Soul Rebel

Quay is a very good LB and great at getting after QBs and vs. the run. If we didn't run such soft zone coverage and put our LBs in position to cover so often, Walker would be great. Truthfully, if Wallace or Quay's LB partner was a great coverage LBer, Walker would be great here. He stepped up recently in GB and is still young enough to be around for awhile.

Love Phillips and agree he could be our big fish FA (I’m also onboard with Lloyd). Quay was on my radar but once I read how poor he was in coverage and a liability, I kind of soured on him here. Watching Rozeboom and all these jags/practice squad LBs get torched in coveragethe past two years, I’m leaning more towards Lloyd or Dean to co-captain this D along with Brown.

Seems like a loaded EDGE class. though I think we don't spend a premium pick there with Scourton/Princely showing production and potential. Concepcion at 19 is intriguing and seen ARSB comps with his shiftiness, high IQ and YAC ability. He and TMac would be a nasty 1-2 combo at stretching a defense. Brenan Thompson could be that day 2 speedy/slot guy that could boost his draft stock in Mobile. Sam Hecht could be a later selection for C depending on how we are planning to attack that position in FA and our own previous guys. Shelton from PSU is an interesting developmental tackle that if he can get locked into an NFL strength program and rock up, could be good down the road. Speaking of PSU, Dani Dennis Sutton was a guy last year I was big on and was bummed he headed back to Happy Valley. I think he can be a helluva NFL player, and if he can show improvement in his pass rush moves, I wouldn't be mad at him in a trade-back situation.

In theory, it makes sense and it would be so nice to have this position locked in with the league's top center at only 26 years old. If there's a way Tillis can work the numbers so Linderbaum's big money doesn't start hitting until '27, that could work. Moton costs us $7M in dead cap post 6/1 in '27 and '28, but opens up $21M in 2027. Linderbaum is arguably going to be paid as thee top C in the league and rightfully so. His '26 cap hit has to be small to make sense for us filling other areas and justifying an OL combined salary that resembles the US defense budget.

I totally get it and not trying to go full homer here, but Seattle had the worst preseason (August 2025) odds to win the NFCW and O/U of 8.5 wins. This franchise should not be confused with Seattle, but too early to shut down a projected + 2 win total knowing the roster is still being improved, IMO.

I want the following: LB - Devin Lloyd (our big money splash) I'm also interested in Nakobe Dean if we go the cheaper route. His size is a concern beside Wallace, but Dean is a Dan Morgan type of alpha leader of the defense. He's often called the heart of the Philly defense and would absolutely bring a swagger and be our field general on defense. We need this so badly and I'd almost rather go with him because Wallace is no guarantee to ever hit his potential, so maybe we go with Dean and find a Wallace replacement in on day 2. EDGE - Boye Mafe (SEA) I think he's a great blend of pass rush prowess, age and experience. We have our potential youngsters in Scourton and Umanmielen, let's add a vet from a successful franchise to bring some heat. Bye bye Wonnum....bye bye Jones. We roll with Mafe-Scourton-Umanmielen TE - Cade Otton (TB) Again, we have youth in this position w/ Sanders and Evans. Sanders is tracking similarly to Ian Thomas (age/stats) and wonder if he will ever be the TE we thought we stole in the 4th round. Evans looks legit, but more of a balanced/blocker. Sign Otton, who Dave is familiar with and save some money by cutting Tremble. Also allows us to roll Otton-Sanders-Evans in 13 personnel WR - Wan'dale Robinson or Rashid Shaheed I wonder if either of these will be priced out of our range based on age and what they bring. We do already have a 5'8" WR with Horn, Jr. so I'd see the argument against Robinson. However, the latter is still only 25 and just hit a 1k yard receiving season with suspect QB play in NY and an elite talent in Nabers on the roster. SEA gave up two '26 draft picks for Shaheed and he has stepped in nicely for the 'Hawks...doubt they let him walk. I also saw Doubs on the FA list and wonder if he'd be what we need. We need a separator that can be a deep threat to keep defenses honest. TMac/Coker are the bigger receivers, but not necesarily guys that scare a defense....would Doubs be that guy? SAF I'd like an upgrade here and wonder if we wait out the FA period until the latter stages if someone like Ar'Darious Washington or Jaylinn Hawkins lingers and there's a discount later in the game. Nick Scott can F off and I hope he never suits up for us again.

