MHS831

4 minutes ago, TheBigKat said:

$250 Colts -3

$500 Bucs -3.5

$250 Dolphins -5

$250 Over 35.5 49ers
 

yes and the Panther L I got hammered 1st half of Sunday

I started a thread that sang RG Curhan's praised just before the game.  He got his lunch eaten all day...

I would take Lion's passing coordinator David Shaw if I could get him

I am going to turn my 401K over to you...I just feel right about it.

Just now, VintagePanther said:

I love Coke . He has that it factor 

He is my favorite Panther. I was begging for him when he was at Holy Cross.  Spoke to his dad on FB a few times.   

Just now, Greatman77 said:

What a game Coker has had!

we are 20 seconds behind you--I had no idea what you were talking about.

lets get really predictable sit on a 3 point lead with Stafford on the other sideline with 2 minutes.

way to go Bench.  After a big play how does that happen?  act like you have won before

Even Bryce can't screw thi.....retracted

Derrick Brown!!!

WOW

now we can give 15 yard cushions!

blitz here

Move Ransom to LB

Scott sucks.  his reaction speed is terrible

hold them here--we want them trying a 50 yard FG in the rain and giving us 4 minutes 

Who is 29?  he turned inside on an out

wallace?  that is your man

bryce was very quick to hit that checkdown with time-such a pussy

canales is not even trying to score--based on his lack of confidence in bryce?

so we spend 40 seconds in a 2 minute drill between handoffs.

Most Huddlers have contacted me via Twitter, Zoom conference, PM, email, and in one case, a telegram delivered by the Pony Express (Mr. Scot) and asked me, "MHS, what are we going to do about the OL?  We already have the highest payroll and we are about to either pay Ekwonu for a fifth year or a lucrative, long-term contract.  Is this sustainable?" 

"Nope."

So I done some thinking, I did. I looked at contracts (OTC) and performance (PFF--the best available rating system, albeit flawed--let's move on) and age of the players.   A source called "AI" (yes, TheSpecialJuan, the same people who make the steak sauce) says this:

Peak performance by position

• Tackles: Peak performance can last longer for tackles, with top-tier players often peaking around age 34.  
• Centers and Guards: Peak performance for centers and guards generally occurs earlier, with peak years often ending between 29 and 32 years old. 

So with that in mind, I offer you something called "Research" (literally, it means "to look for it again.")

Enjoy

GUARD

Robert Hunt.  He is 29 right now and under contract for another 3 seasons. However, paying a G in his 30s $24m per season is crazy.  Something has to give.  We get no cap help by cutting him after this season unless he is a Post June 1 cut, then we throw $15m on the dead cap and save $9m.  Not worth it.  However, after the 2026 season, the post-June 1 savings go up to $19m. It is $13m if he is cut pre-June 1.  Hunt will be 31 (not that old for a G), but we would be smart to use that $$ elsewhere.  I think we need to plan on having Hunt on this team through 2026, unless he restructures, something I do not think serves the best long-term interests of the Panthers.

Damien Lewis.  (28) Less money, but nearly the same situation.  If he becomes a post-June 1 cut after the 2026 season, we would save $19m.  One could argue that both Lewis and Hunt could be on the roster through 2027, and a lot depends on the QB situation.  Still, if I am GM, I take a look at the current situation at Guard.  Lewis has 3-4 good years left and has been very solid.  With only half his contract guaranteed, it makes sense to extend Lewis and cut Hunt.

Jake Curhan…If you have been paying attention, he has been solid. In the long-term plans, this could be a lot more significant than it seems right now. Over the past few weeks, T Jake Curhan has been solid at RG.  He is 27.  I lock him down with a 4-year deal in the $8m-10m per range and make him my backup in 2026 (at 28) and starter in 2027 (at 29).  

Guard Prognosis: Sign Curhan to a long-term deal, based on his performance at RG.  Extend Lewis for 2 years, keeping him as the RG  through 2029.  Trade Hunt now or release him after the 2026 season. Zavala is under contract through 2026 on a very team-friendly deal. He was better in 2024, fwiw, but those 2025 numbers are terrible.  Not sure we need a G in 2026 draft, unless we trade Hunt. (good luck with that).

CENTER

Cade Mays. (26) Mays is entering his prime as an OL and he has played several interior OL positions, making his contributions valuable.  He is probably average to slightly below average as a center, but he needs a contract.  An ideal IOL backup, he still has upside and is not a liability at center.  He needs to improve on his run blocking, but for a center, that has a lot to do with his abilities to recognize stunts and call blocking assignments–understandable.  Pass blocking is good, fwiw.  He needs a 4-year deal to keep him on the roster, and signing him now might be wise. 

Nick Samac (24).  It is noteworthy that the Panthers pulled up center Nick Samac (24) from the Ravens’ practice squad, who the Ravens were fairly high on, so maybe center is not as big a need as we think. I still think we should draft or sign a C at some point with the mindset of moving Cade Mays to a reserve IOL.  

Austin Corbett (30)  meanwhile, the oft-injured G converted to center, is making $10m this season and 2026 is a voidable year.  He is probably gone.  He is having a better year than Mays in spot duty, but last season, Mays actually outperformed Corbett using the PFF data.

