MHS831

This was cool. Thought I would post it separately:

Good thread, S&P

Yeah, I think we'd have trade options--we tend to devalue players that we dont need. Jeanty would be a hot commodity at 8, for example.

Honestly, that was my first thought, but then I changed my mind.

They sure seem to be interested in a lot of players WE THINK might be on the board around the Pittsburgh pick, but our boards are rarely that accurate. Mykel (debatable), Nolen, Nick Emmanwori, etc. I sincerely believe the theory that Pittsburgh would trade up for Sanders. If he falls past the Giants, I don't see the Raiders or Jets taking him. Because of costs (draft capital) I do not see the Steelers moving up to #5 for example either. #8 is perfect---however, I think Sanders is a bust waiting to happen-decent qb--but so is Will Howard. I think he is the product of his father's hype. I hear he was "meh" at the world premiere of the Colorado talent showcase extravaganza!! So maybe his going to New Orleans would benefit the Panthers more than the trade. I do not hate Prime-loved his skillset as a player-I do not hate $hedeur $anders, I simply see him as the most sheltered, hyped, marketed player in league history-with the best WR in the NCAA-and I think the NFL will be a huge challenge. He and his Dad get credit for turning around Colorado's program, but Colorado's schedule was very soft-- They barely beat NDSU Unranked (at end of season) Nebraska beat Colorado by 18. Colorado scored 10 points. Colorado then beat unranked Colorado St, Baylor, and 4-win UCF. Unranked Kansas St beat Colorado Colorado then beat 4-win Arizona, 5-win Cincinnati, 5-win Utah, and 3-win OK St. Colorado did NOT play the top 3 teams in their conference (Arizona State, BYU, Iowa St) until facing BYU in the post season Alamo Bowl. BYU (ranked 17 to Colorado's 23) won the game by 22 points. The point? Entering this season, Prime pulled in 23 players through the transfer portal. He had the Heisman trophy winner on his team, the best WR and the best CB in the nation. Sanders was the "Best QB in the country." 5 of their 9 total wins were against teams that had only 5 wins or fewer. 1 win was against a FCS (I-AA) team Their 3 other wins were against non-ranked teams. The only ranked team (end of season rankings) they played (the 17th ranked team in the nation) beat Colorado by 22 points. They were overrated and had a soft schedule. This helped SS's stats and made the Colorado story seem magical. It was not. Sanders was not a difference maker. All this to say the Prime is great at getting himself on the front page. People are buying it. CU just gave him a huge contract and the NFL kicked the tires. Aside from convincing 23 players to transfer (it helps when the networks follow your every move) and getting a soft schedule, they had Hunter and a decent college QB. Better that Dart? probably. Worthy of a top 10 pick? Not in my view.

Another reason for my liking Membou, besides the fact that Moton's knee is suspect (did not play the entire season last year), he is getting old, and he will be on the last year of his contract: The QB market is loaded next year. Not only does drafting Membou make you younger and saves about $24m per year in RT expenses (in 2026), it would give you a solid line should we have to replace Bryce. Young had nine nice games, but if he requires a $100m OL to be productive and will ask for $60m, that is more than half the cap at 6 positions--not including TE, WR, and RB. Yikes. So we will not be able to re-sign Moton regardless; we will extend Ekwonu and probably give him $35m per. But lets say Bryce does not show us enough in 2025 to give us confidence moving forward. If you draft the RT NOW, you have a solid OL for a new QB to play behind. Note how the other teams like New England have been scrounging around for a T--if you don't get one early in the draft, you don't get one. Is Christensen (on a 1-year deal) the answer? He will want vet starting money and he'd be a downgrade. We'd have to choose between drafting a QB in the best QB draft in history or drafting the RT. Of course, we take the QB and have a glaring need at RT. This might get that QB injured. Even if Bryce works out, we still need to cut our OL costs in half. So looking beyond 2025, I see the value in taking the less glamourous best player available. We know we are losing Moton--if his knee gives out before 2026, we'd have depth. If it does not, we have options, such as trade Moton to a team with a desperate need at T.

No changes on my like meter---I really like that S and I think the Panthers do to. He and Moehrig would definitely change the culture here at S--Basically, we'd have 2 hard-charging, linebacker Safeties and both with the ability to play center field. Richardson could play the big nickel while Smith Wade plays the nickel/dime. I definitely see it--and you have to consider more than the player's skill set and how he ranks vs. other positions--that is really impossible to gauge. He is the best S in the draft--and S is a huge need--and if I am not wrong (you know that never happens) he would be a great fit.

Before I look at the other picks-- First, this should mean that we get a trade offer from Pittsburgh, based on rumors. I take the trade. If not, I take (and this will get you all riled up) ROT Armond Membou. I do not think we have to reach for a defensive player. Membou would not be popular, but Moton has a bad wheel and is in the last year of his contract. We could cut Nijman and maybe trade Moton for a WR. We'd get a really good OL and not have to worry about finding a T next year. BPA baby. Don't reach. the second round has edge players. The third has DL. We'd simply need a WR and S, and Richardson was not bad in 2024.

