2016 3 biggest roster holes.

[panther4life]

First I am going to start with some fairly safe assumptions.

1. Norman is back via at least franchise tag (I prefer a 3-5 year extension personally)

2. Charles Johnson is cut. I have mentioned the rationale behind this in a couple of other threads. Long story short he is worth much more on open market than he is to us. His cap figure has to go away and no point in using one Hurney's bad traits moving forward (Converting base salary into guaranteed lump sum that can be stretched out up to 5 years).

3. Allen will not be back, nor will Tillman. 

4. This one is a fact not an assumption. Harper and Cotchery are gone. There contracts had the voidable years in 16 (much like Gross did in his final year). Already have to pay a little bit of dead money for this, so no reason to sign them to an active contract on top of the dead money.

Now for the holes to be filled on the roster.

1.  Defensive end's : Yes that is plural.One could easily go to Ealy. He had an incredible performance in the Super Bowl but he lacks consistency so far. However due to our draft position, lack of value free agents at the position this is going to be a tough hole(s) to fill. Having Star and Short causing terror up the middle and the good play of the 7 behind them we should have seen better results from every DE on our roster in my opinion. 

So is this one of those the answer is already on the roster type deals? Maybe. Number 1 candidate is Ealy. However I think he will have to earn one of the starting spots (and probably will) but who starts opposite of him is a big question mark. Also you can never have to many pass rushers, so who is going to be the depth behind them? I think Addison remains on board for camp, as well as Delaire but after that we are really lacking depth here.

2. Cornerback's : I know some of you are already penciling in Bene for the job # 2 CB spot, however personally I am not convinced he automatically gets the nod. If he does then does that mean we bring Mcclain back for the nickel spot? We saw such limited action of Mcclain that I believe its too early to guarantee he's even brought back next year and if even if he is I want to see some competition in camp. 

3. Strong Safety : Harper is gone and his primary backup was Dean Marlowe. .

Honorable mention would also be RB. I tend to think Stewart has one more year with us and Tolbert is likely gone. Even if Tolbert comes back it does not make sense to count on him as a key cog in the run game anymore. Plus we all know how injury prone Stewart is. CAP showed some "flashes" as Rivera would say but they opted to deactivate him for the Super Bowl, so not sure what time timetable is on him being ready to take on a bigger role. 

Agree? Disagree? How should we go about filling these holes or whatever perceived holes you have in your mind? 

 

 

 

[rodeo]

I think Tillman will be back. He's said the Panthers are the only team he'd play for, and I think he has enough in the tank to be solid vet back-up for Bene.

The rest of those are surely gone.

[KB_fan]

I largely agree with what @panther4life wrote.

1) Definitely agree that a 2nd starting DE is our biggest hole, and greater DE depth.  Looks like we could lose 3 maybe 4 of the DEs we had on our roster in 2015 (Alexander (injured all season, but he had been someone we we had been developing for awhile.., not having him for 2016 hurts on some level.), Allen, CJ, and Horton).

2) Also agree that CB is a big need.  HOW big depends on how Josh's situation shakes out, and what we decide about Finnegan (assume he's gone, but maybe not?) and McClain.  In any case we need more depth, especially at nickel.  Bene's better outside than he is in the slot.  But if there's a likelihood of Josh only having 1 more year as a Panther, we need to find another potential starter.

3) This one's harder to prioritize.  With Harper gone and some doubting whether Tre is really ready to start, Safety could be a need.   I tend to think we'll put OT ahead of Safety.  And if there is the right player available, RB/FB could be highly attractive, or an excellent pass-catching TE to play alongside Greg.

 

 

[rodeo]

I realize that OT is a concern after the Super Bowl and Falcons game, but man. Now I want to use the Broncos formula. I want the best defense in NFL history. We had the #1 offense in the NFL with our current roster, so why not just keep that roster and draft entirely defense? Sign Weddle if we can, sign JPP if we can, draft CB in the first round.

[Camp Fodder]

After watching the Super Bowl not sure how OT isn't listed here

[stirs]

The key is to make sure the front four are very talented, then, it takes the pressure off the back 7.

So, yes, I see a DE in the draft and one in FA.  Would not be surprised to see Allen gone and then brought back just for the vet presence.

Same with a safety, I see a vet FA coming in.

