raleigh-panther

Think it’s a pretty good synopsis of each of these candidates. …some aren’t household names I think it’s pretty clear from the candidates that it’s going to be very hard for Wilks, he’d have to have one helluva an offensive plan and personnel adjustment

Panthers coaching search: Pros and cons of potential candidates, including Wilks, Harbaugh BY MIKE KAYE [email protected] 6 hours ago The Carolina Panthers are on the hunt for a permanent head coach. Owner David Tepper and GM Scott Fitterer will embark on what is expected to be a strategic coaching search. With several notable up-and-comers on the coaching carousel radar — and some well-documented retread options available as well — the Panthers will likely target a specific grouping of candidates. In order to cut through the clutter, The Charlotte Observer decided to create a pros and cons list for 12 potential candidates who could be in the running to replace Matt Rhule in 2023 Steve Wilks Current position: Carolina Panthers interim head coach Interview: Tuesday Pros: Wilks went 6-6 during his 12 games as interim head coach. His predecessor, Rhule, went 5-11 and 5-12 in his two full seasons as head coach. Wilks was able to best Rhule’s output with a worse roster — without Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson for all but one game — and a coaching staff that he didn’t hire. Impressed by his candor and coaching style, those in Carolina’s locker room have consistently backed Wilks’ candidacy publicly and privately. Other members of the organization also are rooting for his return. After going 3-13 during his lone season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, Wilks has proven he is a worthwhile head coaching candidate. Cons: Wilks’ dozen-game sample size is still hard to evaluate. There’s a history of interim coaches surging through their temporary tenures and then bombing when they earn the keys to the car. Unfortunately for Wilks, he has to battle the reputation of being an interim head coach. In recent years, retained interims have had limited success — with Doug Marrone’s stint in Jacksonville and Jason Garrett’s tenure in Dallas being two shining examples of retention since 2010. Wilks is also a defensive-minded coach, so he will need a very strong offensive coordinator option list, which is easier written than done, to appease Tepper. He also needs to explain some of the questionable game-management moments he had in the final two weeks of the campaign. Jim Harbaugh Current position: University of Michigan head coach Pros: On paper, Harbaugh checks off a ton of boxes in the modern NFL. He is a former NFL quarterback who played 15 seasons in the league. He’s also a sound offensive mind and a proven developer of the quarterback position. His success at both the college (132-52) and NFL (44-19-1) levels is unparalleled within the current scope of the coaching carousel and his four-year stint in San Francisco led to three NFC title game appearances and a run to a Super Bowl, which the 49ers lost by 3 points. He never had a losing season with the 49ers. Cons: While his resume and win totals are pretty, the end of his tenure in San Francisco was ugly. Harbaugh reportedly lost a power struggle with the 49ers’ front office and ownership and was let go after an 8-8 season. Despite his accomplishments, he was passed over for the Minnesota Vikings’ head coaching gig last year for Kevin O’Connell, who had never been a head coach before. Harbaugh is known for wanting overarching control wherever he’s gone, which is an outlook that the Panthers just dealt with during Rhule’s failed tenure. Hiring Harbaugh could cause a massive shakeup of the front office structure as well. He’s also gained a reputation of leveraging NFL interest for bigger contract extensions at Michigan, which could lead to a waste of time in the Panthers’ search. Jim Caldwell Notable positions: Former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach Interview: Monday Pros: Caldwell has had two separate head-coaching stints, both of which were fairly successful compared to his successor’s tenures. Caldwell, in seven seasons as a head coach, only had two losing seasons, and he led the Colts to a Super Bowl matchup in his first season with Indianapolis in 2009. Caldwell is known for his work with quarterbacks, and he has a calm demeanor that has typically been praised by his players. Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford both had a lot of success under Caldwell’s direction. The Lions went 9-7 in back-to-back seasons to end Caldwell’s Detroit tenure, and that win total has yet to be eclipsed in the five years since. Cons: Caldwell will turn 68 next week, and he hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2019. During his most recent stop, he left his post as assistant head coach with the Miami Dolphins due to health issues. While he wants to continue his career, NFL owners might be turned off by his age and concerns about his health. Along with the age and health issues, hiring Caldwell instead of retaining Wilks could come with controversy. The hiring of a 68-year-old head coach would be viewed as a short-term move, which would seem to be counterproductive to creating a culture in Carolina. Frank Reich Notable position: Former Colts head coach Pros: Reich is seen as one of the better offensive minds in the NFL. The Colts ranked in the top 10 in scoring in three of his first four seasons in Indianapolis. The unit also ranked in the top of the league in yardage during three of those four seasons as well. While Reich had a turnstile at quarterback during his tenure, his offenses — until this past season — functioned at a relatively high level. He is also known for giving his defensive coordinator full autonomy over their unit, as he isn’t a micromanager. Charlotte is home for the Reich family and the former NFL quarterback has ties to the organization and the community. Reich played for the Panthers in 1995, so he is aware of the early history of the franchise. Reich won a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles as the team’s offensive coordinator. He is credited with guiding Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles — in relief of then-starter Carson Wentz — on one of the most prolific postseason runs in NFL history. The Panthers scheduled an interview with Reich on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Cons: While Reich has a reputation of being an excellent play-caller and schemer, his run in Indianapolis wasn’t particularly glamorous. There’s plenty of blame to go around for Reich’s failures with the Colts, but it is worth noting that he never won an AFC South division title during his tenure. The division is known as the weakest grouping in the league, and Reich was still unable to dominate it to the point of winning the crown. Perhaps the lack of division success is a signal that Reich is better fit for a coordinator job than a head coaching position. A Wilks-Reich pairing could be appealing to Tepper. Dan Quinn Current position: Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Pros: Quinn is known as a strong defensive play-caller. He has done a very nice job in helping the Cowboys construct a top-10 scoring defense during the past two seasons. Quinn has a reputation of being approachable and considerate with his players, and his tenure as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons was impressive due to the consistency of the squad. While things didn’t end well in Atlanta, Quinn led his team to a Super Bowl matchup and his players always competed hard for him. Cons: Like Wilks, Quinn needs to deal with the stigma that comes with defensive-minded head coaches in the NFL. He will need to pitch an excellent offensive coordinator target to appease owners in interviews. Quinn will also need to explain what went wrong in Atlanta, and why his Falcons surrendered the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Quinn’s candidacy also takes a hit because of Wilks’ presence. If the Panthers are going to go with a defensive mind, why not go with the guy who is already here and familiar with the locker room? Quinn’s arrival would shake up the defensive system, along with rearranging the coaching staff. DeMeco Ryans Current position: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Pros: There might not be a better first-timer option on the market than Ryans. A former NFL linebacker who played a decade in the league, Ryans has the ability to relate to players in a way that most candidates can’t just based on perspective. His high-energy approach on the sideline and his excellent play-calling have made the 49ers’ defense a juggernaut attack during the past two years. Only 38, Ryans has plenty of room to grow into a head-coaching role. He’s relatable and sharp, and he has been known for his leadership since he was a player. One could argue that he was an upgrade over the guy he replaced — New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh — in San Francisco. Cons: Ryans has only been in the coaching profession since 2017. With no background as a head coach, it’s fair to wonder what he’d want from an offensive play-calling standpoint. If he wanted to raid Kyle Shanahan’s staff for a potential coordinator, he might find slim pickings — as