Who Has to Be Off the Board to Trade Back?

[Verge]

Travis Hunter
Abdul Carter 
Mason Graham


That's it. 

[NJPanthers89]

If McMillan is on the board you run up to the podium imho.  He’s a Nabers level WR prospect.  Having TM, Thielen, XL, and Coker is a legit WR room.  Thielen is our best receiver and is retiring within a year or two so it’s imperative this is addressed.  

[mrcompletely11]

1 hour ago, NJPanthers89 said:

If McMillan is on the board you run up to the podium imho.  He’s a Nabers level WR prospect.  Having TM, Thielen, XL, and Coker is a legit WR room.  Thielen is our best receiver and is retiring within a year or two so it’s imperative this is addressed.  

they are two totally different prospects, I am not going to scream if he is the guy but just know we would be way over drafting him at 8

[NJPanthers89]

36 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

they are two totally different prospects, I am not going to scream if he is the guy but just know we would be way over drafting him at 8

I disagree, he’s a special talent and we would be lucky to have him at 8.  Obviously we need help on the defensive side of the ball but the Panthers will have plenty of money to grab FAs with.

[SOJA]

if Graham,  T-Mac and Jalon Walker are all gone I'd be tempted 

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

On 2/17/2025 at 12:00 PM, frankw said:

Personally I'm done with the "trade a quarter for 2 dimes and a nickel" Fitterer logic so I say stay put and take a top prospect regardless. No matter how the top 7 picks play out there will be a damn good player available and we should take that player based on the fact we have needs across the board.

Agreed. This team just needs to “let the chips fall where they may” for a few years. They’re obviously terrible at making draft moves.

[jfra78]

Daniel Jeremiah on Jalon Walker

https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2025/02/20/daniel-jeremiah-2025-combine-jalon-walker-top-10-lock/

“Jalon Walker, he’s one of my favorite players to study,” Jeremiah stated when asked about the Georgia Bulldogs players in the draft class. “He’s got the versatility to play off the ball, on the ball. I think he’s got a chance to be a special pass rusher.”

“He plays fast. He’s physical. And then when you talk to the coaches at Georgia and they say, this guy is rare, off the charts intangibles, leadership.

He took over a couple of games, the Texas game at Texas — that was a statement there. I think he’s a lock to go in the top 10.”

If this guy is there when we pick it's a no brainer, only guy I might take ahead of him is Graham

[mrcompletely11]

Good listen about the potential of trading back.  Not as easy as you guys think

[Jon Snow]

4 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Good listen about the potential of trading back.  Not as easy as you guys think

He's only stating the obvious. I always chuckle when someone says we can trade back like it is so easy.

[SCO96]

On 2/22/2025 at 8:38 AM, Jon Snow said:

He's only stating the obvious. I always chuckle when someone says we can trade back like it is so easy.

I'm glad a lot of us already understood this. The pundits are saying that this draft doesn't have a lot of elite players, but is good on depth. Why would anyone trade away a 2nd or 3rd round player to move up and grab a guy who isn't' significantly better than a player who would be available if the team stayed put.

I understand moving up if all of a sudden there is a run on a position and team has that pegged as a major need. That's not happening this year with picks 1-7. We need to stay put unless some idiot GM does offer us a 2nd rounder to move down no more than 4-5 spots. 

Edited February 26, 2025 by SCO96

[Icege]

If Graham, Carter, Hunter, Starks, and Warren are off the board I'm all for trading back... Donovan Ezeiruaku come ooooon doooown!!

[MHS831]

The only way we trade back is if an OT is on the board that a good team (with few needs, like Baltimore or KC) decides to get aggressive and move up.  If you watched the super bowl, you saw KC's OL getting mauled.  That will be their focus.

[SCO96]

33 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

The only way we trade back is if an OT is on the board that a good team (with few needs, like Baltimore or KC) decides to get aggressive and move up.  If you watched the super bowl, you saw KC's OL getting mauled.  That will be their focus.

