MHS831

Once again, I feel the need to lay the cards on the table to see what you all think. I will present my views, hoping that you will share yours and stimulate discussion.  Since most of us are lifeless forms who do not have the time-consuming burden of having sex regularly to clog our schedules, I figured you would not be too busy to participate.

While some of us want a pure, BPA draft, every GM says it.  About that:  I have a theory.  If you have a need and a player who fulfills that need is there, he may be the "best" option for your team--not the best player.  Because he meets your biggest need, he becomes (in your brain) the "best."  If my big board had a CB at the top and a QB at #2 and I needed a QB, I am not taking the CB.   I will add that the more holes you fill, the more flexibility you have, but simply taking the BPA regardless of need?  That is hard to do when nearly everyone in the NFL is expected to produce immediate results.  I think need plays a big role, and I think overall play regardless of position does as well, but at some point, both are variables that are poured into the equation.  Nobody said it had to be one or the other--it can be a combination of both--and I think that is the case here.  Don't believe me?   Well, I can predict the positions we are going to draft most years.  How?  I do not go on who I think will be on the board.  I go by our needs and then I look at the players that are available and predict the round they will be taken.   If I know the LTs will be gone by pick 45, for example, I am taking a LT early, regardless of BPA.  If I think a starting C could be there in round 3, I am probably not taking a C over the LT in round 1, even if the Center is the better player.  Enough of my wisdom.

So what are our needs for STARTERS now?  

Free Safety:  We have box safeties (Moehrig, Ransom, and Simmons.  Ransom can play FS, but he is at his best in the box, imo.  We need a smart center fielder.  a guy who is a ball hawk.  A guy who can call coverages.  A guy who is a sure tackler.  While I love Caleb Downs, I think Thieneman might just be our pick.   We really have no player like him and he would make everyone better.  Not sure how he would fit into the Evero system.

Will Inside Linebacker:  In my view, Lloyd is slated to play the Mike.  Wallace, on the other hand, had been better in coverage than run stuffing, so I think they want to play him at the Will ILB. While his coverage is solid, any ILB who has tackling inconsistency is not a starting ILB.  In my view, a starting Will ILB is a need.  I see this as our second round selection.  I see Golday all day.

Defensive Tackle:  The position nobody seems to be talking about.  We lost Robinson, and 280-pound Wharton is not an early-down answer.  Bobby Brown and Cam Jackson are big-bodied NTs who are not making offensive centers shiver in the night.  With the 320-lb Derrick Brown able to shift to a 1-5 technique, much of the weakness is covered.  However, Wharton is rotational. We need a DT who can take Robinson's place and make the front scary.  I am hoping we can find a day 3 steal to fill this rotational need.

Tight End:  I include TE because the Panthers seem determined to find an upgrade.  Tremble, Sanders, Evans, and Mitchell is pretty "meh."  However, is this need big enough to spend now?  I do not see the size of the upgrade we need in the draft, unless we draft a fat, slow, WR and call him a TE.  If we address TE, it will be in free agency, imo.

Depth:  Needs that will be expected to start in 2027

Left Tackle:  Walker is on a one-year deal. If he plays well, he will want $$$ and that is a real possiblity if Ickey is not fully recovered and ready to go.  So the need or a depth LT who can start in 2027 is genuine, but not as dire as it was.  This suggests that we should draft a smart, developing LT with the ability to play other positions. I do not see us going OT in day one or even day 2 (possibly).  I like some of the developing LTs who could be available late, and we have a solid OT coach to develop someone with skills and ability.  Trey Zuhn III, for example, looked good in pass pro at the SR bowl before rolling his ankle.  Versatile.  Day 3.

Right Tackle:  In my view, at this moment, RT is a bigger need than LT.  Moton is 31 and has a questionable wheel.  Good news.  There are some solid RT candidates in this draft at RT.  Expect a RT earlier than you think.  I am guessing they could take Blake Miller, Clemson, Jennings Dunker, Iowa, or Max Iheanachor ASU, in round 2 (or early round 3), in fact. However, since you do not need day 1 starters, a developmental prospect could be in order. In that case, Dametrious Hightower (Tex AM) in the fourth could be an option.  

Cornerback:  Mike Jackson has been great for us, but he is entering the final season of his contract. While 2025 UDFA Thornton was the second-rated rookie CB in 2025 before his injury, he could be the heir apparent.  If you want to upgrade the nickel position, then that's different.  Smith-Wade has been unspectacular, but not a liability.  How you address CB depends on the love you have for the surprising, undrafted Thornton.  In my view, you need at least one, I just don't know what type(s).