Saleh and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel have taken some of his options over the past two years. Shanahan has also promoted from within after losing his assistants to his former coordinators. Like with Quinn, Ryans could be a hard sell given Wilks’ footprint. Bringing in a less experienced defensive mind after what Wilks accomplished as the interim head coach could rub some players and fans the wrong way. Ben Johnson Current position: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Pros: Johnson has quickly made a name for himself in Detroit as a first-year play-caller. Only 36, Johnson has already turned the Lions’ offense into one of the best in the league. The unit ranked fifth in scoring and fourth in yards this season. Johnson has also helped revitalize Jared Goff’s career after a two-year slump. Johnson is a Charleston, South Carolina, native who went to high school in Asheville. Like Wilks, he is a local draw, and his background within the Carolinas could be a huge selling point to Panthers fans. Johnson has the makings of a potential Sean McVay-like head coach, and he should get plenty of interviews — if not job offers — this cycle. The Panthers requested to interview Johnson on Monday, according to Pelissero. Cons: Johnson just became a coordinator this season. And while his one season on the job has been spectacular, it’s a relatively small sample size for a standout. Johnson has plenty of position coaching experience with quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends, but his overarching background leaves his philosophy on defense uncertain. Would Johnson be willing to be paired with a former head coach as defensive coordinator? Would he be able to handle play-calling, something he’s still relatively new to, with the responsibilities of being a head coach? There’s a massive risk/reward balance with Johnson, and that might scare off some owners — namely Tepper, who just failed with a hyped head coach who was expected to revolutionize football in the Carolinas. Shane Steichen Current position: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pros: Steichen is the hottest offensive-minded candidate on the first-timers list. Steichen took over play-calling from Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the middle of the 2021 season, and the offense skyrocketed. Steichen helped develop Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert during his 2020 rookie season, which led to praise in NFL circles. His work with Jalen Hurts over the past two years has shown his ability to adapt to different signal-callers’ strengths and weaknesses. Steichen is seen as a brilliant offensive schemer, and his ability to set up big plays in the passing game has been evident throughout this season in Philadelphia. The Panthers requested permission to speak with Steichen on Monday, a league source confirmed to The Observer. Cons: Steichen is only in his second full season as a play-caller. While he has been an offensive coordinator in Los Angeles and Philadelphia during the past three years, he didn’t inherit play-calling duties in Philadelphia until the middle of last season. At 37, the former UNLV quarterback is still young and is coming from a very young staff with the Eagles. While everyone is looking for the next McVay, young coordinators can sometimes be miscast as head coaches. There’s always a risk that a hotshot coordinator is a better fit for the play-calling job instead of the CEO position. Kellen Moore Current position: Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Pros: Moore has done an excellent job in furthering the development of his former teammate, Dak Prescott, in the Cowboys’ offense. Even when Prescott has been sidelined with injury, Moore was able to craft game plans that have put backup Cooper Rush in situations to succeed. Moore is clever with his play-calling and play design, and that has allowed Dallas to maintain a high-scoring attack, no matter who is under center. Moore was an NFL backup quarterback for six seasons before immediately becoming the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2018. He is known for his creativity and understanding of the quarterback position. If a team is dead set on drafting a rookie quarterback to be its franchise flag-bearer, there are few candidates — on paper — that are more equipped than Moore. Cons: Moore, 34, has been with the Cowboys during his entire coaching career, working under Garrett and Mike McCarthy over the past five years. While longevity with one organization is important, owners could balk at the lack of situational diversity on Moore’s resume. There’s also a