MHS831

1 hour ago, Bear Hands said:

Seems like a great kid - happy to have him on the squad. Bright future ahead.

And so is Coker.  And so is Bryce (if he becomes part of the equation).  There is a lot to like about the WR/QB room in terms of "people you can cheer for".

To the OP's credit, Ron Rivera, imo, used Cam at times like a fullback.  The fact that he never had back-to-back winning seasons with a stud QB says a lot.  The OL was an afterthought.  Cam saved RR's job many times.  RR was NFC coach of the year twice during that time, but he never earned it.  I wish we had kept Fox.  He got it.  Never had a great QB and won more.

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43 minutes ago, NCBlu said:

It's called injury's 

Is it though?

JK. I agree.  When he was carted off the field crying like a baby I knew his days were numbered.  That is not just an injury to a joint or tendon--that is your brain.  He played 8 years at a position where he was the best we have seen for most of them.  

22 hours ago, tukafan21 said:

I.  Told.  You.

 

 

I was partially right.  I stated that he was a rookie.  

I have absolutely no problems with Bryce the human being.  That is why I hold out hope for him.  I want him to be successful

While I can't add to the topic, I can share other unwatchable stuff.

Thank God we are inthe NFC South--

4 hours ago, Swaggasaurus said:

I doubt you trade back and get Freeling. These draft boards are largely built during the season. Not many expected Freeling to come out and he only has 16 starts. Tons of buzz this week and is only going to skyrocket from here. Once these ranking get finalized after the combine and PRO days I think he’s the 3rd OT picked after Mauigoa and Fano, may even supplant Fano.

I was afraid of that--and definitely see it.  He looks solid.  I'd take any of the top 4 OTs--and I am confident one will be there--not sure how Proctor would fit here--but there are 4 I would take.  

On 2/2/2026 at 12:34 PM, raleigh-panther said:

Sometimes, a franchise has to cut bait and move on

icky is serviceable but he has flaws  

this isn’t a guard or a linebacker, or a safety

it is a blind side protector of a very tiny qb

Too. Moton is also getting older and he missed some games or parts of games this year   As that knee wears down, we know the end of that story 

and Christiansen is coming off an Achilles injury 

All of this means, we have one clear swing tackle in Yosh, and doubt he is an every down player and if he goes down, then what ?  

if I’m the Panthers, I go best available tackle in rd 1 or 2 and pick up free agents for backups 

keep the strengths strong    It isn’t like the team has Josh Allen behind that line either 

 

I really really like the developmental OTs to start grooming as Moton II.  (See previous post).  In other words, you are probably right--BC could be slowed and Nijman is not an answer.  We probably need a T in free agency.  the depth at Edge (especially after the SR Bowl) makes me think we draft an OT early.

The OT I want (being realistic--after a trade back in round 1):  Monroe Freeling (UGA).  Forget the "big 4"--at least 3 will be gone.

23 hours ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

I’d love for us to take a hard look at ASU’s LT Max Iheanachor. He dominated Senior Bowl practice and the game. 

I agree.  He is solid.

Another player I think is underrated and with good reason (I will explain):

Monroe Freeling UGA Many have him the fifth-rated OT, but I would put him at 2 or 3.  Reason?  He played the season with an ankle issue and still kicked arse.  Here is a write-up that describes him--the injury, in my view, has him rated lower than if healthy all season.

OT Monroe Freeling

Georgia | 6'7" | 315 lbs

Ht:6'7"

Wt:315 lbs

Class:JR

Age:21 (25-Jul-2004)

Monroe Freeling earned Second-Team All-SEC honors from league coaches for his performance during the 2025 season. Starting 12 of 13 games, he was twice named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after dominant showings against Auburn and Texas, notably grading out at 80 percent with zero pressures allowed against the Longhorns. During the 2025 season, he managed a nagging ankle injury suffered against Kentucky but remained a cornerstone for an offense that ranked first nationally in fourth-down conversions. As a draft prospect, he is recognized for his exceptional reach, mobility in pass protection, and "road-grading" power in the running game. While he has proven to be a reliable starter at left tackle, he also offers significant versatility having started at multiple positions along the line during the 2024 season.

Here are some others I like (mostly developmental, but we have at least a year--we hope--at RT)  

Your boy:

The Panthers were looking at Barber at the SR Bowl practices, I believe.  Good run blocker--needs work in pass pro.  A RT candidate?

Shelton would be an ideal swing OT.

I really like Bowry.  Footwork is huge for a T, and we do a lot of zone blocking.  

44 minutes ago, raleigh-panther said:

It is hard to argue what the Panthers need…and of,course, the scouts and Morgan, Tillis look several years ahead

To me, offensive tackle is huge 

they are very expensive, hard to find 

Moton’s contract will also become problematic in 2027…not sure he will make it to 2027 in any case 

a rookie contract for OT could make all things better from a dependability, flexibility, depth, and cost perspective 

We could/should re-sign BC and Nijman and draft 2. 

There are 5 or 6 expected to go after round 1 that I really like.   Some are a year away, so I would give Moton an apprentice now.

I think (April 2025) the Panthers already gave Ickey his 5th year deal for 2026, a $17m fully guaranteed.  This, in my view, eliminates the practicality of signing a free agent, as if any ever make it to free agency anyway.  So we have a year before deciding on Ickey's next deal / future. 

