MHS831

10 minutes ago, chknwing said:

my thread wasnt good enough for you?  lol

 

I am sorry.  I must have missed it.  I did not recall seeing one (I was very swamped the first week of March) and I did not search to see if it had been shared.  I always appreciate your contributions.  I would have simply added this spreadsheet to your thread.  Either way, thanks to you, we now have a cornucopia of tracked visit intel.  We are blessed with knowledge and insight!!

Sorted by Position

The following is an abbreviated list of the prospects the Panthers have met with. The complete spreadsheet, including the locations and frequency of known meetings can be found in the spreadsheet linked below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/138yxXgpawL2Fogx5M9OmXTdv2LJvlrya-mgM2YgBOb0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

1 hour ago, Swaggasaurus said:

Kayden McDonald was 5th on the Buckeyes with 65 tackles. His ability to take on blocks and locate the football is elite for the position 

For a DT on THAT defense, that is unreal.

2 hours ago, CmC2k said:

I really like Caleb Banks physical tools, but those foot injuries are a cause for concern. If he were to drop to our pick in the 2nd round, I'd be more open to taking that risk. 

Yeah, and people are starting to mock him to us at 19.  

11 minutes ago, TD alt said:

I kinda see it as the same as any other position of arguable need. The thing is, I don't see any DT that may be available as the BPA at 19, but you never know.

One could fall, but doubtful.  I am thinking a free agent who can't find a home or a player who is cut after the draft--something like that.  The draft is not deep at DT.  I do like the rookie I posted who could be a third round option.  I love high motor DTs who can pressure the passer.

After reading your post, I went to 2 mocks (Walter Football and Tankathon) to see how the DTs were falling--both had us drafting a DT at 19.)  

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Elite athlete who just isn't that good of a football player. But we may have found his sweet spot as a special teamer. No thinking, no having to read the offense and make adjustments, etc. Just take your big jumbo athlete ass and go cause a car crash.

that is it--a great athlete who has never really had to apply himself in things like preparation or developing a football I Q.  just has always been way better than everyone else.  There is a point and time when everyone around you is a great athlete.   The point here is to take the thinking away from him.  I image all the DCs who have had him have tried to "Swiss Army knife" him into a state of confusion.  A confused (as opposed to reactive) player is not running 4.39.  They get slower.  He does not have the background or acumen to be a Swiss Army knife--like you say, he needs to "see the ball, get the ball."  The point here is just that.  Give him one thing to do in some situations, and he will get faster.  I am not willing to take an athlete like that and say "he sucks" when there is a way to get the most out of him.  That is what good coaches do.  Until then, we should not label him.  That is what bad coaches do.

1 minute ago, The Huddler said:

hes a scrub

 

theres my analysis

Brilliant!  You should have a podcast.

To understand why a player with all the tools to be successful in the NFL would bust is remarkably difficult.  While Isaiah Simmons has had a disappointing career to this point, there is a reason he is back in Carolina.  Yes, special teams are important and he does well in that role.  My intent is to examine in what situations he has been successful and develop a theory about the reason he might have experienced success in some capacity vs. the times he has flopped.  Is he a CB?  A Safety?  A LB?  An Edge?  No.  He has been all of them at some point and has yet to settle into a position.  I think the Panthers will do the same thing.  I think I know (besides special teams) how they might use him effectively on defense. 

First, think of Simmons as a unicorn. Create a position that he does not have to fit into, but one that fits into his skill sets.  I think we need to designate him as our Big Nickel, and then we need to modify that position into something of a rover, for lack of a better term.  He is a hybrid--but lets not make him the hybrid, let's make the position the hybrid. 

Isaiah Simmons has been most effective in the NFL as a Big Nickel and on special teams, specifically in sub-packages where he can leverage his elite speed (4.39 40-yard dash) without the constant physical demands of a traditional linebacker.  A big nickel is a third safety, designed to match up with the big TEs, basically, and provide better run support.  

Based on what I have read, Simmons is slowed when he has to know the Xs and Os and the position is focused on complex interpretations that may require adjustments in certain situations, etc.  He excels in special teams, for example, because he is turned loose and he simple reacts to what he sees in front of him, it seems.   I think the Panthers may create a big nickel role that turns him loose on defense.  

 

 

Simmons has been in the league for about 6 years and has been issued five playbooks.  His position has shifted in an effort to find where he could best fit in.  Getting back to basics, here is a chart that demonstrates how much more effective he was as a big nickel than a traditional LB, that required more reading blocking and run game schemes:  

 

Last season, Ransom was the big nickel, the Panthers are high on him and not looking to replace him by any means.  It is my theory that Ransom will be used alongside Moehrig in some situations.  He can also provide depth behind Moehrig.  It is also my opinion that Simmons may not be the ideal fit for every situation involving the big nickel.  Simmons could be used, for example, as a blitzing big nickel who can cover the flat and stuff the run, while Ransom may be the better lock-down TE coverage guy--I dunno.  But I see Simmons playing a bigger role on D.