valid concern of whether or not Moore could land a viable defensive coordinator to pair with in his new digs. Like Steichen, the main concern with Moore will be his ability to juggle the responsibilities of the top job. If Moore wants to remain a play-caller, he has to be able to handle multiple tasks on top of that responsibility. That outlook proved to be a problem for Sirianni in Philadelphia. Brian Callahan Current position: Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Pros: Callahan, the son of former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan, has been the Bengals’ offensive coordinator for three years. While head coach Zac Taylor calls the plays, Callahan has earned praise in NFL circles for his scheming prowess. Callahan has also played a role in the development of Joe Burrow, who is quickly becoming one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. While the Bengals got off to a rough start under Taylor, Callahan has been part of the offense’s surge over the past two years. Unlike the other hotshot coordinators on this list, Callahan hasn’t been a play-caller, which could actually appeal to owners. Instead of forcing his way into that role, Callahan could simply serve as a CEO, overseeing the entire project. Some owners prefer their head coach to be overseers over play-callers. Cons: Since Callahan isn’t a play-caller, it’s hard to gauge how much credit he deserves for the Bengals’ success on offense. The same could be said about Burrow’s success. Callahan comes from a coaching family, which is a nice perk, but he’s never really had that notable of a name until now. And while some owners dig the CEO type, others could prefer play-calling expertise. Callahan, 38, might need some more seasoning before getting the big job in the NFL. Mike Kafka Current position: New York Giants offensive coordinator Pros: Kafka has done a lot with a little in his first year as an NFL coordinator. The former NFL backup QB has made the most of Daniel Jones’ skill set and taken an underwhelming talent pool at the skill positions and made the Giants’ offense work. Kafka comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, and that background has helped him revive Jones’ previously ailing career. The Giants have been able to make a run to the playoffs, at least partially, because Kafka hasn’t dropped the ball as a schemer or play-caller, despite his inexperience. Kafka is viewed around the league as a future head coach type, and he has helped Brian Daboll consistently craft excellent plans of attack in his first year at the helm. Cons: Kafka, 35, like most of the names on this list, is young and inexperienced as a coordinator. While his first season as a play-caller has gone swimmingly, he’s also paired with a notable offensive mind in Daboll, who oversees the entire product. Kafka has been able to hitch his wagon to Reid and Daboll, which is a lucky draw for a player-turned-offensive coach. So, there could be some concern about how much success is really attributed to him. Despite his brief, whirlwind NFL playing career, Kafka isn’t a household name or someone who has a particularly notable background. Ken Dorsey Current position: Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pros: Dorsey has done a solid job of replacing Daboll in Buffalo. The Bills haven’t missed a beat offensively under Dorsey, and he deserves credit for his scheme and play-calling work. Like Kafka, Reich and Moore, Dorsey was an NFL backup quarterback in a previous life, and his expertise of the position has been his calling card since the start of his coaching career. Dorsey also has ties to Carolina. He started his coaching career as the Panthers’ quarterbacks coach in 2013. He spent five years working with Cam Newton, and helped guide the quarterback’s breakout success in the early parts of his career. Given that history, there are still plenty of people in the building who can vouch for Dorsey’s leadership and coaching ability. The Panthers requested permission on Monday to speak with Dorsey, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Cons: Like Kafka and Johnson, Dorsey, 41, is a first-year coordinator. While he is running the offense in Buffalo, it’s fair to wonder how much of the Bills’ continued success is simply from following Daboll’s blueprint. Dorsey also works with a top-five quarterback in Josh Allen, so it’s not like he’s trying to elevate a limited talent in his debut year as a play-caller. Tepper hasn’t been super quick to embrace the “glory days” of the franchise with his coaching decisions. If the owner is willing to pass on Wilks, Dorsey might not be much of a candidate either.

