Don't see us getting Torrey smith

[MHS831]

I actually think our two biggest holes in experience and talent are WR and OT. We have 2 good cornerbacks and serviceable safeties in the back field. We do not have a serviceable LT and we only have 1 good WR. 

 

That's why I'd spend the bulk of the $15 cap space on a WR and LT, $5-7m on each should get good, experienced players in both of these positions and allow us to reinforce CB, S, OLB and DE, where we currently have serviceable/good players and experience. 

 

I see the logic of that thinking--completely agree.  Experience is very important.  Take LT for example--I would say 2 of the LTs drafted over the past 2 years in the first 20 picks of each draft have panned out.  That is not to say they won't, but to think a rookie can come in and produce is a bit of a pipe dream.

 

At WR, I see Brown developing into what he will become--a serviceable #3, but without KR/PR abilities, his job is never going to be overly secure.  Benjamin is good and will improve.

 

I think we need 2 DTs in the rotation, and I am not confident that the draft will produce them; Free agency seems a better option (for at least 1).  I also think our CBs are inexperienced (I even say 27-year old Norman is) and we could use a free agent CB on the outside.  I am not sure what free agency might offer there. 

 

If I read you correctly, you are saying that it is time to get the offense going,and developing another young WR is prolonging the process.  I agree.  My point is that the GM will look at the pools of talent and decide where he can get the most bang for the buck.  I mean, our best WR was a rookie last year.  Could it be that we do something like this:

 

Kelvin Benjamin

Devante Parker

Jerricho Cotchery

Philly Brown

Ted Ginn

 

I would LOVE to see this, but is it worth the cost and is it smart to pay a free agent $35m when the draft is loaded (devil's advocate) 

 

Kelvin Benjamin

Torrey Smith

Jerricho Cotchery

Philly Brown

Nelson Agholor (KR/PR/WR from USC)

 

Financially, I think Gettlemen goes with the deep WR group again.  However, I think we would all prefer a WR with some experience.  This is the best off season I can remember in terms of putting (what I think are the) final touches on a very good football team.

[Panthers Fanatic]

Do not want a WR in free agency. Why break the bank when the WR class is so deep again? The uncertainty in the draft is usually at the tackle positions, so I'd rather pursue a tackle in free agency as well as draft one.

I'm hoping we look for a solid CB, safety and a LT in free agency.

Draft a WR or two early, and a RT and BPA later on.

I'm starting to think you are on to something here...I'm not really in love with any of the WR's in our price range this year...Maclin is intriguing but someone is going to overpay and it won't be Gettleman.

[Panthers8969]

Id love a FA WR, but we just really need to fix this line. KB should be stronger this year as well as brown, who I think was a great surprise. Still need a true number 1 guy as far as I'm concerned though. KB will hopefully develop into that, but he certainly wasn't it his rookie year. Nothing wrong with that though, he still had 1k yards

[London Loves Luke]

Id love a FA WR, but we just really need to fix this line. KB should be stronger this year as well as brown, who I think was a great surprise. Still need a true number 1 guy as far as I'm concerned though. KB will hopefully develop into that, but he certainly wasn't it his rookie year. Nothing wrong with that though, he still had 1k yards

Don't understand why people shout about Shula's unoriginal play design and Cam's lack of weapons and think this can be solved by throwing bargain bin FA or rookies at it.

Protection for cam and experienced and fast wrs will go hand in hand. You can't expect to fix one and expect the issues on the other to go away automatically. You also can not rely on KB alone to overcome the sophomore slump for another 1k year when teams will be game planning solely for him.

We've been to the playoffs in back to back years so now is the time to spend in free agency and fill our main gaps. Give Cam proven weapons now and draft to provide reinforcement.

[London Loves Luke]

I see the logic of that thinking--completely agree.  Experience is very important.  Take LT for example--I would say 2 of the LTs drafted over the past 2 years in the first 20 picks of each draft have panned out.  That is not to say they won't, but to think a rookie can come in and produce is a bit of a pipe dream.

 

At WR, I see Brown developing into what he will become--a serviceable #3, but without KR/PR abilities, his job is never going to be overly secure.  Benjamin is good and will improve.

 

I think we need 2 DTs in the rotation, and I am not confident that the draft will produce them; Free agency seems a better option (for at least 1).  I also think our CBs are inexperienced (I even say 27-year old Norman is) and we could use a free agent CB on the outside.  I am not sure what free agency might offer there. 

