Icege

Yea, there's a good amount of players there but fortunately it's not a lot of expensive players that are going to demand a premium to be replaced outside of TMo. A punter, two ST LBs, a LS, three back-up OL, and a starting center are all players that can be replaced with day three picks which will allow the team to commit the premium picks to premium positions. fwiw I hope that they invest in a franchise center next season if they decide Mays isn't the guy.

Base for run downs: Scourton-Brown-Brown III-Robinson-Wonnum Base for passing downs: Scourton-Brown-Jackson-Wharton-Umanmielen I can dig it...

Most analysts from what I've seen are projecting next year's cap as closer to $298M but as high as in the low 300s. We saw a $24M increase this season, $31M increase last season, and $16M prior to that. There's also the inevitable cap casualties... A'Shawn Robinson being cut saves the team $8.5M. Damien Lewis would save $9M. BB3, Jewell, PJ2 all would save $5M each. Tremble and Mike Jackson could save $4M each. It wouldn't surprise me to see the team make a few moves that end up giving them closer to $50M in cap space to start 2026. I'm less worried about next year's cap space due to the upcoming UFAs for the team: TMo, AT, Tuttle, Wonnum, Nijman, Mays, Corbett, BC, Dowdle, Rozeboom, Martin, Rhattigan, Jansen, Scott... the only FAs I'm seeing on Spotrac outside of TMo that are must keeps are ERFAs Coker + Demani (so long as TMo's knee is fine, of course). 2027 on the other hand is going to be the offseason for Bryce's bonus option with Icky being the most significant UFA. PJ2, A'Shawn, Josey, MJackson, Tremble, Dalton, DJ Johnson, Zavala, and Bartholomew are the only other current FAs then. I'm of the opinion that they are all in on next season and if it doesn't go well, it's being blown up and starting from scratch. They're currently estimated to have $130M in free cap space in 2027.

Sure, there's definitely a chance that a fire sale in 2022 could've paid off but I don't think that's a certainty. It's not just about stockpiling the picks and bettering odds; it's about hitting on those picks, having a stable coaching staff to develop them, and keeping the locker room engaged. We didn't exactly have a model front office nor stable coaching staff in 2022. It's worth noting that part of the reason that DJ had to be included in the trade up for #1 was because the Bears needed an immediate, proven WR1 to help Fields. It was him or another immediate first-round pick, not a future one like what was being offered for Burns (whom teams knew that things were shaky with and that they could afford to wait). As for the Eagles, they recovered because the foundation was already in place. Pederson got flak and was ultimately fired (and was just fired again this offseason from the Jags). Their recovery was quick because the foundation was already in place: Howie Roseman and a solid roster (that included a stacked OL, a second year QB, and a veteran defense). Philly had a margin of error that just wasn't available to Carolina. I'm not against using the draft to rebuild, but a full-on teardown comes with real consequences: fan disengagement, a fractured locker room, poor development, a losing environment... and I don't believe that we had the necessary leadership at the time to cleanly navigate it. That's a gamble that I want no part of. Now that we do have a staff that seems to be in complete alignment and building for the future rather than fighting for their jobs, I'm more inclined to observe their process and see where it leads rather than backseat driving with "perfect" hindsight.

I don’t think the issue here is that your perspective isn’t being understood. It’s clear imo - you’re suggesting that the front office should intentionally weaken the roster by offloading talent in exchange for future assets. If I'm misreading that, then disregard the rest because then that puts the disconnect on my side of the court. But I believe the actual disconnect comes from the way it is being presented... as if tanking is always the optimal path forward. That framing overlooks very real consequences: financial losses from a disengaged fanbase, damage to team culture (say what you want about "culture-building" wins, but this team looks more united than it has since the Super Bowl run), and the difficulty in attracting/retaining talent when players don’t believe they’ll get a fair shot to compete during their already-limited careers. Not every organization is in a position to go full teardown and when they gamble on the future at the expense of the present, they risk more than draft position... they risk credibility.

I'm impressed with the way Tillis is structuring the books. The team is currently spending more on non-premium positions like iOL and S, but that’s because they’ve got rookie deals locked in at several key premium spots: QB: Bryce Young LT: Ikem Ekwonu EDGE: Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker The only veterans at those premium positions on second contracts are Taylor Moton, Adam Thielen, and the recently extended Jaycee Horn. Given that setup, it makes sense to allocate bigger dollars toward non-premium roles - especially if those pieces support the development and success of the younger core. Investing in iOL helps our young QB. Strengthening the DL helps both of our young EDGE guys and our high-paid CB. I can see the vision. Fingers crossed that it works!

This is incredible lmfaoooooooooo

My head is spinning from a lifetime of, "If you see somebody jump off of a bridge does that mean you should do it too?" to the current, "I'M ABOUT TO SWANTON BOMB A VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE BELOW, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR EARLY ACCESS TO MY NEW MEMECOIN!"

Omgomg

Tony Pauline says he's fine. Take that as you will.

I am JUICED to see these young guys get on the field and figure things out over the course of the season. I know that things are being slow-played and that 2026 - 2027 is the "show up or shut up" season for this iteration of the team, but it's difficult for me not to be excited about how they might trend.

Ironic that out of all of the multiple players listed, you zeroed in on Bryce Young and only Bryce Young. No mention of Derrick Brown or Jaycee Horn... Hell, we can even add Icky to the mix but sure... let's laser-focus on Bryce. That's a hell of a mirror for you to run into. I'm not sure what "wisdom" you think you're imparting to the front office beyond the idea that the being Panthers means that they're destined to suck forever. That doesn't exactly sound like wisdom as much as it sounds like the same relentless doompilling you've been committed to. But sure, let's pretend it's "rational" to condemn a pick after limited rookie action and an injury setback (and that anything less than full-blown pessimism is bootlicking). That's certainly the lighthouse we all need in the storm that you insist is eternal... at least until you and only you, decide it's not. Unlike you, I'm not asking anyone to leave. I'll just keep showing up with facts and context. You're more than welcome to keep showing up with doom and gloom.

I like his pairing with Jewell for the upcoming season. Josey can play close to the line + blitz while Wallace can drop back into coverage and cover space with his speed. I can see Evero looking to send Wallace on the blitz in the second half after establishing him as a coverage guy to the opposing offense.

Considering you previously struggled to understand BTT despite it being explained in a video, write-up, and multiple replies, I get why this might be a little too complex for you. Happy to clarify again! Just let me know which part tripped you up this time.

Kind of like folks that double, triple, and quadruple down on hating Bryce Young being the Panthers' QB? This hindsight fantasy that the team was locked in on Zach Frazier and passed on a "guaranteed" franchise center is, at best, revisionist; at worst, it's the same tired fatalism we've seen directed at Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn, Bryce Young... and now Jonathon Brooks. It's wild watching Panthers fans trip over themselves to dismiss any pick that doesn’t line up with their emotional forecasting, no matter the context, logic, or timeline.