Morgan at the Shrine Bowl, talks about looking for players who are passionate (dawgs)

[Jon Snow]

6 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

The more I mock, the more I can confirm your sentiment here.  Of course, we have free agency in about 6 weeks, but until we know what we have, drafting TMac early causes us to bypass the talent we need at edge and DL, especially if you are hoping to grab a starter. 

I think Morgan has a list of about 2-3 players he would take at 8, but if they are not there, he will trade back--he has to fee as if he needs numbers.  Again, that could and will change to some degree.

Trading back would depend on if there is a player there that someone would trade up for. If there is why trade back? Should we not take said player? 

But in all seriousness, it would have to be a qb sitting there for someone to offer to trade with us. What team behind us desperately need a young qb?

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 minute ago, Jon Snow said:

Trading back would depend on if there is a player there that someone would trade up for. If there is why trade back? Should we not take said player? 

But in all seriousness, it would have to be a qb sitting there for someone to offer to trade with us. What team behind us desperately need a young qb?

Maybe the Saints will trade their entire draft for Ashton Jeanty.

[Jon Snow]

1 minute ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Maybe the Saints will trade their entire draft for Ashton Jeanty.

That would be a hard sell as they know we will not take him and they are just 1 spot behind us.

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just now, Jon Snow said:

That would be a hard sell as they know we will not take him and they are just 1 spot behind us.

[CPF4LIFE]

3 hours ago, Icege said:

Remember when people said Bryce was manipulating the draft process by doing something like this?

Except bryce did absolutely nothing at all accept show up with a lot of forced weight and back pack/ hoodie. No physical activity till his pro day. 

[MHS831]

7 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Trading back would depend on if there is a player there that someone would trade up for. If there is why trade back? Should we not take said player? 

But in all seriousness, it would have to be a qb sitting there for someone to offer to trade with us. What team behind us desperately need a young qb?

I think, at 8, there will be a player someone covets.  These top teams have few needs, so they might package a first and second and maybe a future pick to move up to take a player they covet.  Gonna think out loud here for a second--

Offensive tackle--I went to a site (randomly) that lists team needs in prioritized order. ELEVEN teams list OT as a priority.  (Ravens, Browns, Bears, Jets, Niners, Seahawks, Bucs, Chiefs, Packers, Commanders, Patriots, Rams).  IMO there are 2 elite OT prospects and probably 4 to 5 with first round grades.

I see Sanders and Ward (QB), Hunter (CB), Carter (Edge) and Johnson (CB) going in the top 7--Graham or TMac are probably likely to go next.  The Jets pick 7 and will not be picking a QB.  They will probably take OT Will Campbell.  At that time, there is one elite OT left and ELEVEN teams that need an OT.  Granted, some will address this need in free agency, but how many starting OTs are available? 

Now, consider you are the Chiefs, Seahawks, Packers, Bucs, or Ravens.  They have little to no cap space, so grabbing a stud OT in free agency is unlikely and there are not any.  You also realize that 10 or so picking before you need an OT.  Once the Jets take an OT---the Panther phones will be ringing--teams will target Kelvin Banks, OT Texas.  If they wait, they could hope that Josh Simmons (Ohio State) falls to them, but they are unlikely to wait for the unlikely. 

So the Panthers will have to ask themselves, "Would I take the Commanders' first and second and the 2026 second rounder for our first rounder?" 

We do not have a second rounder in 2026.  We'd pick 29th and 61st in 2025.  That would give the Panthers 3 picks in the first 61 picks.  So who might be there?

Let's say that Graham (DE Michigan) is available at #8.  Most say "No brainer."  But the Phone rings offering you two second rounders to move back 21 spots in round 1.  You have a lot of needs.  What could you get?

Estimates, based on Player Rankings:

• 27. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 57. (from Rams--not part of trade)  Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
• 61. Maxwell Hairston, CB Kentucky (assuming Mike Jackson leaves--Hairston has been eye opening at the SR Bowl practices)

So basically, to give up on Graham, you get a good CB and a good DT and a future second rounder in a draft in which you had no second round.

 

[Murph]

27 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

 

We do not have a second rounder in 2026. 

What?

[Jon Snow]

40 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I think, at 8, there will be a player someone covets.  These top teams have few needs, so they might package a first and second and maybe a future pick to move up to take a player they covet.  Gonna think out loud here for a second--

Offensive tackle--I went to a site (randomly) that lists team needs in prioritized order. ELEVEN teams list OT as a priority.  (Ravens, Browns, Bears, Jets, Niners, Seahawks, Bucs, Chiefs, Packers, Commanders, Patriots, Rams).  IMO there are 2 elite OT prospects and probably 4 to 5 with first round grades.