CB will be needed, Tillman injury was very late and i doubt he will be ready for the opening game.

I am looking ahead a season or two to C being a need.  Wonder if we will keep Remmers around as a backup to Kalil and to D Williams who should be starting at RT?

Keep the trenches stocked and the rest is much easier

[t96]

Corner honestly wasn't a big issue this year, shockingly. Josh obviously got his job done all year, but Tillman was extremely solid when healthy and even after he and Bene went down, Finnegan and McClain both played very very well. We held the top offense besides us with the best receivers in the league to 15 points with Finnegan and McClain. We should bring them back. Pass rush is much more important in my opinion. We need some elite edge rusher badly. KK is our only great pass rusher and he's obviously a beast but he can't get it done alone. Ealy may or may not step up but even still I think we need another. Our biggest weakness on D all year was our DEs. Corner will become a huge need once Josh is gone yes but not for next year if we tag him.

[t96]

8 minutes ago, rodeo said:

I realize that OT is a concern after the Super Bowl and Falcons game, but man. Now I want to use the Broncos formula. I want the best defense in NFL history. We had the #1 offense in the NFL with our current roster, so why not just keep that roster and draft entirely defense? Sign Weddle if we can, sign JPP if we can, draft CB in the first round.

Imagine Hardy with JPP and KK and Ealy all rushing the passer... Weddle and Coleman back there with Josh and Bene ready to pick anything off and Shaq, TD, Luke all ready to lay the boom. Sh*t man I want it. The Broncos after they got whooped by the Hawks went and spent like $30-40M on defense getting Talib, Ware and Ward. We could get JPP, Hardy and Weddle for well less than that.

 

(yes I know Hardy's an impossibility, and doubt we sign Weddle or JPP but a man can dream...)

[KB_fan]

8 minutes ago, Camp Fodder said:

After watching the Super Bowl not sure how OT isn't listed here

Presuming Daryl Williams is the stud right tackle that we drafted him to be.  Oher had a good year in pass protection and is worth keeping another year.  (Assume Remmers moves to backup... Should Oher be injured, Williams can swing to LT and Remmers fill in at RT).

We do need more OT depth and maybe a center to groom, but perhaps it doesn't need to be 1st round.

[JawnyBlaze]

Yea, I mostly agree with OP.

I don't think CJ is definitely gone at this point, but regardless of whether he is or isn't we need to be drafting a DE high.  With the time it takes them to develop, we'll already be behind the 8 ball unless we get a freakishly quick adapting-to-the-pro-game DE.

I dunno if Safety is as big a need as some others.  Boston had been playing that role lately and I think he's done solidly.  He could be upgraded for sure, but it wouldn't be as large of an impact upgrade as at some other positions.  Let him compete with Marlowe for the starting job and the winner gets valuable reps. 

CB is another I want drafted within the first 3 rounds.  I think we can go ahead and pencil in Josh (at least 1 more year) and Bene in as #s 1 and 2.  I dunno what it is I'm not seeing, but when Bene has played out wide he's always seemed better to me than playing the slot.  But I want another high potential CB for the slot position, and in case we can't retain Josh past this year.  Better to have a blue chipper with a year under his belt ready to start year after next than have to go into the draft picking one high and making him start as a rookie.

[ncfan]

I'd say OL isn't as big a need as most think.  Cam had more time in the pocket than a majority than many QB's in the league.  Oher was just about a pro bowler, had we not made the Super Bowl he probably would have been in it.  The staff was really high on Daryl Williams and some thought he would have taken over for Remmers mid season.  Unfortunately he just got hit with the injury bug to start the season and set him back.  The Superbowl Cam took a beating after arguably the best pass rusher in the game beat him.  Drafting a OT early will not be the fix (see the saints and giants last year along with the redskins the year before with Moses in the 2nd).  And realistic unless you get the top OT in FA its not going to be a fix as well (see Beluga last year for GB who they re-signed, Rogers took one of the biggest beatings all season).

 

DE passrushers is by far hands down the biggest need.  