And to be honest, I kinda feel bad about that

I just read on the nfl network scrolling banner the Panthers are interviewing (not planning to..are interviewing ) ken Dorsey and ben Johnson hope Dorsey is bringing Allen with him

And he beat Seattle. And he beat Tampa the first time Tampa was injured for most of the season. Not know however I was fully on his court until he stuck his head in the sand twice at Tampa. Either you believe in the physicality of your team that you preach or you don’t your team had a chance to go somewhere instead of no where. You have to take those chances. You have to. That’s what winners do too with your staring two corners put, you don’t give Brady another chance to score. You go for it

Frank Reich is not the guy either I’m old. Old enough to remember him as a student at the University of Maryland he is neither innovative or passionate nice man good student but a pro football team requires more than that

Detroit and Seattle don’t have winning records ? One is in the playoffs and the other handed Rodgers his ass last night.

I like Coach. Stand up guy. Hard to not love him but his conservative nature works against him and whether that’s real or a perception is certainly up for debate that nature showed it’s head against Tampa mid rather he tried fir that foot ir yard then punt

well. One thing we do know. If he went to Stanford, he is in all likelihood, intelligent Tanner McKee, QB/QB, Stanford Height: 6-6. Weight: 230. Projected 40 Time: 4.85. Projected Round (2023): 1-2. View Ranking History 1/3/23: While Stanford struggled in 2022, McKee impressed some NFL evaluators. He possesses excellent size to go along with a strong arm capable of firing the ball downfield, plus he shows nice loft on touch passes. In 2022, McKee completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,947 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In 2021, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,327 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven picks. Some team sources believe McKee could be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. McKee could be riser over the draft process with good interviews, visits, and from showing off his arm in workouts.

You’re up, Dave Tepper: It’s time to hire Steve Wilks and find a new QB for Panthers BY SCOTT FOWLER [email protected] 18 hours ago Now warming up for the Carolina Panthers: Owner Dave Tepper. That probably scares you if you’re a Panthers fan, and it should. Since Tepper bought the Panthers in 2018, they have suffered through five consecutive losing seasons. But that’s where we are following Carolina’s 10-7 win at New Orleans on Sunday. The Panthers’ season is over. Carolina finished 7-10 and ended up in second place in the NFC South and will hold the No. 9 selection in the 2023 NFL draft. Tepper now must make a critical decision that will set the stage for many more: Who will be the Panthers’ next head coach? As I’ve written before, I believe it should be interim head coach Steve Wilks. Wilks managed to lead the Panthers to a 6-6 record after Matt Rhule was fired following a 1-4 start. That was despite Wilks losing his best player when running back Christian McCaffrey was traded only one game into his 12-game tenure. Yet the coach still kept the Panthers in every game except one. If DJ Moore hadn’t taken his helmet off in Atlanta, we might be filing stories about the playoff-bound Panthers right now. Tepper will have plenty of other choices, of course, and will need to go through an extensive interview process (as he should). He has already had a conversation with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, although it sounds like that isn’t going to happen. There are a lot of other candidates out there, with big names and small names, and undoubtedly a couple of them would work out fine. But this is a “bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” situation. We know already that Wilks would work out. The players respect him and generally want him to return. He grew up in Charlotte and is deeply rooted in the Queen City. He needs to find a new offensive coordinator and, even more importantly, a quarterback (along with a tight end, safety, nickel corner and wide receiver). But give Wilks the players and the man will get it done. If Wilks doesn’t get the job, though, at least he went out with class on Sunday. In a game that really didn’t matter for the Panthers — or the Saints, for that matter — Wilks survived a terrible passing-game performance by quarterback Sam Darnold to direct a win. Darnold went 5-for-15 for 43 yards with two interceptions and no TD passes for a QB rating of 2.8. To put all that in perspective, the low-water mark to me for Panthers passing efficiency has long been Jimmy Clausen, who went 1-9 in 10 games as a starter for a horrendous Carolina team in 2010. But the fewest yards Clausen threw for — at least in those 10 games that Clausen started — was 61. Darnold didn’t even reach that. Darnold only had 22 passing yards until Carolina’s final drive, when he nearly doubled his output with a 21-yard strike to Terrace Marshall to put the Panthers in field-goal range. Eddy Piñeiro knocked in a 42-yarder as time expired and Carolina won (a loss would have meant Carolina drafted around No. 7, but who’s counting?) Darnold, who to be fair threw for 341 yards against Tampa Bay a week ago, ended up 4-2 in his starts for the Panthers this season. The game doesn’t deserve a lot of ink, because it wasn’t important in the scheme of things. But to synopsize: These were two below-average teams. New Orleans (7-10) scored on its very first drive, when 35-year-old cornerback Josh Norman missed a tackle and Chris Olave took a short pass 25 yards to score. But then the Saints didn’t score again. Carolina’s defense played well, even without Brian Burns. And Saints quarterback Andy Dalton played no better than Darnold after that first drive. Darnold fumbled a ball into the end zone in the third quarter that reserve guard Michael Jordan pounced on — yes, Michael Jordan scored for a Charlotte-based team, finally! Two players were thrown out for a scuffle — New Orleans defensive lineman Marcus Davenport and Carolina running back D’Onta Foreman. Even without Foreman, the Panthers kept running the ball, because Darnold couldn’t throw it (and it didn’t help that his receivers couldn’t get open and about a third of the time he was running for his life). Eventually, Carolina kept us all from facing the unpleasant prospect of overtime in a meaningless game when Piñeiro made the game-winning field goal. Yeah, the whole thing wasn’t much to look at. But Wilks used the word “proud” four times in his press conference to describe what he felt like in regard to his team. The West Charlotte and Appalachian State graduate knew that going 6-6 as an interim coach sounds a lot better than 5-7. He’s given himself a chance. Carolina went 5-3 in the season’s last eight games. Now Wilks has to give himself a better shot by establishing who his new offensive coordinator will be and showing Tepper “What’s next” as opposed to “What just happened.” No, Wilks is not an offensive genius. That doesn’t mean he can’t hire one. Most significantly, the Panthers have to solve the quarterback issue. The No. 9 overall draft pick should help with that or with another impact player (Luke Kuechly, it should be noted, was the Panthers’ choice the only other time they picked ninth). Maybe Matt Corral will work out. Maybe Darnold — despite Sunday — could be a bridge quarterback for another year. A lot of important things are about to happen for the Panthers, but all of them will be off the field. One day the Panthers will be in the playoff conversation again at this point of a season. It won’t be this season. But Wilks can get them there.

