LinvilleGorge

Yeah, their draft ammo is pretty gutted from past trades. I don't see how they would've had any real shot at coming up with an offer that would've gotten us to drop that far back.

We took a flyer last year too. We chose to once again go with a medium sized QB investment hoping to cash in big on long odds. Even as bad as the Panthers have been historically, top 10 picks are still a relative rarity. When you forego the opportunity to add a QB with one when you need a QB, you're mortgaging your future on that opportunity cost. We're doubtful to have one next year. Even if Darnold is bad, an improving young D and healthy CMC will likely be enough to keep us out of the top 10. In a couple of years, if Fields is a legit QB and we're still floundering at QB, we'll look back on this decision as the one that ultimately derailed the Rhule Era.

I think he has a decent shot but I certainly wouldn't be shocked if he isn't on the final roster.

Yep. Rhule has essentially admitted that himself.

If Darnold resurrects his career here then it's a GREAT move. It's just that we've bet heavily against the odds relying on that. Now we'll see whether or not that bet pays off.

Good reasonable response. I'd disagree on the draft capitol though. Trade values at the top of the draft have skewed big time over the years since the rookie wage scale was implemented. Those picks have become a lot more valuable now that they also don't come with massive contract that pays a rookie like an automatic future HOFer. Those picks allow you to make a bet on elite talent without the contract that type of elite talent normally requires.

Yep. If Fields pans out and Darnold doesn't while we continue to struggle on the fields, seats are probably gonna be red hot next year. This current regime will probably be down to their last swing at QB. They've been hesitant to bet big on a QB, but if this latest bet doesn't go their way they're hand is going to probably get very forced.

You've badly misrepresented my posts.

You're hilariously emotional about this. This isn't difficult to grasp. If Darnold continues to be bad (historically likely) while Fields or Jones ends up being legit then how exactly did we not mortgage the future on Darnold? The opportunity was there to add a franchise QB prospect and we passed due to Darnold. Darnold was available for "basically a 2nd round pick" because NFL teams know that he "basically sucks" and the success rate of former 1st rounds busts bouncing back elsewhere is very slim.

I get it, man. The concept of opportunity cost (and sunk cost for that matter) is lost on most people. Hell, most successful businesses don't even grasp it. The reality is that successful 1st round bust reclamation projects are pretty rare and we chose to forego the opportunity to add a franchise QB prospect based on one of those long shots. We may consider 1st round QB prospects risky (and to be honest, they are) but history says they're significantly less risky than the option we chose. We'll see how it plays out but we're betting against the odds.

It does. Rhule is keenly aware of the bust rate of 1st round QB while seemingly oblivious to the reality that historically 1st round bust reclamation projects fare considerably worse. I get it, he's hesitant to bet big on a QB because he doesn't want to lose big but ultimately, if he doesn't find a franchise QB he'll lose his job. They're a requirement in today's NFL and Tepper knows it, hence why he preaches coach, GM, QB. Everything else is a want. Those are the three must have pieces.

I don't think it's a matter of "if" with JJ. As soon as we drafted a LS in the 6th round, JJ was basically gone unless this kid forgets how to snap a football between now and TC.

Opportunity cost is very real. If Darnold continues to suck (honestly fairly likely based on NFL history) and Fields and/or Jones is legit (unknown, but probably pretty decent at least one of them works out based on NFL history of top 15 QB picks) then this decision is not gonna look good in the rearview unless Darnold turns out to be Clausen level bad netting us a top pick who becomes an NFL MVP (definitely the slimmest of odds discussed in this post).

Why is the concept of "opportunity cost" so difficult for some to grasp?

By forgoing the opportunity to draft a franchise QB we did mortgage the future on Darnold. Ultimately, this draft will be judged by A) whether Darnold pans out and B) whether Fields and/or Jones become legit franchise QBs. If Darnold continues to be bad while one or both of them prove legit then oh wee mayne. Not a good look and not good news for the future of the franchise.

Yep. Pro Day times are often much better than Combine times. Sometimes suspiciously so. Remember when Funchess ran 4.7 at the Combine then magically ran sub-4.5 at his Pro Day? Sure...

People lost their minds when I said the Panthers have mortgaged their future on Sam Darnold, then Gantt of Panthers.com writes... The Panthers did a lot of things over the weekend to make Darnold's life more secure. That's good news, but it also puts the bright light back on their quarterback. By not drafting one, and picking up Darnold's fifth-year option, they've cast their lot with the former Jets first-rounder, and done their best to insulate him. Now it's on him to prove that he can grow into the job and earn that trust. It may not be New York, but there's still plenty of pressure. That's NFL political talk for "mortgaging the future".

He'll have to show up and ball out to have a chance at the final roster. I think this staff is pretty much done with him.

Rhule specifically said post-draft that they viewed Taylor as a CB, but we'll see.

Ouch. I was reading an article the other day that was basically saying this has been something that the players have been pushing for awhile now (working out away from the team during the off-season) and they're using COVID as an opportunity to push it harder. One of those catch 22 situations IMO. I can definitely understand why some players would rather work out on their own with their own S&C folks but I can definitely also understand why the team would want them working out in their facilities with their S&C folks. At the end of the day, if you get hurt working out on your own there's no way for the team to know for sure that you weren't just training like an idiot basically asking for something like this to happen. But, James is an idiot to admit it happened working out? Hell naw, freak damn thing. I was just walking uo the stairs and my poo just blew up on me. Damnedest thing I tell ya. Oh, you don't believe me? Cool. Prove it.

Damn. Maybe it's just my own misperception, but Achilles injuries seem a lot more common these days than they were 20+ years ago. I remember when it happened to Ronald Curry at UNC I was like, wait... that's a thing that can actually happen?

I don't think it can get any better. He looked like he had two left feet at the Combine drills. I mean, he looked atrocious. He just didn't look like a football player or even a natural athlete.

Honestly, refs should love to have this taken off their plate. It allows them to watch for other aspects of the game and one less thing for them to be criticized over.

If I'm Joe and Phil was banging the table for a defensive guy in the 2nd it would've gone something like "Phil, love ya bro but we've made 8 draft picks since we've been here and not a damn one of them plays on my side of the ball. So with all due respect and all, please STFU."

LOL @ Howie Roseman running around like It's amazing he's still their GM.