Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Bill Barnwell ranks the Panthers offseason as 7th worst

Peon Awesome

By Peon Awesome,
in Carolina Panthers

 Share

Recommended Posts

Peon Awesome Experienced

Peon Awesome

Posted
Posted

Didn't see anyone post this article. But he's ranking teams based primarily on how well they did in free agency and the draft. For reference, his top 5 are Bucs, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens and WFT. Bottom 5: Raiders, Packers, Steelers, Texans and Falcons. The relevant Panthers section:

26. Carolina Panthers

What went right: The Panthers continued to build carefully under Matt Rhule and new general manager Scott Fitterer, with one significant swap that we'll get to in a minute. I like the deals they made Haason Reddick and A.J. Bouye on defense, and they added a valuable piece at cornerback in No. 8 overall pick Jaycee Horn. The decision to give up on Teddy Bridgewater and make a run at Sam Darnold might end up being the most notable and important choice the Panthers made this offseason, but I generally liked the supplemental decisions Rhule & Co. made around their roster this offseason.

What went wrong: I'm not thoroughly excited about the Darnold trade, which saw Carolina send three picks to the Jets for the former No. 3 overall pick, including a second-rounder in 2022. Perhaps more importantly, the Panthers also agreed to pick up Darnold's fifth-year option for 2023, which is now fully guaranteed at $18.6 million. Quarterbacks who start their career like Darnold rarely turn into effective passers in their second stops, and this franchise is making a significant bet that Darnold will be the exception. His lack of development and middling success even in clean pockets would worry me, and I think the most likely scenario is that Carolina is back in the quarterback market again in 2022.

What they could have done differently: The other big bet the Panthers made this offseason was staying put in Round 1 of the draft and drafting Horn. The Bears sent pick Nos. 20 and 164 in the draft and their first- and fourth-rounders next year to the Giants to move up from No. 20 to No. 11 and draft Justin Fields, and even if the Panthers didn't want the Ohio State product, they presumably could have accepted a similar offer from the Bears and picked up a tantalizing first-rounder in the 2022 draft.

Even if we value those future Bears picks as being the last picks in their respective rounds, the package on the whole was worth 33.5 points by the Chase Stuart value chart, which is right around the value of the No. 1 overall pick in a typical draft. More realistically, those picks will add up to being worth more than the top pick in a typical draft. Passing up that trade offer (or, at the very least, not successfully seeking out that sort of offer from a team like the Bears) implicitly values Horn as being worth something like the No. 1 overall pick, and cornerbacks taken in this range just do not have that sort of success rate or impact historically. You could make this same argument for the Lions at No. 7 or the Broncos at No. 9, but this was probably an opportunity the Panthers missed.

What's left to do: Extend Taylor Moton. The 2017 second-rounder has developed into one of the best right tackles in football, and with the left tackle spot looking like a big question mark, the Panthers would do well to solidify one tackle spot for Darnold's sake. The Panthers franchised Moton for 2021 at $13.8 million, and a new deal for the 27-year-old should come in around four years and $62 million.

 

My thoughts:

1. His only mention of the draft was us not trading down with the Bears as a mistake. That's fair but do we know for sure a similar offer was on the table? You'd think but it's also feasible Chicago saw the Patriots pick approaching and got desperate with their offer. And even if it was available to the Panthers, dropping from 8 to 20 is a move you make when you don't mind not being competitive this year. With our 2022 2nd rounder going to NYJ, we need to win some games now. And why no mention of all the times we did trade down?

2. He has Moton taking 4 years, $62 million. If so, why isn't he signed already? I'd do that yesterday. 

  • Pie 2
  • Beer 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
frankw Grand Master

frankw

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hard to take this analysis seriously when it completely glosses over the fact that the team still doesn't have a clear answer at left tackle. That in itself is as big a question mark as Sam Darnold because our depth along the line isn't much to write home about either.

Edited by frankw
  • Beer 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rocky Davis Veteran

Rocky Davis

Posted
Posted
46 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I know some people like him, but I've never found Barnwell especially insightful.

That's why he is still on the ESPN payroll.  He was never a feature writer until they laid all the really insightful reporters/writers off.  He's cheap and fills the void.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kungfoodude Grand Master

kungfoodude

Posted
Posted

Yeah, I mean on paper I can definitely see why some pundits would be down on the offseason we had. 

We didn't really adequately address two massive needs(QB and OT). 

It is what it is. All we can do is hope the players prove them wrong by the end of the season.

  • Pie 1
  • Beer 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
kungfoodude Grand Master

kungfoodude

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, pantherclaw said:

At this point, still in the off season, I'm not going to take any writers criticism.   They're just spewing poo at this point. 

Anything is fair game in the offseason. None of it means he until the real games start. Just a bunch of educated and uneducated guessing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • strato
      Adam Schefter: Panthers getting trade calls for Andy Dalton

      By strato · Posted

      To kick this up, The Athletic has a really comprehensive piece out where pretty much all QB questions are addressed. It is worth seeing.  https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7083539/2026/03/04/starting-quarterback-projections-free-agency-draft/?source=user_shared_article I’m putting something specific here but it should have a thread or something. It is an extensive exercise.  This is a dense write up with a lot of column inches used, about the Jets and Murray and Reich, all this stuff.. then it goes to backup QB and there is Dalton.  I am pasting that part: As for Dalton, Reich is installing the offense he was trying to run in Carolina in 2023 before he got fired, and Dalton was with the Panthers then; he’s an ideal option as a veteran backup to replace Taylor. Reich said this about Dalton in 2023: “The way he's throwing the football, the way he works through progressions, the way he handles the operation. … Since day one (when) he walked in the door, I'm like, 'This guy is starter-worthy.' You guys know I've said that all along. He's, in my opinion, one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the world.” ——— That’s true love lol. I never heard any of this. Pretty crazy I think, considering how the year went.   Anyway the dream is not dead. . 
    • Car123
      I’VE FOUND OUR WR3 (Rashid Shaheed)

      By Car123 · Posted

      The Seahawks traded for wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline. He proved to be a key acquisition. Shaheed returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the regular season and had a 95-yard kickoff return in the postseason. Shaheed, though, is scheduled for free agency. So, the 12 games he played, including the postseason, might be the extent of his time in Seattle. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Shaheed and the Seahawks are not close to an extension, and the expectation is that the two-time Pro Bowler will hit free agency. Shaheed has 153 receptions for 2,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four-year career to go along with three punt return touchdowns and a kickoff return touchdown. He ranks 13th on PFT’s top-100 free agents. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-rashid-shaheed-appears-headed-to-free-agency
    • Car123
      I’VE FOUND OUR WR3 (Rashid Shaheed)

      By Car123 · Posted

      We need to bring him in.
×
×
  • Create New...