interesting off season plan from Reddit

[Captain Morgan]

long read but shows some good options...would love to get one of Milton Williams/Osa Odighizuwa and Adebo.....idl and cb in FA would really free us up in the draft

 

2020: 54M 1st

The Panthers have been operating with over 50M in deadcap for the last 5 seasons! This is just insanely poor asset management. It is nearly impossible to field a competitive roster when you have over 50M in cap space tied to players on other teams! Add in the lack of hits in the draft for cheap players and you see the bad seasons pile up.

22M in current cap space does not sound like a lot, but this number can increase significantly with roster cuts and extensions.

Cap Casualties:

Shy Tuttle- Saves 3.2M

Miles Sanders- Saves 5.2M

D.J Wonnum- Saves 6.2M

Dane Jackson - Saves 3.35M

Amare Barno- Saves 1M

Claudin Cherelus- Saves 1M

You can also add in 7-10 bottom of roster players for 8-10M

Total Savings: 22M

Key Extensions:

Taylor Moton- He is in the last year of his contract with a cap hit of 32M. At 31, his performance has earned a 3 year extension. This will allow the Panthers to spread out his cap hits over the next few years when the flexibility opens up. 161M in 2026 space (5th) , 222M in 2027 space (13th).

A new deal for Moton would probably be in the ball park of +3 years 66M with 40M GTD. This would open up around 12-15M in cap space for 2025.

Jaycee Horn- He is currently on a 5th year in 2025 with a 12M cap hit. His extension will be close to what AJT recently signed which was 4 years 81M with 42 GTD. Assuming he signs a deal at 4 years 86M with 45 GTD, his cap hit will most likely stay around 12M for 2024.

Cap Projection: 60M

60M in 2024 will give the Panthers enough room to be aggressive and with 161M in 2026 and 222M in 2027, they can be creative with spacing out the cap hits for the players they bring in.

Free Agency:

Big Fish, Big Price:

Tee Higgins- I think it is unlikely the Panthers are able to bid for Tee Higgins services. The top FA and best WR to hit the open market in a long time, he is going to command a mega deal with an AAV of 28-30M.

Jevon Holland- Safety is one of the Panther's biggest needs and Holland is the best on the market. Hollands play dropped off in 2024, but he will still be paid for his previous production. Projected contract of 20M AAV. I think the Panther's also pass on bringing him in.

Josh Sweat- One of the top edges available at 28 year olds, Sweat would be awesome, but I think he stays in Philly.

Milton Williams- Top IDL available, coming off a dominant Superbowl performance, Milton played his way out of Philly's price range. Milton would be a huge upgrade on the defensive line next to DB and would require a significant investment. He is projected to command upwards of 22M a year. If the Panthers want to seriously invest in the trenches, he is a perfect fit.

Osa Odighizuwa- Another top IDL available coming off a great season with the Cowboys. Only 26, he would be a nice building block on the DL to pair with DB. Projected contract around 20-22M a year, he would an expensive, but worth it upgrade.

Paulson Adebo- Talented young CB from the Saints looking at 13M a year. Have read there is interest from our FO.

Low Risk, High Reward

Hasson Reddick- Possible reunion for Hasson, who is coming off a controversial season with down production. This lowers his price and I think he is a possibility. Projected contract of 2/25 makes him a perfect low risk, high reward player.

Dre Greenlaw- Coming off an achilles injury, Greenlaw did not play much and is projected to get a small 1 year 6m deal. Our LB room could use an upgrade with Shaq most likely gone and Wallace being unproven still. Can never have too many good LB's.

Talanoa Hufanga- Another 49er coming off an injury, Hufanga would be a tone setter in the safety room and at only 26, you can keep him around for a while if it works out. Projected contract at 12.5 a year is a nice possibilty to upgraded a serious weakness.

Baron Browning- Browning was traded to the Cardinals and saw a dip in production due to injuries. He would be a cheap bet on a high upside pass rusher.

Filler Moves:

Keenan Allen- Bring him home? Keenan is an older vet, but still has some good ball left in the tank.

Mike Williams- There was interest last year to bring him in and there still might be.

Stephon Gilmore- Another potential reunion, Gilmore is cheap and can still play. His vet presence would be welcomed in a locker room trying to take that next step.

Free agency is impossible to predict, but we should see the Panthers spend big on the DL and Safety rooms. I think Milton Williams, Hufanga, Adebo would be a good start.

Draft:

The Panthers currently rank 8th in draft capital value. With 7 picks in the top 150, they have a chance to bring an influx of young talent to a developing roster.

Current Picks: 8,57,74,110,113,141,147,164,229

The strategy should not change no matter who the Panthers bring in FA. This roster is devoid of blue-chip talent and they should take a BPA at every pick. I also can see us moving some of our day 3 picks in a trade up on Day 2.

It also works out that this class is heavy in DL talent. I won't break down names for the draft, but rather positional need on a scale of 1-5. 1 being low priority, 5 being major need.

QB 2/5- Bryce played well down the stretch, this is a make or break year for him. Andy is also a FA, so I think it's possible they use one of their Day 3 picks on a young QB to develop as a cheap backup/QB insurance.

RB 3/5- Chubba is locked as our RB1 of the future, but we have no one behind him. Miles will be cut and JB is out for the year and who knows if he ever is the same player after 2 ACL tears in the same knee. Spending in FA on an RB2 doesn't sound smart, so expect them to take one on Day 3. Luckily this is a loaded RB class and there should be a good player available late.

