All things 2021 Panthers FreeAgency

[mrcompletely11]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

I have a hard time getting on board with the idea of putting ourselves in position to rely on a guy that we know we can't rely on.

If you want him as a backup or a mentor, I can see that but would he accept that role? Okung seems like a pretty proud guy.

I agree. It makes zero sense 

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

I have a hard time getting on board with the idea of putting ourselves in position to rely on a guy that we know we can't rely on.

If you want him as a backup or a mentor, I can see that but would he accept that role? Okung seems like a pretty proud guy.

I think you are looking at it the wrong way. Have Okung as your starter, pretty much knowing he is going to miss time. Well now you have a young guy to put in that isn't being thrown to the wolves from day one. Don't get me wrong, if we are able to land an elite guy like Sewell, you gotta start him from day one. The lumps are worth it for someone that elite.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

I think you are looking at it the wrong way. Have Okung as your starter, pretty much knowing he is going to miss time. Well now you have a young guy to put in that isn't being thrown to the wolves from day one. Don't get me wrong, if we are able to land an elite guy like Sewell, you gotta start him from day one. The lumps are worth it for someone that elite.

The idea of a part time starter just doesn't appeal to me, even if it's at a discounted rate (which honestly we don't know if Okung would accept).

But hey, my choice for left tackle is a guy that apparently we won't even re-sign to play right tackle, so...

[mrcompletely11]

4 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I think you are looking at it the wrong way. Have Okung as your starter, pretty much knowing he is going to miss time. Well now you have a young guy to put in that isn't being thrown to the wolves from day one. Don't get me wrong, if we are able to land an elite guy like Sewell, you gotta start him from day one. The lumps are worth it for someone that elite.

I thought we tried this exact thing this year?  

[kungfoodude]

Just now, Mr. Scot said:

The idea of a part time starter just doesn't appeal to me, even if it's at a discounted rate (which honestly we don't know if Okung would accept).

But hey, my choice for left tackle is a guy that apparently we won't even re-sign to play right tackle, so...

It appeals to me a lot more than a full time starter that is fuging awful or mediocre. That's basically what we have rolled with since 2013 and that didn't work at all. If Okung is willing to come back for a reasonable 1 year rate(less than that $13 mil he is getting this year), we'd be absolute fools to not do that. The free agency market is going to be filled with either poor options or overpriced options, we've tried both and neither have worked.

Ultimately, we are eventually going to have to invest capital in the draft in OT and LT. Our recent attempts have been absolute disasters, so we also need to be able to trust our evaluation, which is a sketchy proposition. 

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I thought we tried this exact thing this year?  

Yeah but we tried it with a guy that every person with any semblance of intelligence inside and outside the Panthers organization knew was a disaster. You don't think the coaches saw that immediately? I can tell you that if you look at Little's playing time....they absolutely did. 

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

Yeah but we tried it with a guy that every person with any semblance of intelligence inside and outside the Panthers organization knew was a disaster. You don't think the coaches saw that immediately? I can tell you that if you look at Little's playing time....they absolutely did. 

My jury is still out on Matt Rhule, but I have to say that's one of the things that encourages me. Specifically, that he didn't keep trying to throw Greg Little out there and act like he was getting better.

Heaven knows we all got tired of watching Ron Rivera stick with guys that anyone could clearly see were not getting the job done.

[Mr. Scot]

6 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

It appeals to me a lot more than a full time starter that is fuging awful or mediocre. That's basically what we have rolled with since 2013 and that didn't work at all. If Okung is willing to come back for a reasonable 1 year rate(less than that $13 mil he is getting this year), we'd be absolute fools to not do that. The free agency market is going to be filled with either poor options or overpriced options, we've tried both and neither have worked.

Ultimately, we are eventually going to have to invest capital in the draft in OT and LT. Our recent attempts have been absolute disasters, so we also need to be able to trust our evaluation, which is a sketchy proposition. 

Free agency is a rough road. Even mediocre left tackles are getting paid like they're Anthony Munoz.

Even the draft is tough because there have been a good number of first round busts over the last few years. College offensive line play definitely isn't what it used to be.

Again, that's why I prefer to stick with a guy we know is a good locker and just move him from right to left (he's played there before) but Lord knows that's not gonna happen.

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

My jury is still out on Matt Rhule, but I have to say that's one of the things that encourages me. Specifically, that he didn't keep trying to throw Greg Little out there and act like he was getting better.

Heaven knows we all got tired of watching Ron Rivera stick with guys that anyone could clearly see were not getting the job done.

He even did it with one of "his" guys in Tahir Whitehead. I like that they don't keep beating their head against the wall like Ron was famous for.

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Free agency is a rough road. Even mediocre left tackles are getting paid like they're Anthony Munoz.

Even the draft is tough because there have been a good number of first round busts over the last few years. College offensive line play definitely isn't what it used to be.

Again, that's why I prefer to stick with a guy we know is a good locker and just move him from right to left (he's played there before) but Lord knows that's not gonna happen.

I think that ship sailed and if he did make that move, he'd command a huge sum. It's also not guaranteed to be successful if we switch him to that side. Again, we have two coaching staffs of guys that didn't do that, so that has to be a pretty big indicator that maybe he just isn't a LT. 

[Mr. Scot]

7 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I think that ship sailed and if he did make that move, he'd command a huge sum. It's also not guaranteed to be successful if we switch him to that side. Again, we have two coaching staffs of guys that didn't do that, so that has to be a pretty big indicator that maybe he just isn't a LT. 

Word is he wants "left tackle money".

Whether that also means he wants the position, don't know.

[kungfoodude]

8 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Word is he wants "left tackle money".

Whether that also means he wants the position, don't know.

Well, some of these RT's have been getting LT money. My guess is he is going to get a big payday and it won't be here. I do wish him the best, he's been stellar for us so I won't have any ill will towards him at all.

[TheSpecialJuan]

My boy D-Gantt with a nice piece on Panthers.com

Quote

The fact the entire 2020 draft class remains on the roster, playing some degree of roles, also helps.

Suleiman pointed out that because of the tight cap situation league-wide, there will be veterans cut this offseason so teams can save as little as $100,000 in cap room. So having players working on rookie contracts is invaluable when trying to put together a 53-man roster.

Along with some undrafted rookies carving out roles on special teams and as depth players (Sam Franklin, Myles Hartsfield, Rodney Smith, Joseph Charlton), the Panthers have a solid group of low-earners, which helps with cap maneuvering.

Considering that foundational pieces of the defense — Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, Jeremy Chinn, Yetur Gross-Matos — are on rookie deals, there's time to build around them.

 

Quote

Clearing the books this past year creates future flexibility.

While the Russell Okung-for-Trai Turner deal may be a football wash (Okung has played six games for the Panthers, while Turner has played in just five for the Chargers), it's a financial win, as Turner had two years of a large contract left at the time of the deal.

Letting so many veterans go caused pain this year, but will make the rebuilding easier.

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://www.panthers.com/news/taylor-moton-curtis-samuel-salary-cap-decisions-2021