MHS831

There have been gems found late at WR every year. Everyone is saying that we need a #1, and I get it. However, Coker and XL are rookies and they will improve--how much? Who knows. Theilen has been great, but of course, he is showing signs of aging-drives with his turn signal on and goes to Golden Corral at 4:30 for dinner. Last year was the year to grab a #1--I am not even sure the best WR in this draft will be a #1. Kids can be successful in college with suspect hands and bad route running--if they can run they get overevaluated, in my view. I think a kid who runs crisp routes, is fundamentally sound, has great hands, etc. would give us what we need--especially if we get a top TE--which may be the way to go in a down WR market and draft. Sanders is showing signs--and he would still be effective as the #2 WR. Tremble as the #3. The kid from Penn State could be the sleeper pick in round 2. Mark my wirds!!

Thanks--lotta ways to go here, and this is just one of them. We need to hire the new DC early, if that is what we do.

There is another WR who seems to be under the radar--Bech, from TCU I think. Like Legette, had a strong SR year without doing too much before that, but his hands are great--will see how he runs. Beck reminds me of AT, from what little I have seen

I think we could use a stud TE as well, and if we shift to the 4-3, a MLB. We are going to have to sign a few free agents--not sure a true #1 will be available--free agency (cost) or draft (talent). I think our time might be better spent working Coker and XL over the offseason and bringing in WR or two with a high ceiling whose stock is down. Cade Mays is slightly below average but still young--I think we have to get him more comfortable with the C position and go with him another year. Just my opinion. Defense is the priority. I was so sick of listening the announcers on TV Sunday talk about what a great job Robinson has done anchoring the middle. He has a 54.1 PFF score which is higher than I thought it would be. Shy Tuttle is at 44.1 which is illegal in 34 states. We get Brown back--huge upgrade---and we could use another--I think we are likely going 4-3, so it is possible Robinson would be better beside Brown; his cap hit will be $8m, so that is not higher than a first round DT would be. I still think you grab a DT later on day 2. In a 4-3 (assuming that is what we do) We need an Edge pass rusher to play with Clowney. On the other side of the ball, Wonnum has been getting pressures but not holding the edge well. DJ Johnson has not been getting pressures but is doing better at holding the edge. Barno is on the smallish side for a 4-3 DE, but he has looked decent in limited play. What do you do? Depends on the defense, but I would say get a stud pass rusher early--as in round 1 if possible. I also think MLB is a bigger need than advertised--Jewell has not been great--people think he is better than he is.30 and has only 60+ tackles. Understand that the DTs have not kept him clean, but at 30 with a 56 PFF score (about right, imo) we need a Beason, Morgan, Mills, Luke, etc. in the middle. From the perspective of the Panthers switching to a 4-3 (hypothetical), MLB suddenly becomes a big need, in my view.

That is exactly like I feel. Not a huge fan of the WRs this year. I do, however, like Xavier Restrepo from Miami in round 2. He has great hands and is always open. Probably more suited for the slot.

From what I read, I am not seeing that. We don't think WR is the top priority in the draft--

Take a look at our top WRs aside from XL--who arguably is our fourth best WR right now: AT (undrafted), Coker (undrafted), and Moore (7th round). You build from the inside out, back to front. I think we can get a TE, RB, and maybe even a WR on day 3 of the draft. I think we should leave days 1 and 2 with a top edge, DT, and MLB (not a Jewell fan, and if we go 4-3...) I would also need to evaluate Center but Mays has been OK and should improve. Some are arguing that we need a #1 WR, and rightly so, but XL, Coker, etc. will improve. Add some people who can catch and get open--they are not #1 WR out of college--they are #1 candidates. Fill the stall and let the fastest horse race.

Good summary

Last I saw, Giants beating Colts--they can't do anything right!

Well I guess its settled then.

If he is available, knowing what we know about probable free agents (who would come to Charlotte) and the draft, WR is almost a necessity--but if TMac and Abdul and Graham are all available, I am not sure the Panthers take TMac. The draft is deep at DT, and there are some edge players who can be developed. There are some DTs who can pressure the qb and collapse the pocket--they may be as valuable as an Edge---so it will be interesting. Gotta get WR help and it has to be top shelf help.

