Panthers sign 4 former AAF players and former Eagles DT

[Dilla]

Duarte was projected to be a mid round pick in 2016. Fell into the 7th. The issue is that he was a tweener WR/TE at UCLA and has to play TE in the NFL. So, I guess the transition (particularly blocking) has been an issue. Hopefully, the added game time in the AAF has helped him and maybe he can beat out Manhertz.

The coaches really love Manhertz tho lol

[TheSpecialJuan]

Teams are loading up on these cheap AAF players its' not just us. But I like the fact that Marty was agressive in signing a guy like Rashad Ross and Brandon Greene. 

[TylerDurden]

2 hours ago, Dilla said:

Duarte was projected to be a mid round pick in 2016. Fell into the 7th. The issue is that he was a tweener WR/TE at UCLA and has to play TE in the NFL. So, I guess the transition (particularly blocking) has been an issue. Hopefully, the added game time in the AAF has helped him and maybe he can beat out Manhertz.

The coaches really love Manhertz tho lol

I was under the impression that Manhertz was really athletic when we first signed him, but after watching him for the last few seasons, that is not the case.  So, it's always struck me as odd that he's been used primarily as a blocking TE, but he's fairly slight of frame...  and considering his frame, you would think he would be a bigger threat as a receiver, but he's not lol.  So, yeah, if we can upgrade TE3, I'm all for it.

[Devil Doc]

Wasnt there 6 Ex Panthers that were AAF Players? I wish the AAF would have lasted... it was a great concept... maybe someone can scrounge up money next year to bring it back. 

[ichigo1057]

I think the pure fact that so many of the AAF guys are being picked up by teams (even if just until time for cuts) shows that the Tom Dundon was an absolute moron by stating they couldn't be a development league unless the NFL "Lend them young players". Most of these guys being signed now likely wouldn't have been if they hadn't gotten the exposure they did in the short life of the AAF. The program would have been fine in terms of young players had they waited until after the draft and sought out the undrafted players that wanted to prove they had what it takes to play the game. Then again with what has come out about the guy in the past few days it looks like he never really cared about the league in the first place.