Soul Rebel

It's interesting for sure. Corbett has been our best OL the past couple of years, when healthy. He and Moton are plug and play, without concern. He has the build and IQ to make the move, but it's not necessarily that easy to just "cut and paste" with success. A couple of things in Corbett's favor: Film junky, high IQ and vocal leader of the OL already Has a connection already with BY9 Experience > rookie is always preferred at C, especially at a position that is critical for Young's success in only his second year. IIRC, wasn't Corbett responsible for the hand signals last year on snap counts. Leads me to believe he had personnel responsibilities and played a part in protection slides and identifying the Mike. Body type and style of play is a fit for C We still need to draft one this year, but it doesn't have to be a top-tier Frazier/JPJ kind per se.

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I think he's the selection in R2 for us based on Morgan and the need for someone with a high IQ and work ethic to wear the green dot. I also think 33 will be traded to kick off day two as it often is. So, my crystal ball that means absolutely nothing is WR at 39 and then with our selection probably in the late 40s/early 50's would be Wilson. We drafted Kuechly when the "need" wasn't really there. Wilson's red flags are health, but he was outstanding this past year at staying on the field. Two torn ACLs but with a guy like Thomas Davis still connected here and the last injury for Wilson coming 3 years ago, I'd say if the medicals are cleared, he's as healthy as TD was. A hybrid TD/Kuechly is what Morgan probably sees in Wilson, and the rookie would fit opposite Jewell's lack of coverage/range like a glove. We can still grab a C at 65 and add TE, CB and EDGE. Something like: - Legette - Wilson - Van Pran or Bortollini - Wiley - Brownlee

I am all about giving TMJ another year to see what he can do under Canales and Idzik's guidance. Not to make excuses for TMJ because he's brought a good portion of it on himself, but he hasn't been set up to succeed either. He has the traits and experience at LSU that you look for and was only 20 when drafted, so he still has time to prove himself. I would give him this year to step up and see if the light has switched on for him yet. No harm in the competition.

Don't get me excited on Barton. He was taking some C snaps today at his pro-day and Jeremiah thinks he's a center in the NFL. I assumed he'd be off the board along with JPJ.

Does Thomas or Shipley intrigue you at all for us breaking the drought? I think Thomas can be that EDGE we need, while not having to blow a 2nd on him.

I'm not a Clemson fan, but would kicking the tires on Isaiah Simmons as a depth/Chinn-type find a role in Evero's defense? 25 years old and can be depth at that hybrid LB/SAF spot. Would be cheap and if he looks lost, we cut him in August.

I know it's an epic feat to do a 7-round mock for all 32 teams and respect that Matt even did this. That being said, I'm not a fan of the selections given who was still on the board when he made those. A tackle being the selection at 39 when a center like Frazier was still on the board or a CB like McKinstry is just not going to happen here. The day 3 picks were pretty meh too given who was still available for us. It is what it is.....national writer can only know so much.

I've read about how important it is to have a knowledgable C running the show with all of the communication, protections, pre-snap decision making, etc. That being said, Frazier looks NFL ready day 1 and I really hope he is a Panther at 33 or 39. There's still good talent at the position that we can get at 65, but Frazier is a bonafide stud. His wrestling background and nastiness in the trenches intrigues me a lot.

Clowney is the best option but is probably using Carolina for leverage elsewhere and who knows when he signs. Lawson is the guy I really want. 28, a true 3-4 EDGE and can create havoc still, if healthy. He has to be the pivot if Clowney falls through. I know Danna is a young guy, but he seemed to line up a lot with his hand in the dirt at end vs. standing up outside. Or maybe it was just the YT vids I saw. Idk. Just sign Lawson.

There's a very good chance a player like Brenden Rice or Javon Baker is there at 65, if we went speedy/shifty WR in R1 (McConkey, Worthy, Franklin, Pearsall) and wanted to double dip in R3. I personally think we are locked in on Coleman, McConkey and Legette (in that order) at 33. I think a re-signed Diontae + Coleman + Mingo + ISM is a very balanced young core 1-4 for Bryce for the next 3 years. Let this coaching staff try to turn Temble into Otton and/or find our TE1 in '25.

For as much as fans complained about a lack of depth all around last year, we also have way more than I anticipated complaining about a depth youngish swing tackle getting inked. Can’t have it both ways. It is what it is….a depth signing that can start well in a pinch. He’s not replacing any of the starters long-term.

Where does everyone rank Tyler Boyd amongst the available FAs. With Williams and Gallup scheduled to come in, would Boyd be equally as appealing? Here they are side-by-side w/ 5-year averages: Tyler Boyd 6'2" 203 29 years old 72rec - 828yds - 4TD Michael Gallup 6'1" 198 28 years old 47rec - 647yds - 4TD Mike Williams 6'4" 218 29 years old 51 rec - 809yds -4TD Williams is rumored at $12M per. I feel like Gallup and Boyd will be under $10M per. If these guys are not long-term answers, should Boyd be brought in for a look-see?

I'm not a fan of the EDGE guys early 2nd. I'd rather grab a center and WR with our two picks. We weren't going to address every need this offseason, so reaching for a guy like Robinson, Braswell, Isaac, or Trice because of the hole there is not something I want to do, personally. We'll be picking top-10 next year and would prefer to land a beast then, and secure our anchor on the OL w/ Frazier at 33 and then Legette, Polk or Franklin at 39. I do like guys like Thomas, Kneeland, Murphy and Kamara at 65 though and think they can be quality starters.

