WhoKnows

We also had a GM who was the right hand of the former GM (Hurney 2.0 was the same) that was allergic to drafting IOL and OL in general. Brooks was a stupid pick for a couple of reasons. Better players at more needed positions and his injury putting him at barely contributing in 2024 when the 2025 RB class was stacked. Having a stud C for Bryce’s career was far more important than reaching for a RB who probably was a 3rd/4th rounder in 2025 due to the injury risk.

It’s not really hardball. Teams do the same with the fifth year. If Coker is invaluable and a solid WR, we’ll give him an extension with a signing bonus (for the immediate money) but the extension usually starts after/includes the RFA year.

There isn’t even negotiating. The tender amounts from ERFA and RFA are present, like the 5th year option or franchise tag. This discussion is kind of pointless right now.

There is no 3 for 30 this year. Sitting out could ruin his career. If he plays lights out this year, the agent might be able to get 4 for 60 next year.

He won’t get a new contract this year. It will likely be before his 4th year. Panthers can use the RFA for a cheap year in 2027 and then give him a 3-4 year extension for 2028-2030/2031. All assuming he has a solid year in 2026 and we want to extend him. There’s just 0 reason for Panthers to do anything different as worst case is you get him for 2 more cheap years or for 1 more cheap year and a 1st round pick.

It’s clear. If you sit out and don’t accrue you go into the next season at the same level almost like the sit out year never happened. There’s no loophole to UFA after two accrued seasons.

Which is why he’s a Panther for 2 more years at a fixed price with not much he can do.

Right because the CBA doesn’t have loopholes like that. It’s why people who sit out always come back to make sure the get the accrued year otherwise they are right back where they started. An ERFA can’t afford to miss most of the year as they are trying to look good for an extension.

If you sit out a year and don’t have 3 years accrued you are an ERFA again. It’s that simple. There’s no way there’s a loophole that you are an UFA after 2 years accrued and you skip RFA year when you have 3 accrued seasons.

WTF? You think that he hold out and gets unrestricted FA because he hasn’t accrued 3 seasons. What are you smoking? If he holds out in 2026, he’s likely an ERFA in 2027 and an RFA in 2028. Basically loses a whole year of pay. Please point to any example of a guy holding out as an ERFA that got to skip RFA.

He’d get a much bigger number if he puts together a bigger year in 2026. He’s locked in right now and the only way he gets a bag is by proving himself. He’s got 800 yards in 2 years. He’s under contract with us for 2 more. Do you think his agent is telling him now’s the time to get an extension averaging 30-400-3TDs a year? He was an UDFA, he’ll get what we offer and build up his stats so he can get a much bigger extension in a year or two instead of a crap extension locking him in cheap for 3-4 more years.

Lose him in 2027? That’s not happening. He’s locked into an ERFA for 2026 and he’s a RFA in 2027. For $7M or so we tender him as a 1st rounder. Is anyone giving up their 1st for Coker after 1 more year with Young? There’s no sitting out for two years. We can think about the extension after 2026 and we still take advantage of the RFA year and extend him beyond that.

Does Coker want his deal yet? We could use his ERFA and RFA years to our favor but all give him some extension years. Problem is that he isn’t getting top WR dollars because he isn’t there yet. If he believes he can be that guy, it might actually be better to play cheaper this year and get the big $$$s after he’s shown more the next two years.

Go read some of the Senior Bowl info. They specifically called out a few centers including a G (from Duke?, don’t remember) who looked decent working at C. Seems like some day 2/early day 3 talent.

Stick with day 2. Seems to me that first round centers don’t hit as much as taking the top Cs in round 2. Usually some combine great number(s) is the case and the 1st round C is over-drafted. We could have drafted McCoy, Humphrey or Frazier in the 2nd in the past several drafts over the crap we did take. Seems like that opportunity is every couple years and it’s been a couple years since Frazier. Not sure what the draft class for Cs looks like but I’d be happy with a C on day 2 if there are talented guys available. I don’t think it’ll be hard to upgrade C with a solid prospect.