Center:  The is tough because the seem to really like Samac (25) and Fortner (27) is a half-notch above Mays.  We could be set with mediocre centers for now, and opt to address the issue later.  

Quarterback:  I think we need to draft a QB on day three with the intention of selecting our backup QB.  Someone who is raw but has the skills.  Maybe a player whose stock was beaten down.  Last year, before the season, there were guys being projected for round 1 of the draft who might not be drafted now on days 1 or 2.  Find the gem.  Drew Allar, Penn State sure looked good at the Combine and he will be available in rounds 4-5.

Guard:    We have Zavala as a reserve and that is about it for now.  

So if I am the GM, what do I do?  I can't meet all the needs for starters as mentioned here, and the depth players are too numerous to populate through the draft.  Here goes my first mock (NFL Draft Hero) after blabbing and droning through this thread:

A few explanations: 

Pick 113 Brian Parker is ideal for a conversion to center.  He was excellent at RT for Duke and could backup Moton in a pinch, but I project him to Center or guard.

PIck 152 Aamil Wagner is a Left Tackle project that could use some strength building, but technically sound, a good leader, a solid technician.  A year with our OT coach should help.  (I missed out on my Tex AM OT Zuhn III because he went in the third--I was going to take him in round 4)

Pick 170 Parker Brailsford was a C at Alabama.  Should they decide to play Brian Parker at RT or Guard, Brailsford has starting potential.  I think he can only play center, however, so that could make Parker a G or T.

As you can see, I was able to trade down a few times, enabling me to find a late WR and LB who might develop.  Jolly (TE) is a player they have talked to.

I would be happy with this draft, but it is not at all what I was envisioning a week ago.  

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The most aggressive we've ever been didn't exactly turn out well.

1 hour ago, OneBadCat said:

I think that's the dark horse pick. Start planning for the future of the position if we can't keep Mike Jackson, or someone gets hurt. I'd like to take a CB that has good return ability though so we can get them on the field.

Maybe, but UDFA Thornton was the second highest rated rookie CB in 2025.  I think he will find some pt.  I think we might take a nickel CB later, like that kid from Duke.

6 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

I seriously doubt it. Tight ends aren’t a huge part of this offense and Sadiq isn’t a Colston Loveland or even Tyler Warren 

I think they’d be more likely to go WR than TE.  I don’t believe Lemon gets past the Rams at 13. So it’s just a matter of how far does Jordan Tyson fall if at all

What bothers me about that logic-and I share it with you--is that Morgan has had too many holes to focus on TE and he has drafted TE twice in two years (on day 3).  I think we like Tremble, and we just re-signed Mitchell. They are giving Bryce weapons and protection everywhere else.  However, in a run-first offense, I am not sure Sadiq is the guy you need.  

Secondly, a TE in round 1 needs to be a perfect fit.

I think we need to go ahead and draft a T and C.  Good draft for both.  LB is still a need. S is a need. CB or nickel is a need.  TE in round 1 does not move the scale much.  

1 hour ago, Martin said:

I’m still really interested in drafting an LT in the first round if the right one is there. Perfect scenario to allow to sit and learn for a bit. That’s how you get a starter for 10-15 years.

Unless we move back, a LT is going to be there I do not see more than 3 going before 19, and we have 5 who have been mocked in round 1 regularly (Miami OT, both Utah OTs, Georgia OT, and Bama OT)  (forget names--tired of spelling them). 

I noticed that the Panthers had their OL coach (an OT expert) at Clemson's pro day.  Hmmm. Not day 1, but maybe day 2 and 3.

2 hours ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

Could we be targeting Kenyon Sadiq at #19 now?

I had the same thought.  I hope not, but that is my knee jerk reaction

Not bad depth. 

2 hours ago, Soul Rebel said:

I almost lost my isht because I was afraid this clown was coming back....

 

he still might....

2 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

BREAKING: Former #Packers LT Rasheed Walker is signing with the #Panthers, per source. 

Walker, just 26 years old, started 48 games over the last 3 years and now gets a new deal.
 

https://x.com/schultz_report/status/2032550037717147805?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

surprised one of your normal sources did not break this:  Seymour Buttz, Mike Hunt, Dick Bangs...

On 3/12/2026 at 1:05 PM, MHS831 said:

We are going to draft Lomu OT (1st) and Stowers TE (2) in this draft.

Changing it to Round 2: Golday

I think we will attempt to sign Curhan to be the fourth guard at league minimum.  Not- a good G draft....I am not sure about RB--we need to see Brooks.-

Definitely still see LB as a huge need-if Wallace starts, we are weak at Will.  Round 2 will/should be our next starting will LB.  (Golday is my choice)

12 hours ago, SetfreexX said:

Here's a brief look at where we are after the initial wave of free agency.

