Analyzing the Panthers 2017 Post-Draft Roster

[KB_fan]

I've had plenty of free time today, and thought it would be fun / helpful to do a review of the Panthers roster as it currently stands post-draft.   In particular I was wanting to be able to see at a glance for each position, who are the returning players from last year's 53, returning practice-squad guys, newly added free agents, rookies...

Here's what I've come up with:  Note: UDFAs not included (yet).  Color coding has nothing to do with roster projections, it indicates the player's origin (last year's 53, free agent, rookie etc)

Bolded players are expected to start / play significant roles.  The distinction between "returning from 53" vs. "returning from PS / IR" is a bit arbitrary since some players moved back and forth from 53 to PS or IR.  Generally, if a player played in at least 6 games in 2016, I included him as "returning from the 53" but I've also noted the exact number of games in which each returning Panther played to make things a bit clearer.

First, Defense.

 

OFFENSE:

 

And Specialists:

 

Finally, a summary by Units & Positions:

 

I'll post some comments below.  But I'll also be adding to this thread over the next day or two once UDFAs are announced.  

I plan to do a comparison of the May 1 2016 roster vs the May 1 2017 roster.

I also hope to note the number / % of snaps lost at each position.

[KB_fan]

Ok, some comments on Defense.

 

Gee, do  you think we like our existing group of DTs and LBs?!?!?!

100% of both positions are returning Panthers.   Sweet.

 

Regarding Safety:  I had forgotten we'd added two other EXPERIENCED free agents in addition to Mike Adams.  So, even though we didn't draft a safety, we already have more competition at that position than we did this time last year...  

McCray has played in 22 NFL games

http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/L.J.-McCray/38b682e0-d779-4d34-86b2-a2bd48c4c28f

Southward has played in 19

http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/Dezmen-Southward/bc233abb-c927-4fa8-9f52-2dd3b5afcf49

These guys have just been totally off my radar up until now.  It will be interesting to see if they can shore up our depth.

[KB_fan]

Oops, I hit submit too soon...  I had one other comment I wanted to make about defense.

It's really interesting to me that 7 of the 9 new guys (free agents / rookies) brought in so far on defense are DBs.  We are in VERY good shape in terms of our front 7.   The Secondary is still in some transition...

[chknwing]

but but but Tre Boston still sucks

[KB_fan]

Now, as to offense.

1.  I know we've done quite a lot of work to address the position catastrophe at OT, but gee whiz, with Remmers gone (and all his snaps lost) that leaves only DARYL WILLIAMS among the returning tackles who saw significant action at Tackle for the Panthers last year.  (Obviously I'm not counting Trai Turner who is a guard...)

This is still the position that I'm most nervous about.  I can't wait for more clarity re: Oher's situation - not only what the coaches tell us, but what we can see with our eyes if / when Michael is on the field for mini camp / OTAs etc.

 

2.  WR is obviously in huge transition again, with 5 of the 10 current players being new additions in the offseason.

 

3.  TE, like DT and LB is a position where we've added NO new players (yet?... come on down Gary Barnidge.  Panther Nation wants you!)  But, with so much other transition on the Oline, adding a new feature player at RB, and lots of unknowns at WR, perhaps having stability at TE isn't such a bad thing, especially when the MAIN part of your TE corps is All Pro Greg Olsen....

[PanthersGOATFan336]

Darn, you beat me to it 

[Mage]

I like the way our defense is looking.  Safety is still a concern, but Bradberry, Worley, and Munnerlyn is a solid trio (especially for what we expect out of our corners and I'm a huge fan of Bradberry) and our front seven is fantastic.  I expect Butler to have a good season coming off the bench.  I just hope we can keep Peppers fresh for the entire season.

[KB_fan]

Finally for tonight, here's a quick look at how the May 1 roster for 2016 compares to the May 1 roster for 2017 (excluding UDFAs for both years).   I'll post an updated version of this table WITH UDFAs once the UDFAs are announced tomorrow.

 

Continuity on Defense.  Significant re-vamp on Offense - a total 360 from last year when we had near total continuity (except for losing Cotchery) on Offense [obviously that doesn't factor in the disastrous injuries we faced on offense as the season progressed].

We were stale & predictable on offense last year.   Not anymore.

We were too inexperienced on defense (in the secondary) last year.  Much less so this season.

I like it.

[caatfan]

18 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

McCray has played in 22 NFL games

http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/L.J.-McCray/38b682e0-d779-4d34-86b2-a2bd48c4c28f

Southward has played in 19

http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/Dezmen-Southward/bc233abb-c927-4fa8-9f52-2dd3b5afcf49

These guys have just been totally off my radar up until now.  It will be interesting to see if they can shore up our depth.

When did they sneak these two onto the roster? Damn. I thought I was paying attention. 

Quote

This is still the position that I'm most nervous about.  I can't wait for more clarity re: Oher's situation - not only what the coaches tell us, but what we can see with our eyes if / when Michael is on the field for mini camp / OTAs etc.

Do not think they're counting on having Oher available. If he returns and plays well, I think we're in good shape. Glad to see they traded up for a guy who can play OT. 

[KB_fan]

1 minute ago, caatfan said:

When did they sneak these two onto the roster? Damn. I thought I was paying attention. 

January 5 and January 12.

 

2 minutes ago, caatfan said:

Glad to see they traded up for a guy who can play OT. 

Actually, we didn't trade up. (Our trade up was for DE Hall). But to take a guy who looks to be a SOLID RT in Round 2 was frankly far above my hopes & expectations for this draft, so I'm thrilled with that pick.  That goes a LONG way to helping solve the crisis at Tackle, assuming Matsko can play the tackle-whisperer once again and rejuvenate Matt Kalil's career.

[KB_fan]

Would you all like to see a side by side comparison of players for each position as of May 1 2016 and May 1 2017?  I have the info available, so I could do it if there's interest.

[Ace_Aladdin]

58 minutes ago, chknwing said:

but but but Tre Boston still sucks

Staph it last year Safety played suffer due to lack of experience by the CBs 

[KB_fan]

1 hour ago, sanjay_rajput said:

Staph it last year Safety played suffer due to lack of experience by the CBs 

Speaking of a lack of experience at CB last year...

Here is a sneak peak of the side-by-side post-draft roster comparisons I'm working on, position by position.  I happened to start tonight with CB.

Here's what our roster looked like at CB on May 1 last year vs. May 1 this year (UDFAs excluded). 

 

Obviously we didn't know who our starting CBs would be in 2016, especially since we quickly released Boykin, one of the only experienced corners on the roster at the time...  But going with the trio of Benwikere / Bradberry / Worley, among them, only 6 NFL starts, compared with 104 starts for the trio of Bradberry, Munnerlyn & Worley!  NO true veteran leader of the CBs in 2016. 

What a difference a year makes.  Huge to get Captain back.  May he ball out and help us get a ring!

Anything else strike you all about this comparison, or anything you would like me to add / change in terms of the presentation?

I hope to be able to post new positions each day in the coming week.  Maybe 2 positions per day....

[caatfan]

2 hours ago, KB_fan said:

Actually, we didn't trade up. (Our trade up was for DE Hall). But to take a guy who looks to be a SOLID RT in Round 2 was frankly far above my hopes & expectations for this draft, so I'm thrilled with that pick.  That goes a LONG way to helping solve the crisis at Tackle, assuming Matsko can play the tackle-whisperer once again and rejuvenate Matt Kalil's career.

You're right. The Moton pick came from NE. I think he'll be a solid player and experience at both G and T is a big plus. As for Kalil, he's healthy now so we'll see if he's worth the big bucks.