So How Old Is Our Team's Core Heading Into 2019?

[Pantha-kun]

I'musually not a big fan of "window" threads but lets look at the age of some of our best stars. Age listed is the age they would start the 2019 season at.

Offense:     

•  Cam : 30 
• Greg: 34
• T.Turner : 26 
• D.Williams : 27 
• T. Moton : 25 
• C. McCaffrey : 23 
• DJ : 22 
• C.Samuel : 23 
• I. Thomas : 23 
• A. Armah : 25 

Defense: 

• Luke : 28 
• M.Addison : 32
• K.Short : 30 
• E.Reid : 27 
• D.Jackson : 23 
• J. Bradberry : 26 
• Shaq Thompson : 25 

So really, we have a pretty decently young core still. The oldest ones are Cam, Olsen, KK, and Mario. 

I would say we at least have a few more seasons to do something big. But of course thats assuming we're not letting any of this core group go without the next 4 years or so. 

[Pantha-kun]

Of note: Our starting CBs and starting offensive skill position players are very young, if that means anything.

Also, if we draft and start another oline (or even two of them considering we might need LT, LG, C) , we could have a pretty youthful looking oline. 

Dline is still one of the oldest units , we have to get younger there. 

[Jeremy Igo]

That's a huge core. In the past the core was 5-6 players max. Everyone else expendable.

[Pantha-kun]

Just now, Jeremy Igo said:

That's a huge core. In the past the core was 5-6 players max. Everyone else expendable.

well you can make your own. I just listed who i thought was the most important players on our roster.

Its kinda difficult to narrow it down to such a small number like that. I feel like I'd only end up listing Luke from the defense and everyone else would be offense.

[RumHam]

Some of these guys are UFA like Reid and Williams. Our core probably averages to be 30, which isn't good. Cam, CMC, Luke, Short and Olsen.

[Lumps]

CMC, Moton, Turner, Cam, Luke and unfortunately Short are the Core

Jackson, and DJ and working their way in there.

That is considering play, contracts and projected contracts and expendability.

[kungfoodude]

Safe for the next 4 years?? If that is your definition, I would say:

Offense:

Cam - IF, IF, IF he recovers next season from this shoulder surgery. Remember, he is only on the payroll through 2020.

CMC - This is a big if, as well. His rookie deal is over in 2020 and it will depend on what he is looking for in his new contract. Won't blame him for shooting for the moon, as the window to make big money in the NFL as a RB is very, very, very small.

EDIT: The fifth year team option has him on contract through 2021.

Moton, Williams or Turner could end up making the core list but a lot will depend on if they get new contracts. If I had to predict, I would say Williams and Turner do not get new deals and Moton does. Same goes with the WR's. On the surface you would think that at least one of the WR's on the roster would be in that category but our franchise history is littered with one or two year wonders. I don't think any of them have proved themselves worthy of a second contract as of yet. Lots of time to determine that, however.

 

Defense:

Luke - He is really the only guy that I would put as a pretty sure bet to still be here in 4 years. I am not sure any other starter on the roster would I actually wager a substantial amount of money they will still be in a Panthers uniform in 2022. 

Bradberry and Donte Jackson could be possible candidates. For Bradberry, we will know very soon because he is on the last year of his deal. Jackson we have until 2021 to figure out if he is going to be someone we invest in. The same argument could be made for Shaq Thompson. If we don't extend him this offseason, I would expect that is a pretty clear indicator he isn't going to be in our future plans.

 

It's crazy to see how much roster turnover is likely in the next 2-3 years. I know that is just standard NFL practice but as one of the oldest teams in the league last year, I think it is going to be much more pronounced for us in the coming seasons.

 

[RumHam]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

Safe for the next 4 years?? If that is your definition, I would say:

Offense:

Cam - IF, IF, IF he recovers next season from this shoulder surgery. Remember, he is only on the payroll through 2020.

CMC - This is a big if, as well. His rookie deal is over in 2020 and it will depend on what he is looking for in his new contract. Won't blame him for shooting for the moon, as the window to make big money in the NFL as a RB is very, very, very small.

Moton, Williams or Turner could end up making the core list but a lot will depend on if they get new contracts. If I had to predict, I would say Williams and Turner do not get new deals and Moton does. Same goes with the WR's. On the surface you would think that at least one of the WR's on the roster would be in that category but our franchise history is littered with one or two year wonders. I don't think any of them have proved themselves worthy of a second contract as of yet. Lots of time to determine that, however.

 

Defense:

Luke - He is really the only guy that I would put as a pretty sure bet to still be here in 4 years. I am not sure any other starter on the roster would I actually wager a substantial amount of money they will still be in a Panthers uniform in 2022. 

Bradberry and Donte Jackson could be possible candidates. For Bradberry, we will know very soon because he is on the last year of his deal. Jackson we have until 2021 to figure out if he is going to be someone we invest in. The same argument could be made for Shaq Thompson. If we don't extend him this offseason, I would expect that is a pretty clear indicator he isn't going to be in our future plans.

 

It's crazy to see how much roster turnover is likely in the next 2-3 years. I know that is just standard NFL practice but as one of the oldest teams in the league last year, I think it is going to be much more pronounced for us in the coming seasons.

 

if this is bradberry's next year, then we definitely need to bring a veteran corner in. not draft one. it'll push him and we won't be sitting there with our fly unzipped going omg draft a cb #1

[kungfoodude]

34 minutes ago, RumHam said:

if this is bradberry's next year, then we definitely need to bring a veteran corner in. not draft one. it'll push him and we won't be sitting there with our fly unzipped going omg draft a cb #1

This is year two of our critical offseasons(which I predicted would be three straight). We did okay last year and this year we really need another successful offseason to continue the momentum. If we whiff on this offseason or next offseason, it is really going to be hard to easily recover. 

[hepcat]

Core players right now are Cam, CMC, and Kuechly.

[t96]

On 2/7/2019 at 9:17 AM, Jeremy Igo said:

That's a huge core. In the past the core was 5-6 players max. Everyone else expendable.

Do you think Reid will be back or will there be enough of a market for him elsewhere to price himself out of our budget?

[t96]

2 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

 

CMC - This is a big if, as well. His rookie deal is over in 2020 and it will depend on what he is looking for in his new contract. Won't blame him for shooting for the moon, as the window to make big money in the NFL as a RB is very, very, very small.

McC’s rookie deal will run through 2021.

[kungfoodude]

4 minutes ago, t96 said:

McC’s rookie deal will run through 2021.

That's right. I forgot about his 1st round team option.