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-board-big-board I copied the write up for top 30 this is from mid point of college season Things May have change slightly since then the Panthers have so many needs so good to know some of the other names and positions 1. QB BRYCE YOUNG, ALABAMA Even without the two top-50 picks he had at receiver a season ago, Young is still the second-highest-graded passer in the Power Five (90.1). He’s come up big in crunch time on multiple occasions and shown the “it” factor it takes to succeed in the NFL. The scary thing is that his stats should look even better, but he’s suffered an 8.1% drop rate from his receivers this year. His size could scare teams off in a talented quarterback class, but it’s about the only knock on his game. 2. EDGE WILL ANDERSON JR., ALABAMA You won’t find many 243-pound edge rushers who come with no concerns about their size. And that’s just how powerful and explosive Anderson is. After leading the country in pressures as a true sophomore, Anderson has 44 so far this season as the focal point of the Bama defense. 3. QB WILL LEVIS, KENTUCKY Levis has tools for days. Quick release, howitzer arm, legit rushing ability — Levis has it all. And unlike most quarterbacks billed for their tools at the collegiate level, Levis isn’t far off from being able to operate an NFL offense because he’s been doing it the last two years under current (Liam Coen) and former (Rich Scangarello) NFL offensive coordinators. 4. QB C.J. STROUD, OHIO STATE Stroud will get the “Ohio State quarterback” knock, given the success of his predecessors, but he operates the position differently than Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields did. He’s a pure pocket passer who’s been tremendous at avoiding sacks over his career, with only a 12.7% pressure-to-sack conversion rate. 5. DI JALEN CARTER, GEORGIA Carter has been hampered by an injury in the early going and has been limited to only 132 snaps. However, his work as a sophomore in 2021 is enough to solidify his top-five draft stock, as he led the Bulldogs with a 90.0 pass-rushing grade. 6. DI BRYAN BRESEE, CLEMSON Bresee is not your run-of-the-mill defensive tackle. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, he’s not holding an ounce of bad weight and could pass for a defensive end from a build perspective. He’s one of the best pure penetrators in the class and earned a 76.0 pass-rushing grade this season. 7. T PETER SKORONSKI, NORTHWESTERN Skoronski is in the middle of the single most dominant pass-blocking season we’ve seen in our nine years of college grading. On 383 pass-blocking snaps, he has allowed only five pressures. That’s it. His 93.1 pass-blocking grade is far and away tops in the country. 8. EDGE MYLES MURPHY, CLEMSON Murphy is still a bit of a bull in a china shop, but at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, he’s one strong bull. You see it most in the run game, where Murphy has earned a 72.0-plus grade in every season of his career. 9. WR QUENTIN JOHNSTON, TCU In nine years of college grading, I can say with certainty we have not seen a wide receiver quite like Johnston. At a rangy 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he is a terror with the ball in his hands. His broken-tackle rate over his career is unlike anything we’ve graded, with 41 forced missed tackles on 97 career receptions. That’s what you’d expect from a receiver with a running back-esque build like Deebo Samuel, not a pterodactyl like Johnston. 10. EDGE NOLAN SMITH, GEORGIA Smith is next in the line of athletic marvels the Bulldogs have produced in recent years. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder can fly sideline to sideline. You also see him play with physicality at that size, with run-defense grades of 90.6 and 81.4 the past two seasons. He needs more ways to win as a pass-rusher, but you bet on the athlete. 11. EDGE TYREE WILSON, TEXAS TECH Wilson bet on himself by returning for a fifth year, and it looks like it’s going to pay off for him. He came back a different player and already has an impressive 47 pressures on the season after recording 37 a year ago. He’s a unique projection at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds with a 7-foot-plus wingspan. 12. CB CAM SMITH, SOUTH CAROLINA After producing three picks and nine pass breakups last season, Smith is simply being avoided by quarterbacks this season. He’s allowed only nine catches on 22 targets for 137 yards in eight games. 13. TE MICHAEL MAYER, NOTRE DAME Mayer looks like one of the safest picks in the draft. Not only is he the focal point of Notre Dame’s offense — he has 51 catches for 624 yards and five scores on the year — but he also works his backside off in the run game. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, he’s built for the NFL. 14. WR JORDAN ADDISON, USC Addison is the next slim all-around separator who should be plug-and-play in the NFL. At 6-foot, 175 pounds, he’s not going to be your contested-catch guy, but with how often he’s open, he doesn’t have to. For his career, Addison has hauled in 70.3% of his targets with a healthy 11.2-yard average depth of target. 