 

If I read you correctly, you are saying that it is time to get the offense going,and developing another young WR is prolonging the process.  I agree.  My point is that the GM will look at the pools of talent and decide where he can get the most bang for the buck.  I mean, our best WR was a rookie last year.  Could it be that we do something like this:

 

Kelvin Benjamin

Devante Parker

Jerricho Cotchery

Philly Brown

Ted Ginn

 

I would LOVE to see this, but is it worth the cost and is it smart to pay a free agent $35m when the draft is loaded (devil's advocate) 

 

Kelvin Benjamin

Torrey Smith

Jerricho Cotchery

Philly Brown

Nelson Agholor (KR/PR/WR from USC)

 

Financially, I think Gettlemen goes with the deep WR group again.  However, I think we would all prefer a WR with some experience.  This is the best off season I can remember in terms of putting (what I think are the) final touches on a very good football team.

 

Well thought out options, but we need to stop thinking just about cap space now, and start thinking 4 years down the line. 

 

For your key positions you should aim to have a 3-5 year rotation in key players, so for WR we should spend in free agency on players that can serve us until KB's contract and for LT we need both a "now" player and a 3-4 year prospect LT. 

 

You obviously can't do this for all positions, but you should focus on the key positions on offence and defence - WR/Tackle and DE/LB.

 

That's why I stress the need for now players at WR and tackle. We simply don't have the depth at these positions NOW (imagine what would happen if KB went down next year) to make the most of our current playoff opportunities. 

[blackcat]

I love the phrase 'solid number 2'.

[Rags]

Ya'll are nuts if you think Torrey Smith isn't worth that much. He's not elite but he's a solid #1 who's still getting better. He's a solid route runner and an excellent deep threat. i've seen him called a "poor man's Mike Wallace" (who is literally just vertical routes and that's it) and someone even said we could get the same production from Brandon Tate???? Like...this isn't Madden guys. 

[unicar15]

I'd rather have Ginn to fill the returner need at a fraction of the cost. Don't see a ton of diff bt the two. Most of stat difference probably due to scheme and QB.

[London Loves Luke]

I'd rather have Ginn to fill the returner need at a fraction of the cost. Don't see a ton of diff bt the two. Most of stat difference probably due to scheme and QB.

[hepcat]

This might spell curtains for Steve Smith in Baltimore though....

[MHS831]

Well thought out options, but we need to stop thinking just about cap space now, and start thinking 4 years down the line. 

 

For your key positions you should aim to have a 3-5 year rotation in key players, so for WR we should spend in free agency on players that can serve us until KB's contract and for LT we need both a "now" player and a 3-4 year prospect LT. 

 

You obviously can't do this for all positions, but you should focus on the key positions on offence and defence - WR/Tackle and DE/LB.

 

That's why I stress the need for now players at WR and tackle. We simply don't have the depth at these positions NOW (imagine what would happen if KB went down next year) to make the most of our current playoff opportunities. 

 

Glad that you shared this because I was not thinking that way--I understand the need, but when I put on the GM hat, I go to the same corner every time.  The more I think about it, the more your scenario makes long-term sense. 

 

I trust Gettlemen to do what is best for the team in the long term.

[Bj-Monster23]

Don't see any evidence of this offer from the Ravens.

Smith would be the best free agent fit at wide receiver that this team has had the opportunity to sign in the last 4 years.

Compare him to Maclin, who everyone is touting as a number 1 $8-10m receiver:

They're the same height and Smith is marginally faster.

Over their first four years Smith has more yards and 4 more touchdowns.

Smith has shown he's a better deep ball threat and I think he's a better sideline receiver.

Maclin has more YAC in Chip Kelly's offence.

Smith has been catching Flacco passes for the last 4 years, and I think Flacco has the most similar arm to Cam's in the NFL at the moment.

All of this points to him being a perfect fit opposite KB for us, and I think he's definitely worth the $6-8m he'd likely be offered.

He won't get that money in Carolina. We are going to Walmart or Target not Tiffany's.

[JawnyBlaze]

Where are people getting 5/yr from? 35/5=7

I can't speak for anyone else but I mentioned 5 a year as a step down from the 7 a year that was reportedly offered to him that I wouldnt even be willing to offer him. In other words, I wouldn't offer him 5 a year, much less 7.

[PantherFanOne]

You can bet your bottom dollar Gettleman is not going to over pay a player in free agency.