Three Panthers predictions from CBS Sports

[Jeremy Igo]

Here are three Carolina Panthers predictions from CBS Sports.

 

Christian McCaffrey breaks the RB receiving record (again)

You can call this unoriginal, but it's still bold, because only 17 players in NFL history have ever caught more than 116 passes in a single season -- the number McCaffrey would have to top in order to set the running back receptions record for a third straight year. It's certainly doable. This is a guy who caught 80 balls as a rookie, when he only started 10 games, and has now hauled in 107 and 116 the last two seasons. You're telling us that fresh off a record-breaking contract, he won't remain a central ingredient to the Panthers' offense, not to mention an easy target for a more conservative quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater? Fantasy owners, rejoice.

Panthers trade for All-Pro Patriots guard Joe Thuney

Carolina emptied its interior O-line of some star power by dealing Trai Turner to the Chargers early this offseason, and that looks like even more of a mistake now that left tackle Russell Okung, the return prize, might be done with football. It probably won't take long for Rhule to realize his ground-first approach -- not to mention the health of Bridgewater -- requires more sturdiness up front. There'd be no better solution than calling up the Patriots, who could be eager for draft picks with a rebuild on the horizon and can no longer extend the franchise-tagged Thuney, to give Carolina an All-Pro for the long term. (Bonus: Thuney played at North Carolina State!)

Derrick Brown is a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Panthers have so many moving parts on defense that it'd be a genuine surprise if Phil Snow's unit is able to find its footing in Year One of the Rhule regime, especially with six games against high-powered NFC South foes. Brown, however, is exactly the kind of big-bodied presence Carolina needed in the heart of its D-line. Next to guys like Kawaan Short and Brian Burns, a popular breakout candidate, the rookie should see plenty of opportunities to disrupt the backfield under Snow's aggressive instruction. Five of the last 10 DROY winners have come from the front four, and Brown was the top lineman other than Chase Young to come out of the draft.

[jfra78]

I think number 3 has the most promise

[LinvilleGorge]

29 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

There'd be no better solution than calling up the Patriots, who could be eager for draft picks with a rebuild on the horizon 

Precisely why we shouldn't even consider giving up draft assets for an OG. Smart teams rebuilding don't give up draft assets for non-premium positions.

 

[mrcompletely11]

1. Maybe

2. Hell no.  Why do that?  We need to keep all of our picks and build from the draft cheaply

3.  Seriously doubt it since he isnt a sack machine

[TheSpecialJuan]

stupid 

[thefuzz]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Precisely why we shouldn't even consider giving up draft assets for an OG. Smart teams rebuilding don't give up draft assets for non-premium positions.

 

Ummmmmm....I hate to break this to you....

[t96]

LOL Thuney is on an OL franchise tag (top 5 LT contracts averaged) as a guard. It would be retarded to even trade a 7th rounder for him. What a dumb idea.

[DCR]

1   I think we have too much at W/R for him to break his record

2   One all pro would not be enough to make a good O/L: (but for someone who is supposedly a good evaluator of college talent, Hurney loves giving away draft picks)

3   I doubt he will get enough national recognition for R O Y.   although i think he may prove to be the best player in that draft class and i was delighted with the pick.

 

 

 

 

[Madwolf]

#2 seems REALLY dumb.

[AU-panther]

3 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Precisely why we shouldn't even consider giving up draft assets for an OG. Smart teams rebuilding don't give up draft assets for non-premium positions.

 

this x 1000

As far as the other two points:

I expect CMCs numbers to go down, I think the new system will spread the ball around more.  Wouldn't surprise me, that at some point a lot on here start to question the contract that CMC received, because of this.

I think Brown will play very well but I'm not sure if he will have the stats (sacks) to contend for DROY.  Those type of awards are usually heavily influenced by traditional stats like sacks and interceptions.

 

 

 

[mrcompletely11]

1 hour ago, DCR said:

1   I think we have too much at W/R for him to break his record

2   One all pro would not be enough to make a good O/L: (but for someone who is supposedly a good evaluator of college talent, Hurney loves giving away draft picks)

3   I doubt he will get enough national recognition for R O Y.   although i think he may prove to be the best player in that draft class and i was delighted with the pick.

 

 

 

 

3.  Simmons has this locked up IMO.  He will have a few sacks and a few int's making him pretty attractive

[LinvilleGorge]

I actually HOPE CMC's numbers go down. RBs have a short shelf life and I don't want to use the tread up on his tires before we're ready to actually compete for something other than draft position.

[pantherj]

I'm against trading a draft pick for an OG. We desperately need our draft picks for the future.

Thuney signed his franchise-tag tender back in May, so he can be traded. $14.78 million salary. Yikes. We could wait until next season and then offer him a contract to play on a much better team. Why trade picks for an extremely expensive player to come play on a bad team? Besides I like my guards young and cheap so we can afford expensive play makers. Even dumpster diving can result in finding an excellent guard. I just don't see forking over a fortune to slightly improve a team that is going nowhere this season.

[Wolfcop]

27 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I actually HOPE CMC's numbers go down. RBs have a short shelf life and I don't want to use the tread up on his tires before we're ready to actually compete for something other than draft position.

Hush that nonsense. He is my FF bellcow!