I can see KC trying to move up and get in the top 10. But, they are an elite team. KC (and Baltimore for that matter) are picking at the end of each round. There's no way we move down to #31 to allow them to move up and grab a blue chip OT. Even their 2nd round pick is lower than the one we're getting from the Rams. Morgan would be writing his ticket out of Carolina if tried to make a deal with any team drafting below #15.

Edited February 26, 2025 by SCO96

[MHS831]

Here is how we move back:  First, Offensive tackle is not good in free agency.  The Draft: The Jets need a LT.  Will Campbell is the consensus best Tackle in the draft, and they take him.  All those other teams (I count 6-8 who need a T--and I see KC STARVING for one after the Super Bowl) decide they need to move up to get the best pure LT in the draft, Kelvin Banks out of Texas.  After Banks and Campbell, there is a pretty sharp drop in talent level, dropping from A players to B players. The next two OTs are Right Tackles, so anyone needing a LT would have to hope the fifth overall OT, Wyatt Milum (arguably) would be there at the end of the first round.  Knowing that so many bidders are doing the same thing and they all have phones, I honestly think that Campbell or Banks is there when the Panthers pick and the phone will be ringing.  If they both go before the Panthers pick, crickets. 

Here is the Math:

Likely to be gone when Panthers pick:

• Ward, QB
• Carter, Edge
• Sanders, QB
• Graham, DL
• Hunter, WR/CB

Likely to be available when Panthers pick: 

There are 2 picks before the Panthers pick once those five get gone.  Among those are these players:

• McMillan WR
• Johnson, CB
• Will Campbell, OT
• James Pearce, Edge
• Javon Walker, Superhero.  If we only had 10 more.  (LB)
• Kelvin Banks, OT

Now, if I am a GM on a team that needs an OT, I feel fairly strong that an OT is not going in the top 5.  I am working on potential trades for the seventh and eighth picks, ready to make a deal as soon as Campbell or Banks goes off the board.

The Raiders pick 6th--they have needs at OT, WR, and CB if you assume they sign a QB in free agency; I think Darnold goes there, personally.   Regardless, there are no QBs worth #7 overall (unless Sanders falls), so they will draft an OT or CB--in my view,.  They are going to shop in free agency with a lot of $$$.  I am guessing they get their CB then.  the Raiders' will likely draft OT Campbell, but do not rule out TMac:  

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Quarterback
• Offensive Tackle
• Cornerback
• Wide Receiver
• Running Back

The Jets pick 8th.  Of course, their phone will be ringing off the hook for Banks if this happens, and the Jets have many needs now that Rodgers and Adams are gone.  While they too need an OT, they have more pressing needs as well.  Edge rusher is their biggest need listed here after QB, but their defense was ranked #3 in the NFL last year (I was surprised).  Their offense was ranked 23rd.  They will be focused on revamping the Offense with the losses of Rodgers and Adams.  I see them taking a T or Tmac. 

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Quarterback
• Edge-Rusher
• Wide Receiver
• Safety
• Interior Defensive Line
• Offensive Tackle

In this scenario, the only ways the Panthers can trade back is:

1. If the Raiders do not take an OT and the Jets do.

2. If the Jets refuse trade offers and take the best available edge or WR at #7.

3. Both OTs are gone and a team wants the best CB or WR in the draft and is willing trade up.  I do not see a lot of depth in this draft at CB or #1 WR. 

What may cause the Panthers to stay put and pick: 

1. Edge.  They see Pearce or Green as part of the second-tier edges and need one of them.

2. They like TMac and see the offense taking the next step with him, knowing they can address IDL in round 2 and have Clowney and Wonnum for another season. 

3.  The do not re-sign Mike Jax and need an outside CB and have the chance to draft Johnson to pair with Horn. 

4.  They fall in love with Walker and Evero develops a boner on how to use him properly. 

From this perspective, I would give the chance of trade back slightly under 50%

I would speculate that if we draft, we take Pearce, Johnson, or McMillan.  I do not see Walker being a good fit here, but I understand why some of you like him.