On 1/29/2026 at 7:54 PM, firefox1234 said:

 

I think he is 24 or so.  Not sure what that means, but it is (in my mind) like shaving 2-3 years off the career.  Kinda like when we drafted Chris Weinke.  He was 48 I think

On 1/29/2026 at 11:35 AM, firefox1234 said:

I’ve heard enough.

He is in interview mode.  I like him, but we don't draft from Clemson--we draft So Carolina in Round 1.  Its a rule.  Seriously, we can grab a great edge in round 2.  I think we should trade back, fill 2 needs in round 2 (I think we can find a good Edge and LB in round 2--That would be huge

Kind of surprised that Lomu (OT) is not a first rounder.  Thank NAS

13 hours ago, Johnstonny said:

Ichy is gone...he ain't comin back...We have a hole at left tackle that needs filled immediately.... you know to cover our sub par QB and keep him upright.

Whether or not this is true, it is how we have to approach it.  he is like the girlfriend who said, "I need some space for a while."  A while?  She is GONE, buddy.  Deal with the loss and move on.  Give yourself a moment of silence and lick your wounds and get back on the dating sites.  (Sniff, Sniff)

On 1/19/2026 at 11:42 AM, PantherChris said:

Thats a lot of money for a 31 year old coming off a bad season who isn't a scheme fit.

I hope we don't.  We need to re-sign a few players (Nijman, BC, maybe Mays and Rozeboom, lock down Coker (he is cheaper now than he will be later).  

19 hours ago, csx said:

Slater is expected  to return for camp and Brown returned to play in a little over a year (texans signed him with the knee issue)

 

Its certainly a terrible situation and Icky wont play next season but be careful using AI to summarize info. It doesn't replace reading the current information yourself. It always takes in to account out of date speculation and displays it as facts.

I know--I would also caution anyone from using isolated incidents to make general assumptions--every injury is different.  If this were my knee, I would not use AI.  On a football chat board, different story.  My concerns with the AI--were they talking about all positions or just OL?  Then OTs.  Hard to find that information but your point is valid and always assumed when usingAI.  I do encourage stats that counter this because I would love to be wrong

On 1/30/2026 at 9:38 PM, hepcat said:

I am in favor of re-signing Cade Mays but it seems like he will test free agency. Re-signing Nijman is the top priority. 

Nijman and BC will cost between $7 and $8m.  Mays will be around $10-12m.  If we are not going to upgrade at LT, we probably need to at C---but I am high on Mays.

3 hours ago, Urrymonster2 said:

I’d be interested in the number of injuries in these studies and how many starting calibre players. Percentages on small numbers are always misleading.

Id also be interested in what they deem as “performance” as that’s potentially very subjective. Or how they are measuring any explosive loss.

Not trying to dismiss this in any way but it needs a heck of a lot more context than percentages

I had the same thought--and since medicine advances rapidly (there was a day when an Achilles injury means you are done) and an ACL was a near death sentence---so I think that is why the examples were recent.  

The context is not what we have, but I did mention that we have the opportunity to monitor the situation for a year.  The thread did say "Statistical reasons" with the understanding that there are always contextual reasons, but your points are extremely valid.  

18 minutes ago, OldhamA said:

If anything we're lucky he got this injury before we committed a huge deal to him.

We have to operate like he's finished. 

that is how I view it.  Even if he weren't injured, my position was that he was an average OT at best.  But it is a business, and if you invest even money in something that has a 20% chance of a return to mediocre, then you will not be running that organization long.  I thought Horn was a stupid deal (stil do, to be honest).  We have first rounders from SoCar who are being outperformed by undrafted free agents and practice squad players--our strength is finding those players--(MJax and Coker) and not trying to invest heavily in our top end players who either can't stay healthy or play the position at an elite level.  

Ickey has a year of guaranteed money (something like $14m).  He should feel lucky he got that deal before injuring his knee, and we should be grateful that the injury happened before we gave him a $100m deal.  

Just now, Panthera onca said:

The stats certainly aren’t good for returning to play at all, much less the same level. I just have this feeling the Icky will be one of the guys who return as good as ever and serves as a beacon of hope for others with this injury. His work ethic and drive to succeed will demand it from him.

I see your view, but the fact that the time of recovery is straddling a contract makes it interesting/complicated.  Those other OL in this report are older players...but I would not want to be Morgan.  I would base my decisions on the statistical probabilities.  I would move him to guard--I would have considered it anyway if a better OT came our way.

13 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Way too many of y'allare panicking about Icky. He holds no cards right now. His agent knows it. He's under contract next year with the 5th year option and is in no place to demand a huge deal rehabbing from an injury with a very spotty recovery history for NFL players. Any deal that would be inked right now would be far off his healthy market value. What's he gonna a do? Hold out and forego $17M after suffering a potential career altering or even ending injury?

There's no pressing need right now to do anything long-term with either Icky or Coker. Chill.

The Panthers hold all the cards currently with both these situations.

I think signing Coker long term now (since you are not signing Ickey) makes sense, based on his production numbers.  If he balls out next year, you could be looking in the $15m range for a player you could have much cheaper.  If you wait until you have to make decisions about a healthy Ickey and then QB, you could lose Coker.  (I have not looked at contract details etc. so my math could be off--but where I sit now, it seems to me this is obvious:  Coker seems to have a future--solid hands, can get open, etc. His production (less that 400 yards) is probably far less than he will have next year etc.)