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The real Cam Newton? It’s all that you see - for better or worse
By
Ricky Spanish,
in Carolina Panthers
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Conspiracy theory: They only spoke to one TE (based on the list I saw) and it was Joly. They are telling us: If we draft a TE, it will be day 3, and it will be Joly or we will stay with what we have. -
THE WALKER BACKGROUND Here is where this gets weird. Walker is a serviceable LT who could benefit from Gilbert's experience and coaching. However, he is known for below-average run blocking and frequent penalties. As you know, a penalty from a LT is a drive killer. A former 7th round pick, Walker has outperformed expectations, but he still ranks around the middle of the pack when compared to other tackles. Having said that, it seems as if the Panthers are banking on Walker for a year and will then make a decision on Ickey. In Green Bay, Walker was the starter, but the Packers weren't exactly sold on him. While most people think the oft-injured David Bakhtiari retired in 2023, he really wanted to keep playing. He was released on March, 11, 2024. Walker stepped in and took the reserve LT job from Nijman in that 2023 season, but they were close--probably because Nijman was more of a swing OT. However, Nijman was a free agent in 2024, so the Panthers signed him just a week after Bakhtiari was released, leaving the Packers only Walker to play LT. A month later, the Packers drafted a LT in the first round, Jordan Morgan out of Arizona. Most Packer fans believe that Morgan would have beat out Walker for the LT job in 2024, but he had some shoulder injuries and went to IR after 6 games. In 2025, when the Packers had an injury at G during the season, instead of putting Morgan in at LT for Walker as planned, they played Morgan to guard because Walker can only play 1 position. The Packers currently project Morgan back to LT for 2026, which is probably why they did not seek to retain Walker, at least in part. Based on this history, it is safe to say this: Walker is better than Nijman. We have the benefit of them being on the same team in a direct competition to help us see that. Walker is probably closer to Ickey, except for the penalties. That bothers me a lot. Bryce sucks when we get behind the sticks, and a run-first offense with a poor run-blocking LT is not ideal. Regardless, I think Ickey and the Panthers find themselves in limbo right now, so the Walker deal comes at a perfect time for the GM. Gilbert, perhaps, can work on the penalties and maybe a TE like Tremble can help offset the run blocking issues, so maybe we can actually stay the course at OT. Maybe we do not draft a LT--maybe we draft a RT to groom behind Moton. Maybe we draft a C. At LT, the Panthers do not want to overreact, especially if Ickey returns to form or Walker demonstrates improvement. Depth is certainly a concern, but a solid RT can be that depth. I doubt the Panthers draft a LT in rounds one or maybe two. It seems we have bigger needs at Will LB, DT, TE, and maybe S.
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THIS! IF we go offense at 19, it should be the trenches, which is no longer a pressing need with Waler's signing. 3 biggest needs in 2026, IMO, are DT, FS, ILB. We need to upgrade our starters at those positions and I expect anyone rafted at 19 to start immediately. I could rationalize OT (right or left) or CB since we're an injury away from a severe drop off AND have huge offseason concerns at both next year. Unless Bryce plays a lot better, I want to upgrade QB next year so I could get behind locking in a 2027 starter this year if the right guy is there. You COULD argue NCB and TE are positions where we need to upgrade our starters, sure, but not at 19. Both positions can still be upgraded on day 2.
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