Center Prognosis:  Sign Mays to a long-term, reasonable contract (backup rate with starting incentives), allow Samac to compete for the job/backup job (I have no idea how good he is).  Draft a center in 2026.  Say “bye-bye” to IR Corbett.

TACKLE

Icky Ekwonu (25) will see his salary double to about $17m in 2026, but I expect him to be re-signed to a long-term deal through the 2030 season.  If I am Morgan and I am not extending Young, I make that deal front-loaded

Taylor Moton (31) has been solid, and his salary for 2026 ($21m) means that he will be our RT next season.  He is likely to be in Carolina through 2027, when he turns 33, but the salary will be $28m, with half guaranteed.  He has a low, voidable year in 2028 (age 34) at a reasonable $6m.  

Brady Christensen (29).  Listed as a G, he is (to me) the epitome of a swing OT with the ability to backup OG, lowering the need to draft a G. He needs a deal, however, and if I am the Panthers, I give him a 3-year deal because his depth is valuable and he is playing well.

Yosh Nijman (29). Nope. A pass pro grade of 46.7 gets your QB blue tented.  His contract expires at the end of the 2025 season.  We need to draft Moton’s future replacement and possible backup.  Let BC play behind Icky and provide G depth.  Time to groom the next RT.

Tackle Prognosis:  Give Ickey the deal he deserves (ouch) and lock him down.  Count on Moton being your RT for 2026 and probably 2027.  Re-sign BC and let him play swing T and provide G depth.  Draft a RT in the 2026 draft. 

OVERALL:  The OL needs to manage the cap to sustain future growth, so the priority needs to be re-signing Curhan and planning for the Hunt departure. Re-sign Brady Christensen and Cade Mays to contracts of 3 years or so. Extend Lewis.  Lock Ickey down. Draft or sign a RT and C. Let Corbett and Nijman walk.  Lewis needs to restructure and Hunt needs to be gone before 2027. We lose the $10m Corbett salary and Nijman’s $3m, but Ickey’s salary goes up about $10m (5th year–unless he is signed to a long-term deal that absorbs some of that cost).  Lewis should be extended to save some cap room in 2026, but that $$ would go to the BC and Mays contracts. Curhan needs a deal because we need a proven commodity to replace Hunt down the road.  So the cap might increase for the OL in 2026 a bit, facilitating the Hunt release in 2027, which saves nearly $20m.  Of course, locking down Ickey now could make the 2026 cap more manageable.  With liabilities Corbett and Nijman gone (and the $13m they were paid), we can re-sign BC and Mays.  Lewis’ restructure could cover the first year of the Ickey deal and maybe Curhan will not be too expensive to re-sign.  If we could do this, our OL depth would be better and our future would be cheaper and brighter.

Urgency for 2026:

• Tackle:  Low if we re-sign BC and draft a RT to develop behind Moton.  
• Guard: Low if we still have Hunt, Lewis, Curhan, and Zavala for 2026.
• Center: Medium urgency in that Mays has been decent and is entering his prime.  What do we have behind him?  Competition and depth needed. 
• (NOTE:  I think the depth positions need to be filled in the draft because we can't afford free agents in 2026.)

As difficult as it may seem to believe, many times a good player is drafted into the wrong system and gets discouraged.  Ironically, the later you are drafted, the less time you are given to make your mark.  These are basically kids.  Players develop differently, and they catch on at different times. We seem to be good at developing talent on the OL, CB, and maybe RB.  We seem to struggle at WR, S, QB, LB and Edge.

I actually think (moving forward) that our CB room is pretty solid and a mild surprise.  I have been pleased with the development of Smith-Wade, Thornton, and Jackson.  Throw in Horn, and that is a solid room, based on my observations.  

23 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

Here's my deal. I hate the whole "Alpha" bullshit, because it has been turned into an act, a marketing ploy and a wonky set of qualifications.

What I think you need as a QB for your team is the happy, smart leader that brings his teammates along rather than throwing them on his back. And they need to be a stone cold killer when they get to the field. As much as I dislike the guy, it's Brady over the Mannings. It's Montana over Marino. It's Bradshaw over Staubach. 

And here's the one that'll get me killed around here: It's Jake over Cam.

I see your point, but if it is nothing but a marketing ploy, then it is not an Alpha.  It is a natural ability to lead and the desire to have the opportunity to make the plays when needed.  That ain't marketing.  That is instinctive.  The lead wolf does not bullshit the pack--he earns it because it is in his blood.

12 hours ago, Tbe said:

He’s Stanford’s HC.

Speaking of---I wanted David Shaw, who is now the "passing game coordinator" in Detroit.  I met him in Palo Alto when CMC was there--a class act.  

I keep saying it--if he ain't an Alpha, he ain't a franchise QB.  Discuss.  When I think of Alphas, I think of Allen, Mahommes, Rogers, Hurts, Baker, Burrow, and Jackson.  They make everyone around them better-not all are the best QB in terms of talent or skill set, but the voice in the huddle 10 seconds before the snap is important.  It gives the team confidence and hope.