WR 3/5- XL and Coker are fine and will continue to improve, but this shouldn't stop the Panthers from adding at least one receiver through the draft. TMac at 8 could be a possibility, which I would not argue against, but I think they wait until day 2 or 3 to snag one.

OL 2/5- The entire o-line is under contract for this year and Moton and Ikem will likely be extended. But this shouldn't stop the Panthers from continuing to bolster a strength. I doubt they take any before Day 3, but they should add at least one to develop and provide depth.

TE 4/5- Currently, only Ja'Tavion Sanders is under contract for next year. I think Tommy will be back, but who knows. This offense is still missing a good blocking TE. J.T is more of a receiving TE, so I think they will dip into the TE class for a cheap different archetype TE to develop alongside him.

DL 5/5 - The Panthers are void of young talented pass rushers, and I expect this to be our 1st round pick. There's a lot of talent to choose from on day 1 and in the later rounds. A double up on edge would be a great idea to get young guys into the program. I really like our new DL hire coming from the Rams who have rebuilt their o-line through the draft.

CB 3/5 - Jaycee is our CB1 of the future and Mike Jack will most likely be resigned. I would like to see us grab a corner before day 3 that can pair with Jaycee for the future.

LB 2/5- Jewell, Wallace and Shaq (if he is back) are a decent LB room, but they need more talent and a plan for the future. We were linked to Edgerrin Cooper who went right before we traded up for Brooks. I think we were trying to move back and get Cooper, then panicked and grabbed our last 2nd round guy by trading up. Dan Morgan will bring in another LB its just a question of how early?

Safety 5/5- I think this will be addressed in FA, but they should still try to add one in the draft to develop into the mold they want for the future.

9 Total Picks spread out:

RB-1

WR-1

DL-3

CB-1

LB-1

Safety-1

WR-1

I would be happy to come out of the draft with this. I don't want to burn a pick on a backup QB if we can keep Andy. DL breakdown would be multiple edges and then one space eating IDL to replace Shy Tuttle.

Overall, I think this team is in a great spot to make a huge jump in the 25 season. We have the most cap space and draft capital in the division. Year 2 in the system for Bryce, Canales and the young WR's should continue making leaps and an overhaul of the defense through the draft and FA should put us in prime contention for the division title.

 

 

Edited February 11 by Captain Morgan

[Aussie Tank]

Nice read 

[TheSpecialJuan]

That was pretty good. Don't agree with some of the points made but it's great to see someone taking the time to make such a thoughtful post. 

[Captain Morgan]

6 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

That was pretty good. Don't agree with some of the points made but it's great to see someone taking the time to make such a thoughtful post. 

one thing I don't want to do is spend a draft pick on a RB.  unless it's one of our 7ths.  We're not in playoff mode yet, and if we get someone to pair Chubba I'd rather get an affordable FA.  Make it a short deal, and next year if we think Brooks is done, then draft one in 2026 or 27

[TheSpecialJuan]

2 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

one thing I don't want to do is spend a draft pick on a RB.  unless it's one of our 7ths.  We're not in playoff mode yet, and if we get someone to pair Chubba I'd rather get an affordable FA.  Make it a short deal, and next year if we think Brooks is done, then draft one in 2026 or 27

Yeah but apparently it's one of the deepest RB classes in several years, I wouldn't be mad if they took one rounds 5-7

[PNW_PantherMan]

7 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Yeah but apparently it's one of the deepest RB classes in several years, I wouldn't be mad if they took one rounds 5-7

Better talent, lower mileage and less expensive than FA

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, Aussie Tank said:

Nice read 

Yes, it sure was.  He just gave me 2 days worth of homework.  I would add that cutting players to increase cap room is a bit misleading because you still have to fill 53 jerseys--so if you cut a guy and benefit by $1m, who are you replacing him with?

[csx]

According to Spotrac and OTC we have just over 2 million in dead cap for 2025.

[Aussie Tank]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

Yes, it sure was.  He just gave me 2 days worth of homework.  I would add that cutting players to increase cap room is a bit misleading because you still have to fill 53 jerseys--so if you cut a guy and benefit by $1m, who are you replacing him with?

If the front office really liked Bryce at the end of the year and want to free up cash and attack free agency. Making sure the contracts are moveable once Bryce comes off his rookie deal I'm all for taking a swing 

[PadresPanthersFan]

So with the 9 picks are we picking 2 wr since it's on there twice?

Otherwise a great, neutral, non combative,  informative read.

and it's not clickbait either

 

[Santee_Panther]

6 hours ago, csx said:

According to Spotrac and OTC we have just over 2 million in dead cap for 2025.

I don’t think those sites are including the voided contracts of Shaq, Dalton, Hekker and Corbett, which will add another $16mil in dead money once those contracts void, which happens Feb 17th.

[Tomcatn]

10 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Yeah but apparently it's one of the deepest RB classes in several years, I wouldn't be mad if they took one rounds 5-7

Skattebo

[mrcompletely11]

I don't think the moton solution posted above is that easy

[ECHornet]

11 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I don't think the moton solution posted above is that easy

Do you have reason to believe he wants out of Charlotte? I haven’t seen anything like that rumored.