Came into FA as PFF's #7 ranked safety for those that care about PFF. His build, age and familiarity with Evero is enough for me. We have a hole at SAF, let's fill it.

Just please don't wear #26...please, and thank you.

July 15th....clock is ticking, Tilis. Let's get this done. First hurdle is the NFL Draft, so if 0 is still a Panther after the draft, I think a LT deal gets done between then and July. No way they let a $24M hit remain in a very important offseason where adding talent is needed.

Would love Dotson here. Another guy Canales/Idzik have familiarity with and would be cheaper is Damien Lewis. Not advocating for pinching pennies for protecting our franchise QB1, but Lewis is still a solid G with position flexibility. Draft Frazier/Van Pran/Bortolini/Nourzad for C and we are cooking.

Also seems to have a Thomas Davis journey with past injuries. Could use the money earmarked for Burns on Huff too and have Huff-Ojabo moving forward. Ojabo is all upside, where Burns is more proven. There's worse deals out there, but I'd prefer to pay Burns, eat the draft capital lost this year and move forward in 2025. Our 2nd is essentially a very late first and we will land a first-round talent at 33 whether it's WR/OL/DL. Too much talent this year early that will push players down and out of day 1.

I hope it's the final stages of negotiation tactics that every franchise does....whether the optics are good or bad (it's the latter). We are at a very important crossroads with the perception of our franchise both internally, amongst fans and the rest of the NFL (coaches, front office, players, etc.). We have been arguably the worst run team for the past two years. That being said, we have cleaned up quite a bit of the mess and have trended in the right direction since the Fitterer firing and Morgan/Canales hiring. It's a new era and we can't fug this up. Re-sign Burns to a five-year deal that averages $29-30M per year, with a lower number in '24, but escalates closer to Bosa's $34M deal in the future. In 2-3 years, others will once again reset the market and Burns' deal will be right in line with a talented EDGE franchise player in the end of his prime. By re-signing him, we have more cap flexibility this year and it sends a statement that we want him here long-term. We did right by him and recognize how he didn't hold out, was a team player and was not a disruption. Pay. Him. Now. The franchise tag cripples our flexibility this offseason, especially if you're going to keep him long-term....which is the right move. You drafted him, he played well and with a better overall team construction, will keep being impactful on defense. Losing him opens an even more gaping hole at EDGE. Next up....re-sign Luvu and extend Brown. Extending Brown also helps our cap this offseason and will continue to send the positive message that this franchise is for real and not nickel and diming their players. Tepper, Fitts & Suleiman really screwed this up.....pay the piper. Cleanse the optics of this franchise and help return this team to relevance. TLDR; Do the right thing - Pay Brian Burns. Re-sign Luvu. Extend Brown. Restructure Moton.

For me, there's two paths here: Re-sign him to a 4-5 year deal. 2024 at a fair number, but more backloaded beginning in '25 with a heavy increase that equates to a $28-$29M deal. Every year the market is reset, so $28/$29M per is going to be top-10 money, but won't be outlandish for a 26-year old EDGE in his prime. One who also kept his nose clean, didn't holdout and played on awful teams for three years. This is my preference. FT and trade as part of a package for a FRP + Jameson Williams (Burns + Thielen going to DET) or a FRP + 2nd rounder in '25 to replace the SRP lost in the trade-up with Chicago last year. In this scenario we HAVE to already have Bryce Huff or Josh Allen lined up as a replacement. We would then still have a 26-year old EDGE on the team in his prime at a much more digestable cap number (probably in the $10-13M per range for Huff). More money to spend in FA too. We also are now in the first round and still have our #33 pick. Lots more options there adding young talent in a deep OL/WR draft.

Jameson Williams is, IMO the fourth option in that offense (ARSB, LaPorta, Gibbs being ahead of him in the pecking order). Detroit needs a compliment opposite Hutchinson too on a team with a small window. 29 + Jamo -> Burns + Thielen would make me happy. That being said, doubt it happens but would be an ideal win-win if the Burns situation can't be resolved long-term here in Carolina. Brown as a FA and kicking Icky inside would be outstanding. BC to LG and draft a C to replace Boze would be nasty. Allows us a year or two to find a long-term LT of the future.

Could we see if Huff would come in FA and then S&T Burns for Higgins? We could then go OL at 33 or if someone like Trice or Robinson slips, and then go with a Thielen replacement WR like Roman Wilson/Malachi Corley/Ricky Pearsall at 65? Re-sign ISM for WR4, sign TE Noah Fant and trade Thielen to a contender for a late 5th/ early 6th rounder..... Higgins - Mingo - Wilson/Corley - ISM Fant-Tremble On defense, we add Huff, re-sign Luvu and YGM.... Brown-NT??-Robinson/Trice Huff-Luvu-Shaq-YGM Am I living in a Madden-esque faux reality?

Wild how it turned out for WAS and I do think a lot of it is on Johnson's decision to stay in Detroit. As of now, Vrabel or Glenn are the best bets. Quinn would bring knowledge from a division rival too. I put their vacancy as the top spot based on Peters, new ownership, draft capital, new QB and tops in cap space.

I get the want to have a knowledgable vet like Pete in the building for Canales to lean into. For me, it would trigger my 2023 PTSD of too many chefs in the kitchen. From what Carroll and Canales have said, they have a pretty open dialogue. I think Canales would have the ability to tap into Pete at any time without him specifically being on the Panthers staff. I also think DC wants space to run the show as a first time HC.