The ''yellow'' TBD spaces are areas we still need / could add players, and those in ''red'' are players that will either not be on the team this upcoming season or will likely start on IR. 

Just a little somI

ething to help us get an idea of positions where we still have holes / could use an upgrade *cough* LT.

I appreciate this.  Out of curiosity, are you assuming that we are not adding to the C position? I am thinking they add a C since Fortner is on a 1-year deal and the OL is so cap strapped through 2028 or later.  I am also aware that they like Samac--so just wondering how others are approaching this.  I mock C to the Panthers in round 3 or 4 usually.

Great thread--the tea leaves are forming.

2 hours ago, XClown1986 said:

I feel like Freeling and Proctor are being overvalued, while Lomu is vastly underrated. If Lomu gets to 19 I'd be happy to take him. 

I want Lomu, but would understand Freeling or Proctor.

6 hours ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

And he had a week old roach coach sushi draft in 24'. Either one could be the norm and the other the anomaly. Let's not crown him as a draft god quite yet. 

Saying he had a good year last year is not crowning him.  I think he learned from his mistakes, but most GMs are failures regarding the draft.  I don't know why drafting players who can contribute is so difficult. 

30 minutes ago, Tbe said:

I think so too. I think they planned to go Defense in the draft, but had to pivot due to Icky’s injury. Not terrible, since we’ll need an OT eventually to move to RT or slide in at guard. Icky will probably spend the rest of his career at guard. 

Stowers is a dark horse (from my perspective, anyway..not hearing as much about him as deserved--imo).  

I think we could go ILB here or there could be another edge to drop, but there are no Free agent TEs they want and the talent drops after Stowers.  He should be there in round 2

We are going to draft Lomu OT (1st) and Stowers TE (2) in this draft.

32 minutes ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

I’m fine with letting this play out but if someone connected to the team mentions Byron Bell or starts talking about left handed defensive tackles I’m gonna have an all out panic attack.

 

just sayin

We need an amphibious OT.  

27 minutes ago, scratched said:

We have nobody on our roster right now that should be starting at LT.. 

gonna go with 3 guards, I assume.

10 minutes ago, strato said:

I don’t see ‘that guy’ coming out of these options. It is gonna be a struggle. But knowing we can shuffle them over to the right side is a relief and probably justifies the investment. 
 

I hate giving up a chance to take a two contract player at ILB but we are just up against it. 

I would say that Morgan is a Hurricane and there is a Hurricane LT , but we cant reach him.  I was OK knowing Nijman might be back.  BC?  will not be ready for camp or first of season.  

I think we keep Tremble if for no other reason than to help whoever we have out there.  It is starting to look a lot like rookie, everywhere you turn.

Just now, scratched said:

I agree we are and should be looking Tackle at #19... But I'm starting to fear we can't find an immediate starting LT at that spot. Only a few guys I think can come right in and be a starter in this draft. So getting a FA that can start if needed should be priority in my opinion. We can't go into the draft HAVING to find a starter at LT. 

It is asking a lot.  Please don't put Forsythe out there.  If so, I am buying life insurance for Bryce and making myself the beneficiary.

3 minutes ago, strato said:

I know but this is a serious deal. The guy from Green Bay is there. Top FA option. He is what I’d call half decent, not trying to say he is anything more. 
 

We are sitting in a precarious position, with RT probably being an option as a position for him if or when we can upgrade or if Icky somehow comes back whole. So we could use him there in the future. He is a three or four year starter. 
 

The longer this draws out with nothing done, the more I see a costly draft day trade up. Rather not. 

Must be about money.  They have a QB on a rookie deal and are cap-strapped.  Yikes.

7 minutes ago, strato said:

Our cupboard is practically bare, and we are depending on a crapshoot from the 19 slot. 
It isn’t what I’d call a strong position 

I think they might trade up if they can, if they fall in love with one guy, but if you are OK with Lomu and Proctor (I am), then if Freeling is gone, I sit and wait.  If we trade up, we likely lose our Will ILB or Center of the future.

1 minute ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

Of course, you build through the draft, but you don't reach for players when you have most of you issues addressed in free agency.  

When you go BPA, you should get quality players every time. 

That is the key--however, as it looks right now, we have to take LT. That could change, and I am sure Morgan is working on it.

He had a great draft last year. 

1 minute ago, tukafan21 said:

No, he needs to earn his paycheck in the draft.

No matter how good you are in Free Agency, you can't be a sustainable and SB contending team without drafting well, and that goes beyond the 1st round.

THIS JUST IN:  Panthers re-signed Mitchell.

Discuss.