Seltzer

Thank you! Bryce proved himself and earned the right to go into this season as the unquestioned starter. At some point, only haters with an agenda could watch what Bryce was able to do down the stretch with the cast he had to work with and not be impressed. Everything could change this season depending on how it plays out, but the idea that he hasn't shown anything is nonsense. Now is the real challenge for Bryce... being able to replicate and play at that level consistently. Im excited to see how it unfolds, and hopeful Bryce is going to play like he did down the stretch this year.

Kalil helped Cam tremendously his rookie season

Again, this is why they play the games. I stand by what I said. I know a lot of people in here really need Bryce to fail to validate themselves. Myself, I genuinely believe my eyes and my history watching football. He was very good to end the season with a subpar supporting cast (at least at the skill positions). I love this team, and I feel like we have a franchise QB. The proof will be this year. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people. If Bryce had even the semblance of a functional defense, we would have beaten the Bucs, Chiefs, and Eagles down the stretch. All you doom & gloomers have had your time. I'm legit excited, and think most Panthers fans, especially the ones that exist outside of this board, feel the same way.

It's hard to overstate how important an offensive line is to a QBs performance and development. If there was one overriding failure during Cam's run, it was the fact we invested so little overall in his protection. The value of giving Bryce good protection, especially in the interior, is paramount. I genuinely cannot remember a year where we had this much Oline talent and depth. I am not sure if we have done enough on defense to be great, but the offense has no excuses.

I personally think you are trying to talk yourself into circles here... It's ok to say Bryce played incredible the last 5 weeks... I know there are plenty of people on this board who desperately need the doom-and-gloom narrative, but I genuinely question how much NFL QB play some of these people really have watched when they still question him being the unquestioned starter for next year... Again, that being said, no one is crowning him at all. I think Bryce is one of the best stories going into 2025 bc his season last year was so outlandishly unprecedented. It's totally fair to personally not believe in Bryce. Plenty of sports "journalists" need to write stories, and that's an easy narrative path... But I think that actual people in the know rank Bryce much higher. That's the fun thing about sports... we shall see!

Regardless of how we got here, any rational fan should be excited by how well Bryce played down the stretch. Anyone not happy about that level of play either doesn't know what they're looking at, or they're still trying to drive tired narratives. Obviously, Cam had an all-time rookie season, and I'm not putting the two in the same basket yet, but as someone who has watched every snap of Panthers football since the start of the new millennium (Im old), Bryce was playing at a higher level at the end of 2024 than Cam was at the end of 2012 (his 2nd season). Cam continued to develop into MVP form, something Bryce has to prove, but as someone who watched both (and will stan for Cam always), Bryce was playing at a higher level to end year 2 than Cam did. Go watch the film if you dont believe me. None of that means anything for the future. But the people who said BY9 couldnt play in this league are wrong. That being said, the only thing that matters is this year. #20 is perfectly fair IMO going into the season. I mean think about it, how would you rank him??! His in-season turnaround is one of the wildest things I've ever seen... how do you rank a guy who looked like a massive bust in September and by January was consistently playing at a top 10 level? My excitement level is pretty damn high heading into this season. There were throws from the Chiefs game onward where Bryce had Drew Brees levels of anticipation. Im excited to see what he can do with a full deck on offense, something we really never gave Cam. Really hope and expect Bryce to move up this list this season.

Better speed too. I'd love to add another speed guy beyond Jimmy Horn. Renfrow is a great story, and if he can return to his pre illness form, he could be a legit contributor. But I'd take Samuel over anyone else for that last WR spot

This is the offense we were gaslighted into believing we had in 2023 and so justified trading up for a QB. Regardless, the past is the past. On paper, this is definitely the best unit since 2021, maybe 2017. It's Year 3 for Bryce. Everything is lining up. I've been a BY9 supporter more than most, but this is his year to show out and he has the supporting cast. Cam didn't make the playoffs until Year 3. But statistically, the goods ones do by this time. I'm legit excited for this offense- hope they dont let us down.

Very good write up OP. Really enjoyed reading it. The camp battle for the final WR spot(s) will be fascinating. I think Renfrow will have the inside track if he is remotely like the guy he once was. Good route runners are the best friend of a QB throwing with anticipation. Im intrigued by Jacolby George, but I think there's a good chance the team will release and then sign back to PS unless he really impresses. I wouldn't be completely surprised if David Moore gets the final WR spot. He can play a lot of different roles and knows Canales system. He really contributed over the last few games, but hes not a long term or even intermediate term solution so hopefully we can upgrade. Moore fits here, but I dont think we would have a lot of competition if he was cut and then brought back if needed

2021 has ended up being one of the better drafts we've ever had, but drafting a LS was peak Rhule/Fitterer... What a complete waste of a draft pick

