Soul Rebel

Payton is the best all-around HC candidate compared to the others. He will bring a winning culture to Charlotte. He will get us into the playoffs consistently and potentially run the NFCS for a few years. His experience and knowledge of the game will have everyone from the vets to the water boy bought in, IMO. There comes a fair amount of baggage with the hire though....polarizing personality, potential GM/control needs, losing draft assets, bringing in vet QB that we might not all want. If we want to win consistently for the next 5-7 years and be a threat in the NFC each year, Payton is the guy. It's what you want to give up from your draft picks, salary cap and your soul to get there. That's not to say that Steichen, Reich, Wilkes or Kafka couldn't get us there.....it's just less likely.

Do. Not. Want. Ireland. I want Payton pending a few details, but I really like what Fitts is doing. Really seems like Steichen + Brian Johnson + Stroud/Levis/Richardson + experienced DC would be the best move.

I think a lot comes into focus on Monday. One of Kafka/Steichen will be available, Payton will have been interviewed and Evero gets his opportunity today. It just feels like Wilks, Reich & Caldwell will be a lot of the same we've known for the past two decades. Payton is the marquee best option if we want success. Steichen, Kafka, Evero for the young up-and-coming guy that we can draft a QB with and grow long-term....I just wonder the PTSD after Rhule's stint here. I wish there was a way to have enough ammo to bring in Payton annnnnnd trade for Lamar. If we re-sign Boze and Foreman, with Fangio running the D and Lamar at QB under Payton's watchful eye we would be NFC favorites for the next 5-7 years.

Wow...all of the media hype was pointing to Johnson too. Gotta be Payton at this point. I doubt Johnson would back out up against Steichen. I also think we've almost equaled the number of coaches that backed out versus ones that have formally interviewed.... Ryans, Mayo, Johnson backed out. It's in the tea leaves..... Fangio, DC interviews, Johnson backing out. We just better hope there's no tampering involved in relation to the Rooney rule.

I love these three picks by Brugler....someone that is one of the most tapped in scouts/analysts out there. Moving up to 5 seems more realistic than going up to 1 or 3. We would be able to retain most of our valued picks without giving up the farm. Stroud is my favorite of the three and would take care of our biggest glaring need. Pairing Stroud & Gibbs w/ Steichen-Brian Johnson or Johnson-Duce Staley/Brunell with a re-signed Bozeman would be an outstanding start. Also, the DL out of Georgia Tech that we took at 60 is also a low-key promising/upside draft pick. He's freaky athletic at 6'5" 285 and from NC originally.

Lamar + Steichen + Brian Johnson would be outstanding seeing what these two did with Hurts.

Sooooo…… Wilks + Brian Johnson + ?? (Holcomb maybe) Johnson + Duce Staley/Brunell + Manuel Steichen + Brian Johnson + ?? (Manuel maybe) If Wilks is dead set on Holcomb as DC, I think he’s out. I was more of a Steichen guy, but not mad if Johnson gets the HC gig. I LOVE Duce Staley as OC. He’s fiery and has an aggressive approach to go for the jugular.

Much like the draft, I break it into tiers.... Happy with any of these four HCs, pending who they bring in as their respective OC/DCs.....It's a package deal: Wilks Johnson Steichen Ryans Wouldn't be mad/sad, but do think they are in a tier below the above for me: Caldwell Reich Too soon for them this cycle. Don't trust them to be "the man" quite yet : Kafka Moore Dorsey Belicheat position coach that is, IMO, being considered to satisfy Rooney rule (unfortunately) : Mayo

Being drafted top-7 >>>> $4M and risk getting injured in college. Sidebar - In the 2024 class, Williams and Maye are better than Stroud.

I think everyone assumes CHI finds a dance partner to trade out of 1. I think the Bears set the comp too high and nobody moves into that slot. CHI isn't taking a QB, so Indy should be fine at 4 unless they are dead-set on "their guy". 1 - Chicago stays put and takes BPA (Anderson or Carter), 2 - Houston takes Young 3 - Arizona takes BPA (Anderson or Carter) 4- Indy takes Levis 5 - Seattle likes to trade back and Fitts taps into his old team to jump Vegas for a QB We take Stroud at 5, give up our 60th pick, 2023 4th and a 2024 3rd to move up to 5. Still have our 40th overall and our third rounder this year to add a couple of starters. To answer OPs question, I think the only QB that's available at 9 is Richardson.