You are right. He can stand or grimace or clear his throat. In the past, he has been the first guy on the phone. I am not sure other teams do it. I think he will be there, but it will be interesting to see (if we do or can) how it is handled.

we all do that! no worries

and he and Lance had limited college reps---Lance played 1 full season as the starter. (28 TDs 0 Ints. 66% against lower competition for the most part.

Fellow Huddlers talking about firing his coach (He was part of the Rhule hire too), throwing drink on a fan, yelling at roadside signs, etc. He then seemed to disappear to some degree. Last year, no first round pick, and he was probably behind the trade to the Bears--and this year, I have not seen him. Frank and others feel that he has just become the man behind the curtain; others think he has stepped aside.

Yes--when you put it all together, wow. People can get rich at one thing, yet they get their asses kissed so much for being rich, they associate it with supremacy in other walks of life. Start thinking that money makes them smart and right.

Whew!!! I expected to find my name on this list in some capacity. Including my real photo (I am not really that inbred banjo player from Deliverance--It makes me look stupid.) I look different than that-- See?

yeah, and I think Frank's point is they seem to be pulling strings just being less visible about it. I was embarrassed to see them at Pro Days in 2023.

good points.

I agree. and I wonder if it left a mark--this is the first time we have had a first round pick since the young/stroud draft---I thought the power point with Dan Morgan ordering the oxygen chamber to help him recover would have gone over better--either it was not funny or people did not realize that he tried it during his playing days to help recover from injuries, etc.

There was some talk that he "learned his lesson." Did you see them at pro days this year? I did not, but I did not see much coverage of Panthers at pro days. Last year, no first round pick--Teppers not meddling--mad at sandwich shop signs.

but it was not about Bryce and his grading--that had absolutely nothing to do with the point--he and Stroud were simply the players who were on the table when the Teppers' input became so visible. The point was to humorously create a piece to ask if the Teppers are still meddling. If the angle gave you that impression, it was not the intent, and a re-read might clarify that fact. And this was written to be casual and humorous--like the power point and oxygen chamber. A restaurant owner putting up a sign and the owner stops to argue with him? Basically, this is a joke.

I probably did not state this properly, but Waldo is on topic. There was a lot of criticism about the Panther owners getting involved in 2023. Bryce is doing fine and it could turn out to be the right pick--the point is, they need to 1. stay away from the process. there is no point 2. It seemed to have worked in 2024 and they were in the shadows or out of it, but we did not have a first rounder. Then there was this altercation with the restaurant owner. This year, we have the #8 overall pick in round 1 and they do not seem to be involved. Or are they???? And this was meant to be light and humorous.

you all missed the point and are derailing this--it is about the Teppers' involvement is not obvious this year. Their involvement is problematic--and the focus was on this year.

Is it possible you missed the point? The point was not to criticize the pick--young is never mentioned and I showed photo from Ohio State as well...the point I was trying to make was that the Teppers need to stay out of it. period. full stop.

Anthony Richardson was a terrible pick--you draft a QB in the first round, you have to give him 2-3 years--it will take him 3 years to reach JAG status.

We all remember 2023, when the Teppers were making the Pro Day rounds. Then last year, the owner of this restaurant, blocks from Bank of America stadium, sent a message that was received by the Panthers' owner. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/panthers-owner-david-tepper-makes-news-once-again-on-day-1-of-nfl-draft Why would an owner of a restaurant put up a sign of this nature? Flashback to the Tepper Pro Day tour. Brace yourselves: THE PRO DAY CIRCUIT, 2023 "THE HORROR." That is Nicole Tepper, all up in the prospect evaluation process with some motherly love and awkward post-hug expressions. I was like, "What is she doing there?" Here is the lovely owner of the Panthers on the front row among scouts and our head coach at Ohio State's pro day in 2023. MODERN DAY: APRIL 2025 So, have David and Nicole realized that ownership in the NFL does not make you an evaluator of talent? Will their egos allow them to let others do their jobs? Or should we brace ourselves to see their thrones moved to the war room on April 24, preparing for their draft day interventions? Have they been on the pro day circuit? Have we tarnished his desktop brass balls? Did the bartender hurt his feelings? Did he get the message? Just because we don't see them, it does not mean they are not there--lurking in the shadows--hugging people and talking to coaches. Texting stuff. "Dan, take who you want, but that Offensive Guard from Guilford is my third cousin twice removed." We need to be diligent. Stay focused. Keep them away from the brain trust. Seriously, did they get the message? What have you heard? Are we safe? Recently, GM Dan Morgan was asked if the Teppers were involved in the private workouts at BOA. Morgan refused to answer, but he did stare at the reporter for 43 seconds. This photo shows Morgan being asked about the Teppers' involvement during a recent presser: According to inside sources, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, made famous by Morgan during his playing days, was recently seen being delivered to Morgan's office shortly after meeting with the Teppers, a meeting that included a power point featuring the Teppers' top 50 prospect list. Please post any Tepper-related news here. Hoping there is not any.

and if I wanted Sanders (Saints) and "heard" that the Steelers and Panthers were chattering about a trade, I would consider trading up w/ Carolina. It would be smart. Carolina could be reluctant to trade back to 21 because Walker is on the board, for example, so Carolina would not lose out on their first-round target and add a third in a draft that has talent in the third (DT, for example).