Joe Person: Panthers really like Mason Graham and Jalon Walker

[VintagePanther]

Not in love with any of those guys . Please trade back and acquire more picks . Neither one screams top ten picks and also their position value is lower on the totem poll compared to other positions . A non rushing DT and A undersized LB with no real position. Heard both of those stories before 

[WhoKnows]

23 hours ago, jfra78 said:

Luke was 6'2" 238

Beason was 6'0 238

Morgan was  6'2 245

Looks like he's just fine to me

Are we drafting him to be a straight LB or an edge rusher? The potential comparison to Parsons has been brought up. Only Luke was worth the 8th pick, so are we expecting him to be Luke or Burns? If the former, he better be Luke or it’s way too high and if the latter, he’s on the small side.

[Khyber53]

Wouldn't hate either pick.

[Verge]

21 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Pearce: 

Per another report from Cory Kinnan, Pearce was "seen as undeniably uncoachable" at Tennessee, where he had "one foot out the door" last season. One NFL scout said that Pearce has "the worst character report of any player in this draft class."  

A TOTALLY UNBIASED report from a Tennessee Vols website relating to a SI report states the following, based on conversations with GMs:

"He doesn't fight with his hands very well right now. You see the build, and the traits, his arm length, but you see him winning with those traits alone." Sources went on to express concern about general run game instincts as well. "He has a hard time right now recognizing pullers, shrinking space and defeating blocks in the run game."

There have been rumors relating to character concerns as a potential reasoning, one NFL GM quickly extinguished that. "There are no character concerns that we are aware of. He wants to be great," one NFL GM told Vols on SI exclusively.

 

Also his tape isn't that great. I get why people are enamored but they are definitely overhyping him. 

[WhoKnows]

Just now, Verge said:

Also his tape isn't that great. I get why people are enamored but they are definitely overhyping him. 

I watched a couple games and I left underwhelmed because at the start of the season he was the top edge rusher at the time.

[jfra78]

29 minutes ago, WhoKnows said:

Are we drafting him to be a straight LB or an edge rusher? The potential comparison to Parsons has been brought up. Only Luke was worth the 8th pick, so are we expecting him to be Luke or Burns? If the former, he better be Luke or it’s way too high and if the latter, he’s on the small side.

I don't care about positional value, it's dumb.  This team has been anemic at ILB since Luke retired and it has hurt the defense more than any other position. 

[MHS831]

4 hours ago, Verge said:

Also his tape isn't that great. I get why people are enamored but they are definitely overhyping him. 

When a player has those kinds of measurable talent and skill and he under performs, and then I hear rumors that he is a head case,  I think I remove him from my board in round 1.  Obviously, that same player would be a steal in round 2, but his red flags could be so strong, it could cause him to drop into day 3.  Gives me Greg Hardy vibes, in that most teams removed him from their boards and Marty took him in the fifth, I believe. However, I do not know details--background checks and interviews will be important.  Id rather have Z from BC.

 

Edited March 5, 2025 by MHS831

[hepcat]

Mason Graham would be a lot like Star Lotulelei falling to the Panthers who at one point was mocked #1 overall and fell to #14, but I don't see it happening. Panthers might honestly want to trade down unless they fall in love with an offensive prospect. 

[PantherKyle]

1 hour ago, hepcat said:

Mason Graham would be a lot like Star Lotulelei falling to the Panthers who at one point was mocked #1 overall and fell to #14, but I don't see it happening. Panthers might honestly want to trade down unless they fall in love with an offensive prospect. 

Great comp, and I think Graham can be better. 

[RumHam]

On 3/3/2025 at 5:49 PM, TheSpecialJuan said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6170321/2025/03/03/carolina-panthers-nfl-combine-draft-free-agency-defense/

are we going back to a 4-3?

[Chris Smitty]

So my mock draft with Mason Graham at #8

A terrific duo with Graham + DB. 

Ayomanor a true X receiver.

Skattebo to complete Hubbard and the double-trouble is back.

Trapilo to prepare the post-Moton era.

Stutsman to stop the run in the box. 

Sanker to go with Javon Holland (I hope).

Mitchell Evans, a blocker TE. 

Jackson Slater could be a future starter (quickly), just need time to novembre to recover from his injury and know very well Skattebo at Sacramento State.

Here we go.

 

 

[LinvilleGorge]

On 3/5/2025 at 8:17 AM, jfra78 said:

I don't care about positional value, it's dumb.  This team has been anemic at ILB since Luke retired and it has hurt the defense more than any other position. 

Dramatically overspending on lesser value positions has played a big role in why we have never consistently fielded good teams. Positional value exists for a reason.

[jfra78]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Dramatically overspending on lesser value positions has played a big role in why we have never consistently fielded good teams. Positional value exists for a reason.

Not true we haven't valued the lb position since shaq and you said the same about Parsons

[LinvilleGorge]

7 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Not true we haven't valued the lb position since shaq and you said the same about Parsons

I'm talking historically. We have historically paid the poo out of off the ball LBs and RBs specifically.

I doubted Parsons' ability to be a dominant edge rusher in the NFL. I was wrong. Wasn't the first time and won't be the last. That's not what we're talking about here though. Parsons was drafted as an edge and became a dominant edge. Well done. He wasn't drafted to be an off the ball LB. I'll never be a huge fan of drafting guys high to play a different role in the NFL. No matter how you slice it, that's a tougher evaluation that ups the risk factor.