If Carr is released by Vegas and we can sign him at a lower number and maybe 3 years (w/option to void yr 3), I'd be much more interested. Draft Johnston at 9 Draft a TE at 40 or 60 Add another piece to our defense with our other R2 pick. No draft picks given up to roll the dice on a draftee QB is my favorite part of this. We were a good NFL QB away from the playoffs. Carr can be our guy for the next two years, see if Corral develops and/or draft a QB in '24. Carr isn't elite, but he's a top-15 QB in the league and would do well with our OL and weapons.

LaFleur out as OC with the Jets. That OL and Wilson drama is not indicative of LaFleur's abilities, IMO. I would take him as OC here for sure.

Kellen Moore has entered the chat....

Oh damn....yeah, no way Johnson brings in Flores given their history.

I'm just not ready to turn the HC keys over to guys like Kafka and Dorsey. I think they're good, but not quite there yet for HC timelines. If Kafka doesn't get hired this cycle and the NYG continue to do what they did in '23, I can see him being the Steichen/Johnson of 2024 OCs.

I also like the TE out of SDSU and he can be had in round two. It's not D1, but the kid has a lot of promise. Getting a Goedert/Henry vibe from him. Huge need, but do not want to use a top-20 pick on a TE.

I do like this being talked about more with the young OCs. We're all beating Wilks up for NEEDING to bring the ideal OC/DC along with him in order to succeed, but these younger, less experienced OCs need to be held to the same standard. Joseph would be ideal....I really want Flores as our DC if possible. I do think Johnson would reach out to Luke to come coach the LBs or maybe in an Asst. DC role with the hope that he would eventually be our DC a la Demeco Ryans was. Would love for Johnson to bring both Staley and Brunell with him on offense. Hoping he retains Campen from the leftovers.

This is the style of offense I want. Aggressive, using scheme and motion to keep DCs baffled and not afraid to keep his foot on the gas. They traded Hockenson and their TE2/TE3 put up 8TDs and this is the best Goff has looked in the NFL. What it's going to come down to, IMO, is how much of the LIons' offensive success is Johnson vs. Campbell and can Johnson be a HC vs. an OC.

Lots of questions and no easy path for Tepper. Hire Wilks - who's the OC? DC? Lynn/Flores would be the expectation. Johnson probably follows Steichen. Caldwell could work, but also wonder if the game has changed too much for him to take us to the next level. Hire Steichen/Johnson - who's the DC? Can these creative OCs with no HC experience run a locker room/team? Hire Reich - Is he HC material or a better coordinator? Last few years in Indy were not great. After Rhule....you can't mess this up.

I think all three are gone by 9. QB needy teams will identify us as a team to get in front of if they want a QB, so if one is falling from 5 on, I would imagine we get leapfrogged at 7 or 8. IF we want one of Stroud/Young/Levis, I think we have to move up with AZ. If we could hold out to move up to pick 5, the assets we would have to give up would probably only be #9, our SF second rounder, a day three pick maybe this year, and maybe a 2024 3rd or 4th round pick. I would hedge my bets that two QBs go in the top 4 and then we move up to 5 for our new QB. We still get to keep our 2nd round selection to add a starter. Personally, I'd rather draft Johnston at 9, and add two more starters in round 2. Grab a TE for Corral and find a dance partner for Burns or Woods with the other selection.

Who would Wilks tab for his OC & DC? I think Campen and Tabor stay, but clean house on most other position coaches. These hires would have to be a make or break for Wilks. I just don’t know connections or who Wilks would like. A guy like Brian Johnson probably follows Steichen….maybe Bevell in MIA gets another opportunity to be OC?

Q Johnston at 9 and then trade the SF 4th for Love.

I would say sh*tting the bed at home against PIT, blowing a 14-point lead because you’re conservative against the GOAT with the division on the line and escaping NO with the ugliest win I’ve seen in a loooooong time.

McDaniel-Bevell-Flores would be a coup and bring long-term success here.

Jim Harbaugh or Mike McDaniel?