Panthers met with at least four receivers

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

I was cool with taking a WR in the 5th, but after hearing about Samuels' injury, I've got the panics.  Now I'm cool with using one of our first 4 picks on a receiver.  And signing a vet.  And drafting one of the TEs.

Really, really wish we had our 4th this year.  Taking a WR and/or TE in the first 3 picks means we're not gonna get one of other needs till the 5th.  I really want one of the centers, of course we need safety and DE, and we also need a linebacker and a DT.

I'd really like Hurney to get the ball moving on some free agents.

Would LOVE to come out of the first three rounds with a WR, S, TE, and OL. Spend the late rounders on depth at DT, LB, and RB. Maybe take a flier on a QB. JT Barrett comes to mind.

I'm concerned about DE. It's a weak 4-3 DE draft and the free agent class isn't much better. Duke Ejiofor has to be mighty tempting for us, but I think we'd have to take him in the 2nd.

[trucpfan]

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Uncfan is to DE as sanjay is to TE

Ok ok now I understand lol.

[Davidson Deac II]

30 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Why not both? Why does it have to be either/or? Right now, we only have two WRs on our roster who were actually drafted. Shepard, Byrd, Clay, and Bersin were all UDFAs. Samuel was very raw as a WR coming out and then missed a ton of offseason time last year. He's probably gonna need to be treated as a rookie again himself next year. 

I'm absolutely on board with signing a decent veteran free agent AND taking a WR in the first three rounds of the draft next month. Our WR corps is pretty much trash.

I have a higher opinion of our receivers than you do I think.  Funchess has shown enough to keep a starting spot.  Samuel is an unknown, but at this point, we have to see what we have.  I don't think it matters if Byrd was drafted or not.  In fact, once the draft is over with, it no longer matters at all where a player was drafted, or if.  It only matters what they can do on the field.  And starting with the second Saints game last year, Byrd showed enough to get a shot at remaining with the team.  Irt Bersin and Clay, Clay should stay on the team as the punt returner.  He only saw the field as a primary receiver because Hurney traded Benjamin and didn't replace him with anyone.  Bersin can stay as the receiver of last resort.  I will be ok with Funchess. free agent, Samuel, Byrd, Bersin, Clay.  

We have a limited number of picks and cap space, and a significant number of needs (DE, safety, rb, OL).  And we need to groom a replacement for Olsen.  Have to be careful with both cap space and our picks.  I do hope Hall can become a factor at DE, that would help a lot.  

[LinvilleGorge]

I agree that Funchess has earned a starting spot and I think Samuel is an interesting development prospect but still may not be ready for a significant role. I'm fine with Byrd as the #4/5 and Clay as a dedicated return man. But we absolutely need another starter and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to bring in competition for Samuel in that #3 spot.

[Davidson Deac II]

10 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I agree that Funchess has earned a starting spot and I think Samuel is an interesting development prospect but still may not be ready for a significant role. I'm fine with Byrd as the #4/5 and Clay as a dedicated return man. But we absolutely need another starter and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to bring in competition for Samuel in that #3 spot.

I agree that we need another starter and I do think that a FA (ie known quantity) would be better than a draft pick in that regard.

I also agree that it would be nice not to have to depend on Samuel or Byrd for the 3/4/5 spots, but getting a competitor for those spots may be a luxury we can't afford at this point.  With Peppers and Addison both on the high side of 30 (assuming Peppers comes back), we probably need to find at least one DE who can be ready to start by next year.  Need at least one safety as well.  

[LinvilleGorge]

7 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

I agree that we need another starter and I do think that a FA (ie known quantity) would be better than a draft pick in that regard.

I also agree that it would be nice not to have to depend on Samuel or Byrd for the 3/4/5 spots, but getting a competitor for those spots may be a luxury we can't afford at this point.  With Peppers and Addison both on the high side of 30 (assuming Peppers comes back), we probably need to find at least one DE who can be ready to start by next year.  Need at least one safety as well.  

Sucks that it's such a weak year for 4-3 DEs, both in the draft and in FA. I agree with you that DE is a definite need it's just one I'm not certain we can fill this offseason. Duke Ejiofor is one guy I'm keeping an eye on.

I'd also consider calling the Broncos about DeMarcus Walker. He's a guy I really liked for us in the draft but they took him and tried to turn him into a 3-4 OLB. Yeah, a 6'4" 280# 3-4 OLB. Not surprisingly, it didn't go well. I think he's a pure 4-3 DE and I'd love to have him. Just not sure I'd want to give up a 3rd and not sure a 5th would get it done.

