WAYY too early Top 53 Man Roster Depth Chart

[thunderraiden]

Below you will find 53 players and I've aligned them with the position I think they will be playing based on all the press conferences I've tuned into. I think this will change drastically before our first game but I went ahead and highlighted the positions I think we are most likely to see a change. We still have #1 in the Waiver Wire to potentially address 1 or 2 of these needs, and we also have FA to address at least one more. What do you guys think? Who do you think gets the boot if we are able to find 2 or 3 more solutions for our current holes?

Edited April 28, 2024 by thunderraiden

[thunderraiden]

Note: I'm willing to concede NT probably is a bigger depth need than starter need, but I just never felt like Shy was a natural fit for NT and he is currently the closest thing we have still. I was hoping we brought in Robinson for that role but he repeatedly stated in his press conference that he has never been an NT and doesnt plan to ever be an NT.

Edited April 28, 2024 by thunderraiden

[CAPantherFan]

Not feeling good about our Oline depth.  Wish we had drafted some Oline.  

[SOJA]

Could use another CB- Gilmore on a one year deal makes so much sense

Could use another edge rusher, although I highly anticipate when we draft ~top3 next year we will be drafting one

Center is obviously a position of concern, not because Corbett scares me from a talent perspective but his injuries do 

[Jon Snow]

Ask me after the 1st preseason game. 

[Camp Fodder]

Sanders may be the starting TE game 1

[Johnstonny]

Every year we look good enough to win the SB on paper.....Canales is the man that I think can bring a respectable season together...maybe not his first year.... see how the volatile and explosive dipper ego lets it play out.

[PantherKyle]

Really happy with what we did. 

Gonna be weak on the d-line after trading Burns, but we added a high end potential playmaker and a future 2.

Gilmore is coming. They know Jaycee is risky and the depth behind is not survivable. 

[Jon Snow]

3 minutes ago, PantherKyle said:

Really happy with what we did. 

Gonna be weak on the d-line after trading Burns, but we added a high end potential playmaker and a future 2.

Gilmore is coming. They know Jaycee is risky and the depth behind is not survivable. 

They will not miss a beat without Burns. You just wait and see.

[ForJimmy]

25 minutes ago, PantherKyle said:

Really happy with what we did. 

Gonna be weak on the d-line after trading Burns, but we added a high end potential playmaker and a future 2.

Gilmore is coming. They know Jaycee is risky and the depth behind is not survivable. 

Clowney and Wonnum should be better overall than Burns and whoever was starting on his other side? YGM? Run defense is important too. 

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

6 hours ago, thunderraiden said:

Note: I'm willing to concede NT probably is a bigger depth need than starter need, but I just never felt like Shy was a natural fit for NT and he is currently the closest thing we have still. I was hoping we brought in Robinson for that role but he repeatedly stated in his press conference that he has never been an NT and doesnt plan to ever be an NT.

shy did not look good at NT last season. I noticed the back up players (labryan ray and nick Thurman) playing more snaps at NT than Shy during games

[Panthero]

Can probably get a run stuffer NT for 2-4 million. Gonna be tight trying to sign the draft picks and Gilmore, let alone another player. May have to role with it or get a trade on. 

[MHS831]

21 hours ago, thunderraiden said:

Below you will find 53 players and I've aligned them with the position I think they will be playing based on all the press conferences I've tuned into. I think this will change drastically before our first game but I went ahead and highlighted the positions I think we are most likely to see a change. We still have #1 in the Waiver Wire to potentially address 1 or 2 of these needs, and we also have FA to address at least one more. What do you guys think? Who do you think gets the boot if we are able to find 2 or 3 more solutions for our current holes?

Excellent.  I think BC is also the emergency 3rd string swing T, but maybe he needs to focus on C considering Corbett could be gone by 2025.

The only people I have seen concerned about center are the experts and fans--they seem to be content here, but they did sign a C in UDFA.  I think they view Corbett as a seasoned veteran who has the ability to function as a C.  In fact, his college coach felt that is where he'd play in the NFL...I dunno. 

I think Willie Drew (UDFA) could surprise you and take a CB spot.  Probably has a 30% chance.  Jamison almost made the Niner's roster in 2022, and he was decent here.  He is only 24-25 years old, so with Drew, we have depth.  Jamison should compete with Hill for the Nickel duties, and maybe Drew could play behind Horn and Smith-Wade to be the big nickel.  With the way nickel is used, we could carry 6 CBs.  Dane will start across from Horn and Hill as the nickel.  His spot is not secured.  I wonder if we keep Jammie Robinson on the roster--but you went with probabilities here, as you should.  

Thurman (DT) played surprisingly well last season and he should stay a backup.  Tuttle may need to be moved to DE-I don't know.  I use PFF not because it is an exact science--it is somewhat subjective and misleading at times--but it is the most accurate attempt to evaluate performance available to us.  I think Ray is 26, so he should be performing at a higher level--he is basically in the bottom third, along with Shy Tuttle. 

At OLB, Barno outperformed DJ Johnson but got fewer snaps.  Both should be safe this year, behind Wonnum and Clowney.  Leota played in 8 games and was on nearly half of the special teams plays, but he got snaps at Edge as well, earning an impressive rating in limited play.  He may be back on the PS at the beginning of the season, but he held the edge better than anyone else, imo.  I have no idea what to think about Chaisson, but after 3 seasons, it is time to perform at a high level or get out of football.  If he performs, the former first rounder COULD team with Wonnum, Barno, Johnson, and Leota to be a decent edge group.

 

2023 PFF Grades - Defense

POS	Player	Grade	POS Rank	Snaps	% Snaps
DI	Derrick Brown	90.1	4th of 130	940	89%
DI	Nick Thurman	63.4	48th of 130	367	35%
DI	LaBryan Ray	54.6	84th of 130	355	34%
DI	Shy Tuttle	52.9	91st of 130	549	52%
Edge	Amari Barno	64.0	NA	188	20%
Edge	Eku Leota	65.6	NA	77	15%
Edge	DJ Johnson	50.4	NA	231	22%
CB	Dane Jackson	64.5	NA	xxx	50%
CB	Jaycee Horn	84.1	NA	276	26%
CB	Troy Hill	62.4	73rd of 127	494	47%
S	Xavier Woods	80.3	12th of 95	796	75%
S	Sam Franklin	58.0	NA	289	27%

 

[mountainpantherfan2]

With the offense, the depth looks good except for the line.  BC and Ninjam are good backups that can man multiple spots.  But Mays and Zavala need some competition.  Luckily, teams can routinely find quality backup lineman without having to spend big or trade.  It's just a matter of letting them battle it out in camp. 

On defense, another depth spot at CB and Edge are needed.  The fallout after the top 3 at both spots is pretty wide.  Signing Gilmore takes care of one of those spots but not sure there will be anything left in the cap after doing so.  Maybe Barno or Johnson might surprise us and show a lot of growth.