Another spot to look at early like the 2nd round is DT.  This position is the Deepest in the draft and several guys with first round grades will fall into the 2nd.  Part of the big reason teams came back on us this season was DL depth.  Its easy to put the blame on the DB's but these guys did pretty good considering the situation.  The starters to end the season were on the practice squad and retired mid season yet still played as good as anyone in one division.  DL on the other, behind the starters left a Massive drop off.  Star's biggest weakness they've said since he's come out is he wears down easily.  When we drafted scouts said no way we can keep him out on the field 3 downs constantly through the game.  Stealing a 1st round DT in the 2nd to rotate in and keep our Studs fresh will be as big as anything outside adding pressure off the edge.

[yasuhara2241]

I say in this order: 

1. DE: Need pass rushers. Like what I saw from Ealy but who else do we have IF we cut CJ. Even if we don't we need more options. I didn't think much of Allen. He was better against the run than I thought but we need a speed rusher who can adequately handle the run. 

2. CB: No depth. I say resign Tillman for a year but we still need more. I know they are high on Lou Young so this might be a case of "the answer is already on the roster". 

3. OL: We all don't know if D. Williams is the answer as RT and plus we have Oher for another year but I wouldn't mind having more depth. I see Remmers as our first OL off the bench, a jack of all trades. He was practicing filling in at C and might be able to do G or T. I just want somebody there to shore up the line. 

**Opinion**

Not going after Safety or WR. We are happy to run with Boston and Marlowe. Also I think we are going to be fine at WR when KB comes back. Also who knows if we have something with Norwood or Stephen Hill. Ok joking about the Hill part. We might go after a speed guy but I wouldn't be shocked if we don't.

[*FreeFua*]

I'd like to address S/DE/CB as well but that'll be expensive...

Bene is nothing more than a slot guy, McClain played alright and may be given a shot to keep his job. In my dream/unrealistic off season we sign Trumaine Johnson. In my more realistic offseason, Patrick Robinson may be worth a look as he had a nice bounce back year in SanDiego after being terrible in NO. 

But Josh Norman + Trumaine Johnson on the outsides with Bene in the slot sure looks nice!

Reggie Nelson or Eric Weddle in the back and slide Coleman over to SS. Nelson can still play and is still physical, he has aged quite well. 

Even though I'm against it and his arrow trending in the wrong direction we'd restructure CJ since we need bodies at the ends. JPP pending his hand could be a nice get since teams may hesitate on him. I know people want Mario Williams but with guys questioning his effort last season I'm not sure that's a guy we want. 

There's some nice WR's that may be fringe 1st rounders early 2nd rounders we can draft so spending our money on D isn't the worst thing. There's some nice FA WR's out there like Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, Jermaine Kearse and Travis Benjamin but I'm willing to bet they all get overpaid so we'd be better off drafting a guy at 30.

[ncfan]

48 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

I'd like to address S/DE/CB as well but that'll be expensive...

Bene is nothing more than a slot guy, McClain played alright and may be given a shot to keep his job. In my dream/unrealistic off season we sign Trumaine Johnson. In my more realistic offseason, Patrick Robinson may be worth a look as he had a nice bounce back year in SanDiego after being terrible in NO. 

But Josh Norman + Trumaine Johnson on the outsides with Bene in the slot sure looks nice!

Reggie Nelson or Eric Weddle in the back and slide Coleman over to SS. Nelson can still play and is still physical, he has aged quite well. 

Even though I'm against it and his arrow trending in the wrong direction we'd restructure CJ since we need bodies at the ends. JPP pending his hand could be a nice get since teams may hesitate on him. I know people want Mario Williams but with guys questioning his effort last season I'm not sure that's a guy we want. 

There's some nice WR's that may be fringe 1st rounders early 2nd rounders we can draft so spending our money on D isn't the worst thing. There's some nice FA WR's out there like Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, Jermaine Kearse and Travis Benjamin but I'm willing to bet they all get overpaid so we'd be better off drafting a guy at 30.

Actually oddly enough Bene has been better on the outside. Last year his rookie season, he looked great and was NFL all-rookie team.  Even some had 2014 redraft him as top 20 pick.  He moved to the slot this year because peanut wasn't quick enough with his old age.  Thats the reason people wondered if he was having a sophomore slump or his rookie season was a fluke to start the season.  When Peanut went down Bene showed off again.  His first game back outside he looked like one of the top DB's in the league vs the redskins.  His weakness coming out was his speed and quickness, which isn't the best when guarding the slot.  We need that speedy slot guy more than anything in the defensive backfield.