Bryce led the league in down the field throws the last 5 weeks of the season... You've lost me on this totally. The YPA in 2023 was abysmal for sure. But Bryce was throwing it all over the field by the end of last year... were we not watching the same games??!

just curious... have they announced all the TNF games? If so, this is good news! We need all the help we can get to prevent injuries, and between both teams playing, it seems like there is at least one significant injury (where player misses multiple weeks or more) from TNF

I'm genuinely OK with a lack of prime time games. And certainly more than OK with no Thursday games that statistically greatly increase injury risks. This team has been ass for years, and even though I am optimistic for this upcoming season, the last thing I want is to see us poo the bed again in prime time. If we're good enough, we will get rewarded at the end of the year. Also, while watching prime time games is fun, going to a 1PM game is so much better from a scheduling standpoint with kids.

I think the plan and hope is that Moehrig, Richardson, and Ransom can be the long-term core at S. Still for depth reasons I think we need to bring in a veteran safety on a 1-year deal as a contingency

Under Evero we have usually had 5 safeties on the active roster. Right now, we have only have Moehrig, Richardson, Nick Scott, and Ransom. Not counting the UDFA, that's only 4 safeties right now on the roster. Even if Nick Scott is the 5th S primarily for ST, there's still a spot that needs to be filled. I'm wary of depending on a 2nd year UDFA or a rookie 4th rounder to be the Week 1 starter. Signing someone else would allow Nick Scott to compete with the undrafted guys/anyone else we bring in for the final spot. The only question I see is the timing of the move. Because on one hand, maybe one of these guys can step up. But of course the risk is waiting and potentially losing out on quality guys thay could help you. So, I guess to be clear, I think the Panthers safety depth is still extremely questionable, and i think it would be malpractice not to sign another S that has logged significant snaps in the NFL. In terms of the timing for signing someone, that's for someone above our pay grades (Dan Morgan) to figure out

I understand where you're coming from, but we need another safety IMHO. Other positions, especially on defense, dont have ideal depth, but to me at least S is the one position we can't stand pat at even when thinking about the future

100%. Nick Scott was awful last year. Like, even for a franchise that hasn't historically invested in that position, it stood out for how awful it was. If he sees meaningful snaps at S again we're cooked. Maybe he has value for ST, but I certainly hope we can upgrade. Jordan Fuller, who was by all accounts an Evero guy, was almost as bad. Xavier Woods was bad, but not complete garbage. Still did not want him back. Those 3 guys seriously may have been the worst S group in the NFL. And they all were brought in, especially Fuller, as good fits for this system. Everyone knocks the defensive line, and they deserve a lot of blame, too, but so, so many times our safeties inability to tackle let 4-5 yard runs turn into 10+. And it happened over and over and over again if you watch the film. Honestly, Demani Richardson was the only S by the end of the year I remember making positive plays. I have no issue with Richardson being in the mix and/or competing to be a starter, but we still need another S desperately IMHO who has actually played meaningful snaps in the NFL. The only caveat/excuse for our secondary was the fact our pass rush was nonexistent for large stretches last year. Maybe that helps with coverage, but I dont see how that makes any of these guys better at tackling. I know it somewhat feels like piling on at this point, but I feel 100% confident in saying this was the worst tackling team in franchise history. The 70ish yard pass play we gave up to Jamarr Chase where he ran through and past everyone in the secondary has to be up there in terms of most embarrassing plays I've ever seen. I can't imagine how embarrassed Kuechly must have been watching from the booth... I think bringing back Evero was a mistake, but for a team that has had nothing but change over the past 5 years, I'm willing to see this through. I definitely think we added significantly to the floor of this defense with the additions we made. I dont think Evero has any further excuses if he cant field a unit that can at least somewhat hold their own. Fixing the safety play is going to be a big part of that.

Also a good point

Vets aren't in any hurry to sign and teams want to see younger guys in OTAs first anyway. Not signing a guy today by no means indicates they won't sign someone before TC

Exactly. We have almost $20M in cap. We are definitely signing another safety and probably CB. May not be until TC or beyond to see what we have with some younger guys, but Dan Morgan has stated multiple times they're not through in free agency

That, and he can play NT & DE in this system. That is the only reason I could see him sticking around another season (and the fact he already took a pay cut). Still think it's just as likely as not he doesn't make the final 53.

I would add CB to that list

As it stands now, OLB will be: Wonnum, Jones, Scourton, Umanmielen And then it comes down to DJ Johnson & Amare Barno. I think Barno would make it based on ST, but they could still look to sign/claim another OLB for that final spot. It does seem like Canales is telling it straight when he says the rookies are going to play a lot.

let's hope

I certainly hope so. Foster had several injuries early in his career, and was able to bounce back and have some good years.