[Davidson Deac II]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Sucks that it's such a weak year for 4-3 DEs, both in the draft and in FA. I agree with you that DE is a definite need it's just one I'm not certain we can fill this offseason. Duke Ejiofor is one guy I'm keeping an eye on.

If we get Ejiofor and Bates, I will be in Deac heaven.    Just hope I can be more objective than App state fans were with A Edwards.  

[stirs]

4 minutes ago, stbugs said:

We may have to wait on DE. 2019 looks much better for DE and I’d have to think that Hall/Cox will be better than someone like Ejifor this year.  All 3 Clemson DL not declaring and Key becoming a LB really hurt this class which was already really front loaded. I have no idea who told Key to become a LB because he is now in the middle of a strong position when he could have taken advantage of being in a weak one. 

Didn't Key weigh in at 238?

The scales probably told him to be a LB:)

[ncfan]

41 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Sucks that it's such a weak year for 4-3 DEs, both in the draft and in FA. I agree with you that DE is a definite need it's just one I'm not certain we can fill this offseason. Duke Ejiofor is one guy I'm keeping an eye on.

I'd also consider calling the Broncos about DeMarcus Walker. He's a guy I really liked for us in the draft but they took him and tried to turn him into a 3-4 OLB. Yeah, a 6'4" 280# 3-4 OLB. Not surprisingly, it didn't go well. I think he's a pure 4-3 DE and I'd love to have him. Just not sure I'd want to give up a 3rd and not sure a 5th would get it done.

Walker is a good 4-3 DE prospect, but a Daaaaamn good 3-4 DE prospect (what he played at FSU).  The only reason they tried him at OLB, he got injured then got sick and lost 40 pounds.  He was at 240 last season which wouldve been way to light for 3-4 DE.  He is back up to 280 and they plan for him to be back at 3-4 DE even asking him to bulk uo to around 290.

 

 

Im really on the Ejifor train as well.

Another guy I wouod like us to take a real hard look at is Sweat from FSU.

Sweat is a guy who has played a little out of position.  He was real highly touted with Clowney Freak abiliylty coming out of high school.  He had a major Knee injury at the end of high school and set him back to start college.  He is a pure freak 4-3 edge rusher but has been forced to play 3-4 DE and has got manhandled inside.

Sweat had a nice combine

6'4 250 4.53 40, 39.5 vert, 124 broad

[BrianS]

Keeping in mind that we're really looking for someone to stretch the field for us, I like James Washington.  None of the other four scream deep ball threat to me.

DJ Chark might be one to look at later in the draft.  Similar speed to Damiere Byrd and Curtis Samuel, but 6'3".

[AU-panther]

On 3/3/2018 at 11:56 PM, top dawg said:

Why is that unfortunate?  An inexpensive vet doesn't necessarily mean a bad one,  and a first or second rounder receiver will be better than nothing.  That would mean we would have at least three second round receivers at worst.  If we go out and get Moncrief for example,  that would be plenty of talent. 

In free agency I would think that cost would have a highly correlation to production.  Of course you can get lucky  and sign someone who overplays their contract but overall I’ll take my chances with a &12m receiver over a $2m.  

Maybe we are looking at different definitions of cheap. Im thinking in the Shepard and Cotchery range (2-3m).

I would prefer to sign Robinson or Watkins and a third rounder than a first rounder and a vet receiver in the $2-3m range.

[LinvilleGorge]

3 hours ago, BrianS said:

Chark might be one to look at later in the draft.  Similar speed to Damiere Byrd and Curtis Samuel, but 6'3".

LOL! Chark is not going to be available "later in the draft". Not after his combine. He's going to get overdrafted.

[BrianS]

44 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

LOL! Chark is not going to be available "later in the draft". Not after his combine. He's going to get overdrafted.

I dunno man, I liked his workout too, but he's still not showing up in many top WR lists.  Mayock doesn't have him in his top WR's . . . CBS doesn't have him close . . . he's not in Kiper's top 10 . . . Walterfootball has him at 9 . . . 

He might still be around late 2nd or 3rd.  He feels sort of like an early 3rd to me unless there's a serious run.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, BrianS said:

I dunno man, I liked his workout too, but he's still not showing up in many top WR lists.  Mayock doesn't have him in his top WR's . . . CBS doesn't have him close . . . he's not in Kiper's top 10 . . . Walterfootball has him at 9 . . . 

He might still be around late 2nd or 3rd.  He feels sort of like an early 3rd to me unless there's a serious run.

None of those guys are going to make a draft pick next month either. Guys who blow up the combine almost always end up getting overdrafted. So it has been, so it likely always will be. Only one team has to be convinced and potential is always tempting.