  Here is a comparison between Ransom and Simmons:

• Lathan Ransom: A 2025 fourth-round pick, he is viewed as a starter candidate to provide security opposite safety Tre'von Moehrig, with the Panthers high on his potential.
• Isaiah Simmons: Recently re-signed (March 2026), Simmons has thrived as a special teams ace but is considered a prime candidate to develop into a big nickel linebacker/safety hybrid due to his unique versatility.
• Context: The Panthers' defense under Ejiro Evero requires safety depth, and both players bring different strengths to that position group.

Throw in Nick Scott, a pure free safety who just signed, it is starting to get a bit clearer.  Does this mean we will not draft a S?  Not at all.  Who do we have to give depth at FS?  Let's hope its Scott.

It is my view that Simmons needs to find one or two things he does well on this defense and focus on that and not everything else.  What are his natural talents (6'4" 238 and runs sub 4.4--who does that?  Can you not make that work for you?)  This tells me the problem is mental.  Too many cooks in the kitchen.  Instead of asking him to do everything behind the DL, let's get him to do one thing that aligns with his skill set and history of success.  A situational big nickel/rover seems to be a fit.

 

 

19 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

I’m old enough to remember when I wanted to draft Njoku

We brought back Mitchell and officially kept Tremble. Mitchell Evans isn’t going anywhere. Sanders who knows, he was awful last year

I fully agree we need a better TE. This room is awful

Njoku would be a massive help in the red zone. However it really seems like Dan and the FO prefer to go young on offense

I think the Njoku interest revealed intent and the type of TE they want.  I really expected more from Sanders.

Defensive tackle (or end in a 3-4 base) is suddenly a rather significant need.  It seems to be a forbidden topic on the Huddle.  Well I am going to unforbidden it for this thread.

When we lost Robinson, it was a salary cap cutting move, saving us about $9m or so, I think.  That suggests that we are going to get cheaper, younger, and maybe, more multi-dimensional.  First, what did we lose in Robinson:

(Charlotte Observer)  "Robinson co-led the team in sacks (5.5) in 2024, and he ranked second among Carolina linemen, behind Brown, in sacks (2.5) in 2025. (Derrick) Brown played on 76.4% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps last year, while Robinson played on 62.2% of those reps. No other defensive lineman played more than 38.3%, as free-agent addition, Turk Wharton, dealt with injuries throughout his first season in Carolina. Wharton played in just nine games, producing 36 total tackles and two sacks. He’s guaranteed $14 million this upcoming season.

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article314544998.html#storylink=cpy

OK, about Turk Wharton.  The Observer claims that he and Bobby Brown III were to rotate into the Robinson DE position, but that is too weird for my head to comprehend.  First, Brown III is a NT by trade and Wharton weighs about 280 lbs and is not stout vs. the run.  Brown III is not going to provide the internal pass pressure; he is basically designed to take on double teams and dig in.  Wharton, on the other hand, had a PFF score in those 9 games of 40 or so.  In fairness, he was playing with injuries, but Damn.  PFF gives me a higher rating at the Golden Corral buffet.  In other words, we need a true DT who can fill the two thirds of snaps that we just released.  We can't count on Turk and Brown III is not the answer.  Cam Jackson?  Same as Brown.  Have your people do what they do best.  Furthermore, Derrick Brown probably should limit his snaps.  Playing more than 3/4 of the snaps is hard on the body.  A tired player in the trenches is more prone to lower-body injuries.

We need a player who can give Derrick Brown some relief and play opposite him as well.  Turk can rotate in but he needs to shoot gaps and give Guards and tackles fits--a change of pace.  

I have to think we are going to draft DT much sooner than most Huddlers realize.  My favorite, you didn't ask?

Probable second-rounder Gracen Halton (No. 59 overall, according to ESPN's March 2026 update). Once considered a Day 3 sleeper, his 2026 NFL draft stock has exploded into Round 2 or 3 due to elite interior pass-rush metrics. 

• Projected Round: 2 (Early to Mid)
• Key Traits: Elite explosive, quickness, 12.2%+ pass-rush win rate, and positional versatility to play inside on passing downs.
• Combine Highlights: Led defensive tackles in the vertical jump (36.5”) and broad jump, per Sports Illustrated.
• Draft Stock: Rising fast due to consistent 2025 production (7 tackles for loss) and a "freak show" combine performance, according to Stormin in Norman. 

What you are going to see from MHS831, your "source for Panther Predictions that are Unlikely to Happen but if they did, they would be 'real cool,'" is a position-by-position breakdown of needs that we seem to have normalized. 

Tight End:  The team is looking for a "game-breaker" and to improve upon a 24th-ranked red-zone offense. Though they have brought back their own players for depth, the organization is looking for more competition to improve the position's overall impact.  In 2025, the unit averaged 8.1 yards per reception, failing to consistently stretch the field or provide a "scary" threat to opposing defenses.  I think they were hoping that Sanders would be that person.  He is not.  I have read some Huddlers demanding the "all-around" TE, and that point is valid.  However, you have to think about the focus on developing Young and the new age TE in the NFL.   

