MHS831

Stowers 45" vert

Here is my gut: They could draft, in round 2, Stowers from Vandy If not, watch Jolly from NC State.

A bit long in the tooth (31) but he can play and there is not a huge market for him---I am guessing 5 million.

fine with me. @$10m per, not sure of the value.

I could argue (not knowing if I am right or not) that the fact that we have not used the TE much is based on talent, not strategy. We ran some multiple TE sets last year to improve the run game (which is why I am Skeptical that Tremble is cut) but we need a threat that can block

Damn you for tainting these holy grounds!!

I think we will draft a C who will play a reserve roll for part of the year if not the entire season. I think Kalil did that. It has been long overdue. Our guards are in their primes and we have a need at LT and a 32-year old RT. If we draft 2 eventual starters at C and T, we can start replacing the Guards and RT in the next two drafts--Since I do not see the C being drafted before the third round, I think this was Morgan's best move, considering how limited he was (cap, talent), on a smaller scale. Lloyd is next. That was a surprisingly good deal, imo.

Curious indeed. We have to be eyeballing a C in the draft (guessing third round).

If I knew how to covert, I would. See if this helps Panther 2026 roster.pdf

Well, if I am the other person, that does not make you normal. I am just a visual person.

I do this for myself, so I periodically share with my Huddle family. Maybe it helps you too. OFFENSE Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle Lewis Fortner (FA) Hunt Moton Forsythe Zavala Samac Curhan Ekwonu (IR) Wide Receiver Tight End Running back Quarterback TMac Hubbard Young Coker Tremble Brooks Pickett (FA) Legette Evans Etienne Horn Jr. Sanders Tremaine Moore DEFENSE Edge/OLB Defensive Tackle ILB Corner Scourton D. Brown (3; 0-5T) Lloyd (M) (FA) Horn Phillips (FA) Wharton (4i/5T) M. Jackson Umanmeilen B. Brown (NT) Wallace (W) Smith-Wade (N) Jones II Cam Jackson (NT) Thornton Incoom LaBryan Ray Safety Moehrig Ransom Simmons Potential Cap casualties (cap savings if cut) Analysis Offense: Center: As unspectacular as it was, signing Fortson was a very solid move. We will draft a C in round 3-4, and that player will develop for a season. Fortson is an upgrade over Mays in run blocking. We had no $$ to give a veteran C, so getting one for $4.5m is a win. Guard: Lewis and Hunt are solid, and they will probably be restructured and kept here for a few years. I like Curhan. Zavala? Not there yet. I would not be surprised to see a day 3 G taken. Tackle: We have to draft OT in the first round, especially if Stone Forsythe is the best we can do, aside from Moton. I hope that was a cyber joke. I am guessing (at this time, no salary or verification) that he is camp competition. We could draft 2 OTs, in fact, one to play behind Moton and the other to start. Wide Receiver: Coker is becoming a star and XL has tremendous athleticism but he is still raw. I expect improvement from both: Coker becomes a solid #2 and XL will seal his fate, one way or another. Horn and Tremayne seem to serve roles and are valued. Tight End: I am not happy with Sanders and would like to see him go. Tremble does a lot of dirty work and is underestimated for that reason. Evans had a decent rookie year and should be a solid #3. We need a #1. We are going to get one at some point. I think Tremble could get cut, but I would extend him. Running Back: As much as I liked Rico, Chuba, Brooks, and Etienne is pretty good and cost effective. Spend $$ on the OL and the backs get better. Quarterback: Well, we might start rooting for Bryce because they seem to love him. Pickett might be better than Gingerbread at backup QB–at least he has some upside? Watch to see who we bring in as the emergency QB. It could send Pickett to that role. Offense Overview: Left Tackle is the only real hole right now (the Fortson signing was a great move), but expect a first-round OT, a third-round C, and I am guessing we sign a TE and another QB. Defense: ILB: Lloyd seems to have found a home at Mike / MLB. While Wallace is best at Will, he is not best at starting. I’d like to see Rozeboom back for depth at the Mike, and I think we draft a starting Will LB in round 2. I am still predicting Golday. Edge/OLB: I am sold on Phillips after watching some of his video. Such and smart pass rusher who can stop the run. He smells the football and finds it quickly. Scourton seems to be the real deal. Princely (needs to develop) and Jones II are role players. We could add another edge, but cutting Jones II saves under $5m. I’d rather have him in the rotation. Defensive Tackle: Derrick Brown is going to get a sidekick in the draft. Phillips should helf Wharton more than people realize–he will prosper. Cam Jackson and Bobby Brown are below average NTs, but at this point, I am not sure they will play a ton. Cornerback: Morgan has done a tremendous job finding talent in the bargain bins at CB. Smith-Wade has been very solid. Thornton seems to be a find (rated the 2nd best rookie CB in 2025). Mike Jackson is a solid pro. Horn is elite. Do not be surprised to see a CB in the draft, but for now, this is a solid core. Safety: Ransom is an interesting player who is probably best playing situationally behind Moehrig and special teams. If they play Simmons at SS behind Moehrig, maybe that will force Ransom to work at FS. Maybe Simmons is simply the big nickel and special teams ace. I feel we are a true back S away from completion. Defensive Overview: The Panthers addressed the pass rush and Inside LB (mike). There are weaknesses, in my view, at FS, Will LB, and DT. This defense will be better in 2026, but with the schedule, we may not notice the difference as much. OVERALL: Until Free Agency is behind us, it is still a foggy picture. I anticipate a TE being added in free agency and little more. Assuming that is true, the Needs Chart (in my view) looks like this: LT WLB C S DT OT QB In case you are interested: 2025 Rookie PFF scores Corey Thornton, in limited action before being injured, was the third-ranked CB by PFF rankings. According to PFF scores, he was the second-rated rookie panther behind TMAC.

Aside from Tremble, the others are on cheap rookie deals. Tremble would save $6m if cut, so he may be necessary to sign a veteran.

He supposedly has slow feet. Good run blocker (decent). Are they going to play him at reserve guard? I hope so. He was playing RT in seattle, fwiw. Maybe depth behind Moton if not G? Swing T? I can tell you that I heard OL coach Gilbert works specifically with tackles. Someone else works with the guards and someone else works with centers. (Sorry to be so specific). Maybe he sees something in this guy he can fix.

He surrendered 11 sacks in 465 passing snaps. Last in the league (89/89). Raiders OL was dogshit. Camp body, swing T best case scenario. Look at the sacks and the pressures. I have seen Walmart greeters stop more people.

Looks like an upgrade for half the price.