15. CB KELEE RINGO, GEORGIA Ringo had a bit of a slow start to the season but has rebounded nicely enough. He looks like a walked-out linebacker at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and he plays with that kind of physicality on the outside. 16. S BRIAN BRANCH, ALABAMA Branch is just a football player. He’s sound in every facet of the game and fills the ever-valuable slot role in Alabama’s defense. You want him around the ball with how lights-out he is as a tackler. On 136 career tackle attempts, Branch has missed only two. 17. QB TANNER MCKEE, STANFORD While McKee is technically a redshirt sophomore, he was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence before taking a two-year LDS mission after high school. Between middling receiver talent, a dated scheme and a porous offensive line, he’s had to overcome a fairly rough situation for the Cardinal the past two seasons. Still, he’s shown growth from 2021 to 2022, as he’s earned a 75.8 passing grade this season. 18. T PARIS JOHNSON JR., OHIO STATE Johnson has looked more comfortable in his first year at left tackle after staring at right guard in 2021. He’s allowed only eight pressures on 286 pass-blocking snaps. 19. EDGE ANDRE CARTER II, ARMY Carter was tied with Aidan Hutchinson for the highest pass-rushing grade in the nation last season (93.4). This year, teams are chipping and double-teaming him to the point where very few are even giving him a chance to attack their quarterback. As such, he’s rushed the passer only 100 times on the season and has 11 pressures. 20. CB JAYLON JONES, TEXAS A&M One of the biggest risers this season, Jones has shown a very mature playstyle through 10 weeks. He’s allowed only six catches on 11 targets for 72 yards. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he has ideal size for the position in the NFL. 21. EDGE JARED VERSE, FLORIDA STATE Verse is one heck of an explosive athlete off the edge. After transferring from Albany to Florida State this offseason, he’s been a revelation for the Seminoles. He’s earned an 85.2 pass-rushing grade despite playing through a knee injury. 22. RB BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS This is about as high as you’ll realistically see us put a running back on the draft board. Robinson gets such a billing because he’s exactly where the NFL game is going — he is a space player who can make two-high defenses pay. His 75 forced missed tackles rank second in the nation. 23. EDGE FELIX ANUDIKE-UZOMAH, KANSAS STATE Anudike-Uzomah is a bendy edge rusher who will test the upfield shoulder of any tackle. He’s got tremendous balance, which shows in several ways, most frequently in how he can close easily to quarterbacks. 24. WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, OHIO STATE A hamstring injury has derailed JSN’s junior campaign, but he’s still the same guy who put up 95 catches for 1,595 yards and nine scores a season ago. He’s an uber-reliable slot option with plus YAC ability. 25. T BRODERICK JONES, GEORGIA Jones has passed his early tests in his first full season at the Bulldogs starting left tackle but still has a few to come in the SEC. He’s allowed no sacks, no hits and only four hurries on 295 pass-blocking snaps. He’s the former top tackle recruit in the 2020 class and finally getting his chance to show what he can do. 26. S ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M Johnson is a unique safety at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. He’s a long, rangy tackler who operates out of the slot for the Aggies. He may not be the best pure coverage safety, but he knows how to find ball carriers in space. 27. EDGE ISAIAH FOSKEY, NOTRE DAME Foskey hasn’t made the same leap this season as he did in 2021. He’s still the type of player who’s built more for the NFL game than the college game, given his ability to set the edge and push the pocket consistently. 28. LB TRENTON SIMPSON, CLEMSON Simpson is everything you are looking for in a modern coverage linebacker. After playing the slot last season, he’s kicked into the box this year, where he’s not looked out of place. He’s allowed only 18 catches and 144 yards across 28 targets in coverage. 29. EDGE B.J. OJULARI, LSU Ojulari may never be your do-it-all run defender at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, but he’s got a full toolbox to attack opposing quarterbacks. And that’s all he’s done since arriving at LSU. In three years, he’s racked up 1117 pressures, including 39 this season. 30. T ANTON HARRISON, OKLAHOMA Harrison’s mirroring ability at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds is what earns him this spot on the list. You see the natural athleticism in every pass set he takes, even if his technique isn’t quite dialed in yet. He earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade last season.

