Evil Hurney

I'm wondering if this had something to do with the urgency to get something for Brian Burns:

I'd imagine that's the fallback plan.

I assume to open up cap space when deals become official on Wednesday and to quickly pivot to the crop of unsigned edge rushers before they get claimed.

Key takeaway: Multiple teams interested ... not just the Giants. Should help somewhat with the draft pick compensation.

Bears overplayed their hand. Teams are doing to the Bears what the Panthers should have done to the Jets with Darnold. The second the Bears announce QB at pick #1, Fields trade value drops to a day 3 pick. Teams with a possible QB need (and aren't in range to draft the top 3 QBs): Minnesota Denver Teams with questions at QB: NY Giants Seattle Miami Dallas Cleveland Just to see what would happen: San Francisco

Welp that sucks. Interested to see the contract. Thought he might make it to wave 2.

That is a surprisingly reasonable deal.

Based on logic used elsewhere ... he can probably be had for a 3rd round pick

Yup. Guessing Ian chose the pay cut over finding out if anyone else would give him more than vet min in FA.

You only get the comp pick if you don't sign equal value worth of FAs. This is a bad year to let him walk for a comp pick; the team is likely going to be active in FA.

A single 3rd this year is laughable. The Panthers can comfortably franchise him two years in a row while they get his replacement ready, let him walk in 2026 (when he is getting ready to start his age 28 season), and still get a 3rd as a comp pick.

Slightly surprised by this. His play seemed solid. I understand the cap savings. It'll be interesting to see how they replace his production with the savings.

Already Back TE - Stephen Sullivan (RFA) Snap Percentage (14.80) - PFF Grade 60.9 DT - Nick Thurman (ERFA) Snap Percentage (34.79) - PFF Grade 63.4 DE - LaBryan Ray (ERFA) Snap Percentage (33.65) - PFF Grade 54.6 Expecting Back RB - Raheem Blackshear (ERFA) Snap Percentage (4.44) - PFF Grade 63.7 (ERFA can be brought back for a non-guaranteed league minimum contract) LOLB - Brian Burns (UFA) Snap Percentage (77.16) - PFF Grade 74.1 (Likely tagged, too important/valuable to let walk) Hope to Re-sign ILB - Frankie Luvu (UFA) Snap Percentage (93.84) - PFF Grade 78.5 (Luvu is exactly the kind of dawg Dan Morgan is talking about ... unfortunately he may have made himself too expensive for the team to keep) FS - Sam Franklin JR (UFA) Snap Percentage (27.39) - PFF Grade 58.0 (ST stud and can start in a pinch) Intrigued by a possible re-sign WR - Ihmir Smith-Marsette (RFA) Snap Percentage (10.70) - PFF Grade 63.6 (RFA would be at least $2.8M so it would likely need to be a multi-year deal as that kind of money for 1 season is better spent on a rent-a-vet WR). NB - Troy Hill (UFA) Snap Percentage (46.82) - PFF Grade 62.4 (Seemed like a good system fit, short term deal) Not a priority WR - DJ Chark JR (UFA) - Snap Percentage (67.10) - PFF Grade 60.0 (chemistry did improve down the stretch, but would rather use the limited cap on another option at WR) RG - Gabe Jackson (UFA) Snap Percentage (16.88) - PFF Grade 58.1 WR - Laviska Shenault JR (UFA) Snap Percentage (8.01) - PFF Grade 67.4 (Replaced by Smith-Marsette down the stretch) C - Justin McCray (UFA) Snap Percentage (6.70) - PFF Grade 41.0 FB - Giovanni Ricci (RFA) Snap Percentage (1.04) - PFF Grade 50.9 (too expensive to tender, maybe for vet min) RT - David Sharpe (UFA) Snap Percentage (0.09) - PFF Grade 60.0 DE - Deshawn Williams (UFA) Snap Percentage (42.09) - PFF Grade 50.0 CB - CJ Henderson (UFA) Snap Percentage (38.58) - PFF Grade 45.4 (intrigued, but likely too expensive) ILB - Kamu Grugier-Hill (UFA) Snap Percentage (38.20) - PFF Grade 48.6 (okay, but would like to get younger) ILB - Deion Jones (UFA) Snap Percentage (29.67) - PFF Grade 67.9 (okay, but would like to get younger) NB - Jeremy Chinn (UFA) Snap Percentage (27.11) - PFF Grade 57.7 (not a scheme fit) ROLB - Yetur Gross-Matos (UFA) Snap Percentage (44.17) - PFF Grade 65.4 (Got better as the season went on but is probably better suited a team that uses 4 DL as its base) LOLB - Marquis Haynes SR (UFA) Snap Percentage (13.46) - PFF Grade 71.9 (might be back on a short term deal) CB - Shaquill Griffin (UFA) Snap Percentage (7.30) - PFF Grade 67.0 (intrigued, but limited sample size) DE - Chris Wormley (UFA) Snap Percentage (4.36) - PFF Grade 44.3 ILB - Tae Davis (UFA) Snap Percentage (0.00/32.28 ST) - PFF Grade 61.6 DE - Henry Anderson (UFA) Snap Percentage (0.00) - PFF Grade -None

Would be kind of awkward to not. I'm sure it'll be spun to look like Glenn was the real reason for the flight all along. "Couldn't wait to talk to him".

"... not considered a lock..." Commence operation save face.

Depends on the return you'd get. If it's anything lower than a 2nd then I'd rather gamble that JC stays healthy.

If Evero was lukewarm on returning, could he be traded? I don't know if I've ever heard of a coordinator being traded, but he is under contract and there seems to be a healthy market for his services. While I'd rather keep him around and see what the defense looks like in year two with players that are a better fit for his scheme, I'd also entertain trading Evero for a 3rd.

I'd call 6 wins a good first year. Hopefully the team's media arm can also set reasonable expectations when they start writing their fluff articles this Spring/Summer. They don't do themselves any favors when they put out articles and tweets talking about "competing for the division".

Andy Dalton reportedly was able to improve his arm strength after coming into the league: QB guru: Dalton seeing 'big jump in his arm strength' (nfl.com)

Fant is a FA. I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers took a swing at him.

The price for firing Frank in his first season. Tepper-Tax.

Seems unlikely that Canales will be one-and-done for a lot of reasons. I think the only way that happens is the team somehow ends up with the #1 (or #2) pick in the draft and they can reset (again) with a QB and Coach at the same time.

Enjoy paying Baker $30M+ a season to once again learn a new offense.