I can say that I love the speculation and research and debate before the draft almost as much as I do the regular season (when your team in not doing well). Tepper has shown some signs of understanding that he is not the smartest man in the war room. Morgan's draft, although I wanted Ladd I get why they did not draft him (AT), I think they saw last year's draft as year 1 of a 2 year process. They take a raw WR with upside, the top RB (but he was on the operating table on draft day)--these are long term, year 2 picks if they work out. Bad short term picks, good long-term picks. After that, Morgan was brilliant--Wallace is a player and he grabbed a fourth-round TE who is our #1 now. It is easy to look back and say, "What might have been" but this team was being run by clowns then--Fitterer and Tepper---and throw in Rhule for good measure. On defense, we are an edge and a DT from returning to glory. On offense, a WR and maybe a top TE should do it. I also say draft a QB to groom. Morgan got 3 starters (XL, Wallace, Sanders) out of the draft. That is good considering we had no first rounder going in. He got a depth player (Wade Smith) and probably a solid rotational RB (Brooks). Now he needs to do it again.

New England seems to sitting in the sweet spot of the draft because they are likely to pick second and they do not need a QB. Undoubtedly, the #1 pick will be a QB (let's say Giants), leaving New England on the clock. They can take the best player in college football and add to their cb room or their wr room. There will be interest in a trade with teams like Tennessee, Cleveland, Vegas, etc. all seemingly interested in a QB. A team moving up would not only have to pay the QB draft tax, but they would have to pay more to overcome the fact that Hunter was to be the pick. I am guessing that team might be Vegas, but watch the Browns. They have a ton invested in Watkins, so they can't afford a free agent. They can afford draft picks, however, and look to pick 5th overall (if the draft were today).

INTERESTING The Giants are the only 2-win team. Due to the Giants' strength of schedule, it is possible for them to win 1 game and drop to seventh in the draft. Having said that, I am confident the Giants will not win another game. Having said that, I am not sure I would be happy in this draft with the #1 overall pick knowing that I needed a QB. I have more confidence in Ward than Sanders, but, in my opinion, neither is ready to play in 2025.

Not related, but interesting. I am not sure I would be happy in this draft with the #1 overall pick knowing that I needed a QB. I have more confidence in Ward than Sanders, but, in my opinion, neither is ready to play in 2025.

So you are saying that we need a great QB to get "over the hump" (talking Super Bowl), and you call it a "hot take." Here is my question: What specifically would you do about it right now? I want names, please.

Good example. If you switch from the #2 role to the #1 role, you get the attention of the defense. You get the top CB a lot. You are the first read a lot--giving you less time to get separation. It is a different animal than #2. You go from Robin to Batman.

Their defense sucks, however, and I imagine they will invest in it---

I see it this way--what if you play Hubbard and he blows a knee? I would not be surprised to see Horn benched. I would not be surprised to see veterans like Jewell, Wonnum, Clowney, and maybe even Bryce benched at some point to prevent some injury that might impact the offseason/camp etc. In addition, it would assure a top 6 or so pick. In addition, you get to see how players like Plummer and a few others look when the bullets are real (unlike in preseason.) I realize that some of you think this is lunacy, but it happens and it is smart, actually. I think you try to win, you just try to win with developmental players while protecting your core for 2025.

To me, they are probably tanking legally--and they want to see what they have...I am surprised nobody said Plummer in the answer to this question. I want to see Cade Mays finish strong (He is ill right now). I do not want to see XL play well--I want his problem to be stuff you fix in the offseason, not inconsistency. I am not seeing Chuba to IR yet... Dont know how current this is, but from Panther site: Out: Smith Wade, Jewell Doubtful: Horn, Moton Questionable: Lewis, Wonnum, Clowney, Legette, Robinson, Hubbard (??), Gill

I think they are already thinking about the QB position and Plummer's last preseason game was strong, following a terrible one. I imagine he plays, unless the game is on the line.

Interesting. Very possible. I am under the impression that it is on a case-by-case basis--but it is a good question.

Plummer going to be the #2? I imagine he will get some time if the game slips away--one side or the other. Might mean Dalton has taken his last snap in a Panther uniform.

in 2022, the NFL suspended the Miami Dolphins owner and fined him $1.5 million for violating policies related to the integrity of the game when they were tanking.

I want the draft capital too, Cam, but I can answer it this way: We would be picking no worse than 10. If we lose out, it could be as bad as 7. If veterans who are free agents see that they can get in early on a winning team on the horizon, they are more likely to be interested in signing with Carolina that, say, Chicago, who seems to be in disarray. This is speculative, however--and I don't see us as big players in free agency--so it may be a mute point.