Save your breath with these people add to it the bears roster deficiencies and second coaching staff in two years as the saying goes ‘never let facts get in the way of a good story ‘ im glad dumb poo Rhule passed on him or his sorry ass would still be the coach and blaming everyone but himself

You understand they have zero defense and zero WRs…right ? I actually watch the bears. Fields is all they have and in his second different head coach and offense in 2 years the new coaching staff did what Wilks does because of it as what they can do is run and keep their defense off the field

Bad hire to begin with

It is possible to trade up ask Andy Reid his qB picked at number 10 turned out ok From Wikipedia Eventually, the Chiefs made a deal with the Buffalo Bills for the No. 10 overall selection, trading the Nos. 27 and 91 picks, as well as their 2018 first-round pick, for the right to draft Mahomes.

You just had to leave that image…. lol

Who in the world would want Levi’s? never draft a QB who shrinks in big games never

I like him what he has, can’t be coached what needs, can be

That’s all good and all of that is certainly ‘feel good’. …but it’s not business and not dealing with Tepper He has a pretty sweet thing going on in Detroit also He might actually be happy there I like him but he better come with an proven DC by his side and someone as an assistant with experience so the franchise doesn’t have its 3rd consecutive, neophyte as a head coach

He might not want to be ahead coach or he might not want to be a head coach in Carolina

We have receiver talent ? Ok /end response

You know the Bears are very high on Fields right? ive watched the bears games He isnt t the issue

The new rules on interviews during playoffs https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/05/28/nfl-tweaks-the-rules-for-interviewing-head-coaching-candidates/

You have no idea what he was or was not told to do you also have seemingly have no idea how incompetent Ben mcadoo is and how poor the receiver routes are and the Panthers receivers in general. the panthers have one receiver. One. Most decent teams at lest two plus a TE this is a poo show of a roster A total poo show both teams were not tryIng to win and avoid looking like it. the Saints were better at it than the Panthers…again

For 4 years…..