I see Sanders and Ward (QB), Hunter (CB), Carter (Edge) and Johnson (CB) going in the top 7--Graham or TMac are probably likely to go next.  The Jets pick 7 and will not be picking a QB.  They will probably take OT Will Campbell.  At that time, there is one elite OT left and ELEVEN teams that need an OT.  Granted, some will address this need in free agency, but how many starting OTs are available? 

Now, consider you are the Chiefs, Seahawks, Packers, Bucs, or Ravens.  They have little to no cap space, so grabbing a stud OT in free agency is unlikely and there are not any.  You also realize that 10 or so picking before you need an OT.  Once the Jets take an OT---the Panther phones will be ringing--teams will target Kelvin Banks, OT Texas.  If they wait, they could hope that Josh Simmons (Ohio State) falls to them, but they are unlikely to wait for the unlikely. 

So the Panthers will have to ask themselves, "Would I take the Commanders' first and second and the 2026 second rounder for our first rounder?" 

We do not have a second rounder in 2026.  We'd pick 29th and 61st in 2025.  That would give the Panthers 3 picks in the first 61 picks.  So who might be there?

Let's say that Graham (DE Michigan) is available at #8.  Most say "No brainer."  But the Phone rings offering you two second rounders to move back 21 spots in round 1.  You have a lot of needs.  What could you get?

Estimates, based on Player Rankings:

• 27. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 57. (from Rams--not part of trade)  Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
• 61. Maxwell Hairston, CB Kentucky (assuming Mike Jackson leaves--Hairston has been eye opening at the SR Bowl practices)

So basically, to give up on Graham, you get a good CB and a good DT and a future second rounder in a draft in which you had no second round.

 

When did we lose a 2026 2nd? There will not be 8 OT's taken in the 1st. Maybe 3.

Edited January 30 by Jon Snow

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, Jon Snow said:

That would be a hard sell as they know we will not take him and they are just 1 spot behind us.

I bet he goes to Dallas.

[MHS831]

31 minutes ago, Murph said:

What?

My bad. I have been using NFL Draft Buzz to mock and they do not show us with a second rounder. 

[MHS831]

33 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

When did we lose a 2026 2nd? There will not be 8 OT's taken in the 1st. Maybe 3.

I do not think I said there would be 8 OTs taken--but there will be 11 teams picking in the first round that have OT as a prioritized need.  I think there are 3 OTs with solid first round grades and maybe 4 are taken.  My point was supply and demand, in relation to your point that you need a reason to move up in the draft.  There will not be many if any starting-caliber OTs in free agency, and if there is one, he will be $25m or more.  Some of these teams that need an OT have no cap room; they HAVE to find an OT to protect their QB and maximize his efficiency. Daniels, Mahommes, Jackson all need OTs.  My point was--if they want a T, and free agency is not an option due to cap restrictions, they HAVE to find a starting T in the draft.  If the Jets take one at #7, the have to know teams will start calling.  The Bears, for example, at #10 need an OT badly for their QB.  But if I implied that 8 OTs would be taken, it is not what I meant.  8 teams will be pushing to move up, however.

Edited January 30 by MHS831

[Jackie Lee]

 

[Jon Snow]

37 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I do not think I said there would be 8 OTs taken--but there will be 11 teams picking in the first round that have OT as a prioritized need.  I think there are 3 OTs with solid first round grades and maybe 4 are taken.  My point was supply and demand, in relation to your point that you need a reason to move up in the draft.  There will not be many if any starting-caliber OTs in free agency, and if there is one, he will be $25m or more.  Some of these teams that need an OT have no cap room; they HAVE to find an OT to protect their QB and maximize his efficiency. Daniels, Mahommes, Jackson all need OTs.  My point was--if they want a T, and free agency is not an option due to cap restrictions, they HAVE to find a starting T in the draft.  If the Jets take one at #7, the have to know teams will start calling.  The Bears, for example, at #10 need an OT badly for their QB.  But if I implied that 8 OTs would be taken, it is not what I meant.  8 teams will be pushing to move up, however.

My bad. I've seen top 50 ranks with anywhere from 3 to 5 OT in them. Who knows what desperation will force a team to do in this draft. I feel confident that there are 3 nfl capable tackles in the top 50. Beyond that it's pure luck. There's some potential good guards among them though. 

[Icege]

2 hours ago, CPF4LIFE said:

Except bryce did absolutely nothing at all accept show up with a lot of forced weight and back pack/ hoodie. No physical activity till his pro day. 

If we're going to keep the same energy, then it was smart for Bryce to have done so since he was likely going in the top 3.