I see the logic in what you're saying, but I'd also say there were games with a bit more talent on the roster that some of the L's are actually W's. AZ - We don't get off to a crappy start and if this game is later in the season when Bryce is a bit more comfortable, I think we beat the Cards NO - At least one of, if not both of these games would've gone our way SF - Perfect opportunity to snag a win on the road that Purdy handed to us, but we couldn't do anything offensively TB - Final game was winnable in Tampa All this to say, I think 8 wins is about where we were at in 2025 if you take the games we barely won and combined them against the games that we barely lost. Add 5-6 new pieces in FA and the draft. We went head to head and almost beat the Rams in a meaningful playoff game that gave a lot of the youth that experience to take into 2026 and beyond, and I do think 10-11 wins is achievable next year. Not guaranteed, but much the way folks thought we could get to 8 or 9 wins this year as the ceiling, I think 10-11 is the new ceiling for next year.

Agree wholeheartedly that a youngster beside Brown would be welcomed with open arms. A’Shawn is a great rotational guy but I want someone with a bit more pass rush juice and younger legs helping Brown out. I feel like we are doing with DB, what we did with Cam. Knowing how dominant they are as a 1-of-1 player, we aren’t supporting them with more talent around them. Putting JAGs like Shy and Ray out there were awful choices. I LOVE what the Rams have with done w/ Fiske-Verse-Young-Turner. Same with SEA - Murphy/Hall (draft) & Williams/Lawerence (trades). I think 2024 was a rough draft but our FO learned from it and had a successful ‘25 draft. I think this crew can find 3-4 starters again and land another late round/UDFA gem like Coker and Fitzgerald, we’re in business. We’re right where we should be (possibly a win or two/division crown early actually), and won’t be complete even with this offseason. I also think with a successful FA/draft, we’re at worst a 10-win team, and favorites to win the NFCS.

I agree that Icky’s injury has tossed a curveball at our offseason plans for sure. Knowing that Moton’s days are numbered as well only point more in that direction. I will say though, we have a combination of two second-year recent draftees and a couple of JAGs at EDGE. I think this is the prime time to balance they younger guys out with a vet EDGE vs another 1st or 2nd rounder. Same goes for TE & WR. We’ve spent the draft capital there, let’s add a young complimentary vet to these units rather than more inexperienced youth. TBH, I would throw a day 3 pick at a shifty/speedy WR in the mold of Tez Johnson or a McMillan type like Tampa has done.

I do wonder how much input (if any) the Steelers have asked of Tepper's thoughts on EE. I know the relationship was kinda disjointed when Big Ballz left Pittsburgh, but for such a prestigious brand with a history of top notch coaches, I wonder if they would touch base with Tepps.

If I’m earmarking the Panthers to spend big on an EDGE (which we should) I’m going after Jaelen Phillips. He turns 27 this summer and would be more of a long term signing vs. Hendrickson, IMO. I feel like Dan will go after someone like he did Milton Williams last year, and my money is on Phillips, Lloyd or Dean. Maybe it’s Hendrickson but given the age, much the way we went after Moehrig, I think age plays into it. I will say though, seeing Demarcus Lawerence light it up in Seattle at 33 does provide hope….. I just don’t think Evero’s system can be compared to what’s being built in the PNW.

No way this guy is available at 19. If he is,and Styles or someone in that tier isn’t, Mauigoa is a no brainer. I bet he’s the first OL off the board. Still a lot of time until combine and pro days, but Mauigoa would be a slam dunk for me.

As others have said, this isn’t a bad hire per se. ATL has a QB issue that will be Stefanski’s top priority. They also dont have a 1st round pick this year, so if the fumble FA, the draft and don’t find a reliable QB in a short time frame, he will be out of a job again. If he gets a decent QB there’s enough firepower there on offense for Stefanski to cook.

Agreed, an outside playcaller that could use some of Dave’s concepts and “big picture” while infusing some fresh ideas and more fluid within-game adjustments would be welcomed. I also think our running game became very predictable and stalled out towards the end. It looked like the playbook wasn’t deep enough and they didn’t do a good job of Bryce being under center/empty backfieding it way too much.