"The Carolina Panthers have heavily utilized multi-tight end sets, ranking among the top NFL teams in using 13 personnel (three tight ends)—a strategy they employed on 7.8% of plays during the 2025 season. Under coach Dave Canales, the team employs these formations to bolster the run game and create diverse passing matchups."  This is why a seam-busting, pass-catching TE is so critically important for the Panthers.  

This need is perhaps much bigger than we realize.  Do not discount the possibility of drafting Sadiq if he is there; I have seen him in the top 15 frequently. Too many drops for me, personally, and I am not a fan of a TE in round 1 (gotta think salary cap--grab a position that normally gets a high salary on the second contract--not a TE)  Stowers in round 2 is also an option.  I am intrigued by Trigg, a TE who should be drafted in the third round.

Let our interest in Njoku demonstrate the kind of TE we seek right now.  Do we need blocking TEs?  Yes, but in a two or three WR set, maybe not as much as a traditional TE.

I get the feeling we are not finished at TE.  (Njoku?  I am predicting that he goes to Chicago or Baltimore or Miami--Chicago #1)

4 hours ago, hepcat said:

He’s had so many moments that I look at and say hey, who was that who just gave up that big play? Who just missed that tackle? And if I was blindfolded and had to guess one player on the panthers defense who gave up a big play I would always guess Nick Scott 

I am hoping that he is depth.  We have Moehrig and Ransom and now Simmons--all the same kind of player (Simmons more special teams, but I think they might find a role for him in some packages). We need 2 free safeties---so I get this re-signing, especially if they plan to draft one.  Would safety be the biggest bang for the buck concerning 2016?  

Possibly, now that we have an NFL starting C and LT.  Now that we seem to have addressed Edge and ILB.  I think too many Panther fans and Huddlers are overlooking DT and I am still curious about TE--they seem to bring it up more than we do.   In my view, based on what you say above--is why we need a QB at free safety--not somebody who gets confused and burned due to poor reads. 

Not many people talking about DT, but we have a need.  (DE)  Now this guy is a NT like Brown III

6 hours ago, Montsta said:

I feel like we never have good luck with these not-sure-what-position-they-play or how-they’ll-be-used type guys.

A certain Appalachian State QB comes to mind. 

Eric Norwood was like that--of course, you could say Thomas Davis was too as a rookie

Now show me R-boom and BC ion cheap deals and call it a free agency

And maybe a DT

And that TE you are looking into

And the punter

And Curhan

Get off the ledge--for depth, this is a shrewd move.

1 hour ago, BEASTfromdaEAST said:

Worst move of the off season so far.......BY FAR

Stone Forsythe applauds this comment

1 minute ago, firefox1234 said:

Love the analysis. I’d love to go safety especially Thieneman but I’m having doubts he gets to #19. He seems to be seen more as one of the few blue chip prospects in this draft. I think a really good DL is going to fall to #19 to beef the front 7.

In a way, if he does not, there are a few others we can grab.  I would say that Theineman is the gold standard this year---he would make a lot of people better--ever notice how often DBs turn around and look at each other when they get beat deep?  You can almost hear their confusion.  Thieneman would minimize that stuff--

Morgan gets a lot of credit--not only did he fill holes, he filled them with upgrades.

• The top edge in free agency (best fit for us, imo)
• The top ILB in free agency
• A starting LT that has slightly better numbers than our LT and he got him for about half what LTs went for last year in free agency
• A starting C with better numbers than our starting C for half the salary

I mean, getting 4 starters in free agency at those positions is incredible. 

4 starters of 22 possible starters.  We should add two more through the draft (ILB, S) at least

3 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

I know it gets exhausting seeing comments saying “he won’t be there” but I really don’t think Thieneman makes it to 19. I really don’t. This draft is all over the place. Lack of blue chip type prospects. In the 1st you just don’t want to miss. Thieneman feels like a safe pick for a lot of teams in front of us. Way too much talent there to bust. 

If teams view Fano as a guard/Center he could potentially be there at 19. Fano imo would be best case scenario for us. He’d come in and start at center this season. Then he’s a candidate to take over for Hunt when he becomes a cap casualty or Moton when he retires or he becomes an elite Center and he solidifies the IOL which is something Dan wants to do

Everytime I do a mock he has moved up 5 spots.  I can't keep up with him.  

I mean, the average fan is not close to achieving what he has--he messed up by engaging them.  I played at WCU and we played a game (back in the day) at Ga Tech.  We lost by 7.  When we were leaving to board our buses, there was a group of fans standing on the other side of a chain link fence mocking us because we were Division I-AA.  I did not see one person who could have played on my high school team.  But you learn that the best thing to do is ignore them. We did have a LB who was drafted by the Seahawks jump out and smack the fence in their faces--it scared me, so I know there were some engineer boxers stained that day.

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.