not qualified to make that decision and make the right one, I'm hard pressed to believe anyone else on this board is either.

Hardest positions to find: 1)QB (Stroud/Young) 2) EDGE (Burns) 3) LT (Icky) 4) CB (Horn) 5) WR (TBD) So we basically traded our 5th hardest to find position to get the 1st. You have to give up something to get something. It was a lot to give up, but it wasn't a fleece. We need to get this right, but having Reich, Caldwell, and McCowen is a damn good infrastructure to have in place.

Typical, but beyond lazy.

My sons are interested in going also now that we have the #1 pick. Would appreciate any insight also

Exactly. We have the right to expect big things. And at least everything about this shows an actual strategic plan, something we have not had since 2011 when we hired Rivera and drafted Cam. That was an actual plan, and it paid dividends with our run from 2013-2017. Everything since then has been half-assed. The team tried for 2 seasons to hold serve as Cam's body was breaking down. There was literally nothing even remotely approaching a strategic plan under Rhule- it really was the epitome of bringing in his college players and then throwing crap at the wall to try to find a QB. In retrospect, the Rhule era was so unbelievably bad. As fans, we never knew what to expect- was it compete immediately, was it a Jay-Z 7-year rebuild, etc? To this day, that question was never answered, and Rhule seemed insulted when the media dared to even ask him about it. If this plan doesn't work, at least we can understand it as fans. And there will be clear benchmarks on whether this is working or not. The Rhule Era truly was a smoke & mirrors BS-fest. And when as fans we finally got to look behind the curtain, there was nothing there but an insecure man who spouted platitudes, came up with inane slogans, and wanted to micromanage the social media team, all the while acting like he had no control over the process. We have a top-10 coaching staff, a top-10 Oline, and hopefully a top-10 defense. Let's add a QB who can be our franchise guy and cook!

Look, from the start, there is undoubtedly risk involved in trading away assets for an unproven QB who has never taken an NFL snap. NFL history is full of examples of college prospects who never fulfill their imagined potential. But after the past 5 years of unmitigated disaster (and yes, this has been the worst stretch in Panthers history), why in the world would fans not be onboard with a new approach? I know the stretch from '97-'03 was bad too, but the franchise was still young, and we didn't have 3 years in a row where the season was over before Thanksgiving. It's also almost impossible to go 5 years in the current NFL with 7 playoff spots and be as bad as we have been. The lack of success combined with the Rhule clown show destroyed every ounce of goodwill built up by the Cam/Luke squads from 2013-2017. I've been a PSL owner for 17 years now. I wasn't at the stadium in 2001, but I know the past 2 seasons especially have been rock-bottom in terms of fan apathy for at least the past 20 years. Something/everything had to change. If you just watched on TV, it's hard to convey how bad and apathetic things had become. Wilks did make things better when he took over, but overall attending games became almost chore-like. No offensive innovation, no energy, and most importantly, not enough results. The Panthers have been a bottom feeder, even with elite offensive players like CMC & DJ. It's been 5 years of a hamster wheel turning, and it was time to get off of it. David Tepper has made some missteps, but anyone who questions his desire to win and his willingness to do whatever that takes (whether misguided or not), is wildy mistaken. You don't become a self-made multi-billionaire without having an overwhelming drive to be successful. Firing Rivera and keeping Hurney was a mistake, and the entire Rhule era was overall a fiasco. But here's the thing, Tepper learned from that experience, and everything that has taken place post- Rhule validates this. Frank Reich was a homerun hire, but moreso than that, the extensive interview process really helped the team identify coaching talent, which Tepper allowed Reich the resources to go get. Everything has been put in place for a rookie QB to be our next franchise guy. Can you imagine a better set of mentors than Frank Reich, Jim Caldwell, and Josh McCowen? And a top 10 offensive line is a luxury most rookie QBs drafted high can't dream of. The Panthers defense is also far better than what many rookie QB's have to support them. Yes, our receiving threats that remain are not impressive. But with a lot of money to spend in FA and 7 draft picks, we will be alright. I'd rather have Cam Newton with Ted Ginn & Philly Brown than Sam Darnold with DJ and TMJ any day of the week. You should too. I feel like Panthers fans have become so accustomed to failure and disaster that many of us just assume bad things have to happen to the Panthers. It's almost like fans want to believe the team has no agency at all. We have to get beyond that, b/c that truly is a poverty franchise mindset. Tepper has finally enacted the right plan for the Panthers to take back agency, and to be positioned to dominate the NFC South for years to come. It's ok to be excited, seriously!! One of my best friends is from Buffalo, and my old college roommate lives in KC now. You think for a moment they regret taking a chance on a QB? Hell no, b/c there is no way else to be consistently good in the modern NFL. You don't think Bills fans had come to believe for years that nothing good could ever happen to their franchise? Bills Mafia was born out of the bond Buffalo fans shared through the 20+ years of misery. The Chiefs have been intermittently good, but they historically played 2nd fiddle in that division to the success the Broncos & Raiders franchises had until Mahomes showed up. The only way to become a coveted franchise is to have a franchise QB, and you have to be willing to take a chance to make that happen. The Panthers have created as good of an environment for a rookie QB to flourish in that a team can provide. Let's be excited and confident that the worst stretch in franchise history is behind us. We have actual professionals running the team now, and an owner who is willing to spend to be successful. This is a good day to be a Panthers fan!