Early look at top free agents

[Nick_81]

This came across my feed a few minutes ago.  I know there's already a lot of posts regarding free agents, and I debated just posting the bits regarding the Panthers in them individually, but I figured it would just get lost amid the fluff.

 

Link:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread150212/early-look-top-free-agents-2015

 

What caught my eye:

 

 

14. Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens

 

 

One-liner: Smith is one of the NFL's top deep threats, but his week-to-week production -- he has caught more than 50 passes in only one of his four seasons despite never missing a game -- makes it difficult to argue he is a No. 1 receiver.

Williamson's report: "I think he gets a bad rap as a one-trick pony, that he's a speed guy. For the most part, it's true, but it's a pretty good trick that he has. He scares the heck out of defenses. He's not a real skinny guy like a DeSean Jackson or Ted Ginn, two other big speed guys. He has meat on bones. He can break tackles and show some physicality and draw pass-interference calls. He has improved as a move-the-chains technician. He's not a true No. 1 receiver, but if you had a big physical guy on other side, like in Carolina with Kelvin Benjamin, you would get the most out of him."

Stat to note: Since the start of his career in 2011, Smith leads the NFL in average air yards per target (16.6), a strong measure of his frequency with which the Ravens used him on deep routes.

Sexy, and I agree!

 

 

[London Loves Luke]

Completely agree, together with KB they'd be a pair to fear for years.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Id be down with Torrey smith, I still think someone will outbid us though. And we really do need a tackle more than anythinf

[faultlessjoint]

If our #1 and #2 are Benjamin and Torrey Smith we'll break the record for most drops in a season.

[Montsta]

Regarding Dez Bryant:

Stat to note: Since free agency began in 1992, only one receiver has opened a season with a new team the year after leading the NFL in touchdown receptions. That came in 2005, when Muhsin Muhammad was released by the Carolina Panthersand signed with the Chicago Bears.

Regarding Justin Houston

Stat to note: The NFL made the sack an official statistic in 1982. Since then, only two players have led the league in sacks and then started the following season with a new team. The Panthers released Kevin Greene after the 1996 season, and the Chiefs traded Jared Allen in 2005.

And now we'll be saying goodbye to a guy that had a career year two years ago. Bummer.

[rodeo]

If we get Torrey Smith and Ted Ginn I would be friggin ecstatic about our WRs going into next season.

 

All of those deep routes Shula likes to call would actually be completed in under 10 seconds.

[CPcavedweller]

If we get Torrey Smith and Ted Ginn I would be friggin ecstatic about our WRs going into next season.

 

All of those deep routes Shula likes to call would actually be completed in under 10 seconds.

 

Slow clap for you sir....

[Mark S]

I like the idea. Size to match with speed. Just the weapons we were looking for. Add in a route-running guru in the draft and our WR corps will be looking top notch.