5 wide

[Jon Snow]

So let me see if I can get this straight, the huddle "weapons" experts think the team needs a true number one wr but one that Cam won't focus on because it hinders the offense?  And KB wasn't a number one but Cam couldn't be Cam because of KB?

So now the team must find Cam a "weapon" that he only uses sparingly?

Does that cover it?

 

[The Natural]

Man, this is depressing. Our team is in terrible shape. There's no way we can fix it all in one off-season.

[The Natural]

Just now, Jon Snow said:

So let me see if I can get this straight, the huddle "weapons" experts think the team needs a true number one wr but one that Cam won't focus on because it hinders the offense?  And KB wasn't a number one but Cam couldn't be Cam because of KB?

So now the team must find Cam a "weapon" that he only uses sparingly?

Does that cover i

 

KB was a number one by default, not because he was good. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Funchess

Sammy Watkins/Paul Richardson/Donte Moncrief/Marqise Lee/Mike Wallace/unknown vet WR who is a salary cap casualty (this would probably be our most attractive option since it would protect our comp picks). A trade isn't out of the question either since we could rely on the comp pick(s) to essentially get that pick back.

Samuel

Byrd/draft pick 

Clay

Not sure why everyone is overlooking Kaelin Clay, but IMO he's definitely earned a roster spot as a dedicated return man.

[TheRed]

6 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I'd add that I just don't think Cam is going anywhere.  Sure he can be hurt, just like any franchise QB,  but at the moment I don't see any reason he won't be here for the next 5 years. I'd only nab a QB in the draft if I really believed that he was a legitimate heir-apparent. 

This sums it up for me.

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I don't really see Newton going anywhere either, but if he were to go down again and we don't have a backup better than Derek Anderson, that's a problem.

If he goes down it's going to be because of mismanagement and philosophies like the one you're pushing here. We just had him lead the team in rushing last year, and he dragged us to the playoffs doing so and almost won us a playoff game on the road in NO. So instead of getting him some help to lessen the load, the solution is to go overboard addressing the backup QB position? If we're starting a backup QB we're going nowhere anyway, have you forgotten we play in a division with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan?

[top dawg]

1 hour ago, Saca312 said:

Samuel was the difference between our first bout against Atlanta and making their defense run circles and our second bout. He adds so much to our offense.

Labeling him injury prone is also stupid since his injuries are luck based and he simply had a lot of bad luck this year. Prior to the NFL, he was near spotless with his injury history, so it’s just dumb all around.

Put Samuel in more and this offense will flourish. As long as he doesn’t contract Ginn hands, he’s a sure fire stud already. Gets open easily and with more chances, he’s sure to be fine.

Saca,  Saca,  Saca.  I am not trying to bust your balls here (yet again). l agree with you that Samuel has lots of upside. And,  hell yeah,  I'm still excited by the guy.  I also think that there's a somewhat perceptible negative undercurrent going on with some people here whenever Samuel is discussed as a viable playmaker in this offense,  but to call him a "sure-fire stud" is premature, bordering on reckless when taking into account the entire state of the Panthers' receiving corps. Come on,  man. 

Hamstring injuries should be concerning.  Now if it's just your garden variety hammy,  then nothing to worry about.  Perhaps his body had to adjust to the pro game is all. But,  if it's the chronic hammy issues that plagued players like Miles Austin, that's not good. At this point,  I don't believe that it's "stupid" to have some concern, even if it's premature to label the kid.  At this point,  I don't see any reason not to think in terms of proceeding with caution. We need to be resolute with providing Cam rock-solid options,  and, sorry,  It's going to take more than one game from Samuel to prove himself as rock-solid. 

[Car123]

Why do people have Samuel above Byrd? Byrd showed more big play ability as a WR than Samuel did last season.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, Car123 said:

Why do people have Samuel above Byrd? Byrd showed more big play ability as a WR than Samuel did last season.

Samuel was a 2nd round pick for a reason. He's more talented. Already being a raw WR coming into the NFL and then missing virtually his entire rookie offseason with injury really put him behind the eight ball.

[Mr. Scot]

16 minutes ago, TheRed said:

This sums it up for me.

If he goes down it's going to be because of mismanagement and philosophies like the one you're pushing here. We just had him lead the team in rushing last year, and he dragged us to the playoffs doing so and almost won us a playoff game on the road in NO. So instead of getting him some help to lessen the load, the solution is to go overboard addressing the backup QB position? If we're starting a backup QB we're going nowhere anyway, have you forgotten we play in a division with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan?

Not "pushing a philosophy" in here.

I'm talking about what's likely happening behind the scenes and what some of the potential consequences are. I don't really care whether they do this or don't.

I would point out that we're talking about one single draft pick. As others have mentioned, using that one draft pick on a quarterback is only a small piece of the offseason puzzle.

But again, if this happens, it'll be the Panthers decision, not mine or anyone else's on this board.

[Davidson Deac II]

IMO

Free Agent or draft pick

Funchess

Byrd  - Played ok starting with the second Saints game, and seemed to improve as he got more in tune with Cam and the offense.  The Playoff game might have gone differently had he not gotten injured.  But he is small, and injuries are a big concern.

Samuel  - Hasn't shown anything yet, but it was his first year.  Gets the benefit of the doubt for now.  And its ludicrous to say he was the difference in the Falcons games.  The difference

in the two games = turnovers.  Period, end of discussion.  

Kaelin Clay - but only as a punt returner/special teams player.  If he plays receiver, it will have to be only short throws/screens.

Bersin if we carry 6.

[Trill OG]

6 minutes ago, Car123 said:

Why do people have Samuel above Byrd? Byrd showed more big play ability as a WR than Samuel did last season.

Was just about to post this. People are sleeping on Byrd, this dude is one of the fastest players in the NFL. He had shown so much potential before he got hurt. If he can stay healthy he will be our Ted Ginn and probably a better version.

[top dawg]

18 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Not sure why everyone is overlooking Kaelin Clay, but IMO he's definitely earned a roster spot as a dedicated return man.

Look,  man!  I like the theory of Kaelin Clay,  but there's a reason he has bounced around the league in such a short span of time,  with seemingly some exciting upside.  He's just not a starting caliber receiver.  His hands let him down.  I was ready to give the kid some benefit of doubt (and indeed suggested for people not to overlook him myself),  but seeing him drop a perfectly placed ball in the end zone, during the Saints just slapped me back to reality. He is as legitimate as Russell Shepard and Corey Brown,  and you know what I  suggested to this place about them.  But for his return-ability,  I don't see any reason whatsoever to keep him.  Bersin is much more reliable. 

[TheRed]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Not "pushing a philosophy" in here.

I'm talking about what's likely happening behind the scenes and what some of the potential consequences are. I don't really care whether they do this or don't.

I would point out that we're talking about one single draft pick. As others have mentioned, using that one draft pick on a quarterback is only a small piece of the offseason puzzle.

But again, if this happens, it'll be the Panthers decision, not mine or anyone else's on this board.

If we're intent on rolling the dice with the WR core this year, which it seems that way, I'd rather use any resources available to us to shore up the OL and run game to ensure we can make another postseason run. Which backup QB gets the honor of getting beat like a drum in place of Cam Newton if he gets injured is ultimately not worth much concern because unless that QB is going to play the season of his life we are toast.

[TheRed]

I like the upside of Clay in terms of his speed ability, but the hands just aren't there. You can't expect every fast WR with bad hands to turn into Ted Ginn.