[The Athletic] Carolina Panthers roster reset: Where they’re in good shape and where help is needed

[ForJimmy]

18 minutes ago, Verge said:

I do think it will be between Mykel, Graham, and TMac. With Mykel being the favorite.

If Graham is there and we take Mykel, I’ll be a little sad…

[Jay Roosevelt]

Justin Simmons seems like such a no-brainer signing to me right now. He's worked with Evero before and is a good player at a position where we have basically nothing right now.

I have to believe this gets done at some point prior to the draft.

[Jay Roosevelt]

16 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

If Graham is there and we take Mykel, I’ll be a little sad…

If Graham is there and we take anyone else I'll be pissed. Unless Travis Hunter or someone falls, which won't happen.

[CarolinaLivin]

30 minutes ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

Justin Simmons seems like such a no-brainer signing to me right now. He's worked with Evero before and is a good player at a position where we have basically nothing right now.

I have to believe this gets done at some point prior to the draft.

Justin Simmons seems to only want to go to a contender. He has mentioned Eagles and Commanders as wish list landing spots.

[Jay Roosevelt]

10 minutes ago, CarolinaLivin said:

Justin Simmons seems to only want to go to a contender. He has mentioned Eagles and Commanders as wish list landing spots.

And I only want to root for a contender. If no contenders make him a decent offer I'm sure he'll sign elsewhere.

[MHS831]

I am not sure I would say DL is "Low"--The Panthers get Brown back, signed a NT from LA, and signed a DE. from KC who played beside Chris Jones, who I imagine got a bit of attention.  Maybe Brown will have the same effect.  Behind each player, we have our scrubs from last year--

Shy Tuttle--29 (in his prime)  42.7 PFF score. (33.5 vs. the run)

LaBryan Ray--27 (in his prime) 33 PFF score (31.5 vs. the run)

A'Shawn Robinson 30 (leaving his prime) 54.6 PFF grade (54.1 vs the run)

Jayden Crumedy 23  (rookie season) 42.5 PFF score  (42.1 vs. the run)

That is not depth; that is deep shirt.

While Robinson might make the cut to play behind Wharton,  Brown can't keep playing 90% of the snaps.  We might need a NT.

Sorry folks, but this is lazy writing once again.  I realize that he needs to produce content, but if you have developed contacts, your analysis might be deeper.  Tweets and headlines that announce who a team is going to draft based on some anonymous insider info is the reason they do not trust you.  What would good journalism look like?  "When asked about the free agent signings on the IDL, Morgan responded that the Panthers are not done yet."  "Smith-Wade struggled against quick slot WRs in 2025, based on statistics....."  Instead, he is like a girl at a slumber party flipping through the yearbook, pointing at potential prom dates.

[MHS831]

On 3/19/2025 at 3:10 PM, TheSpecialJuan said:

Good stuff. thanks for posting 

We have 4 WRs that consist of a Rookie on the bust train, an undrafted free agent with 10 starts or so, a 30-year old special teams player who had his best year at age 30 and is back on a one year deal, and a 35-year old pro who is probably in his last year.

You DO NOT DRAFT players for 4 years to fill immediate needs; most players suck as rookies--that is stupid logic.  To suggest that WR is a medium need is insanely short sighted.  In 2026, two of our current WRs will be gone.  We will have Coker and XL and some overpaid free agent and reach for a draft pick.  That is not how you build a roster.  You draft for 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 now.  This keeps you from overpaying for free agents.

Person says OLB (edge) is a huge need.  It is, but what formula is he using? We have Clowney, Wonnum, Jones, Barno (likely to be cut) and Johnson (likely to be cut) but you have 3 edge players-2 starters and a backup.  you could argue that they need a STARTING Edge, but will a rookie in 2025 be better than Clowney?  On the edge-holding side, they have Wonnum and Jones.  Are we really going to draft a third OLB who does what Wonnum and Jones do now?  I do not see it, but since Person thinks they love Mikyl, he is allowing himself to be influenced by bias.  Since there are 2 types of 3-4 OLBs, Person should be specific and let us know where they will play and what exact type is needed and why.  He doesn't.  He reads twitter.

To me, this is true if you look beyond 2025, but he is not doing that.  It is also true if the play is to replace Clowney.  However, I think he heard that they are interested in an OLB from Georgia so he is gauging need by rumor.  I think we need an edge as much as we need a WR.  You have to look at the high priced positions after 2025. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

We have 4 WRs that consist of a Rookie on the bust train, an undrafted free agent with 10 starts or so, a 30-year old special teams player who had his best year at age 30 and is back on a one year deal, and a 35-year old pro who is probably in his last year.

You DO NOT DRAFT players for 4 years to fill immediate needs; most players suck as rookies--that is stupid logic.  To suggest that WR is a medium need is insanely short sighted.  In 2026, two of our current WRs will be gone.  We will have Coker and XL and some overpaid free agent and reach for a draft pick.  That is not how you build a roster.  You draft for 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 now.  This keeps you from overpaying for free agents.

Person says OLB (edge) is a huge need.  It is, but what formula is he using? We have Clowney, Wonnum, Jones, Barno (likely to be cut) and Johnson (likely to be cut) but you have 3 edge players-2 starters and a backup.  you could argue that they need a STARTING Edge, but will a rookie in 2025 be better than Clowney?  On the edge-holding side, they have Wonnum and Jones.  Are we really going to draft a third OLB who does what Wonnum and Jones do now?  I do not see it, but since Person thinks they love Mikyl, he is allowing himself to be influenced by bias.  Since there are 2 types of 3-4 OLBs, Person should be specific and let us know where they will play and what exact type is needed and why.  He doesn't.  He reads twitter.

To me, this is true if you look beyond 2025, but he is not doing that.  It is also true if the play is to replace Clowney.  However, I think he heard that they are interested in an OLB from Georgia so he is gauging need by rumor.  I think we need an edge as much as we need a WR.  You have to look at the high priced positions after 2025. 

Agree. His Athletic articles are rarely in-depth and insightful. Mike Kaye is by far the best Panthers media guy 

[Aussie Tank]

6 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I am not sure I would say DL is "Low"--The Panthers get Brown back, signed a NT from LA, and signed a DE. from KC who played beside Chris Jones, who I imagine got a bit of attention.  Maybe Brown will have the same effect.  Behind each player, we have our scrubs from last year--

Shy Tuttle--29 (in his prime)  42.7 PFF score. (33.5 vs. the run)

LaBryan Ray--27 (in his prime) 33 PFF score (31.5 vs. the run)

A'Shawn Robinson 30 (leaving his prime) 54.6 PFF grade (54.1 vs the run)

Jayden Crumedy 23  (rookie season) 42.5 PFF score  (42.1 vs. the run)

That is not depth; that is deep shirt.

While Robinson might make the cut to play behind Wharton,  Brown can't keep playing 90% of the snaps.  We might need a NT.

Sorry folks, but this is lazy writing once again.  I realize that he needs to produce content, but if you have developed contacts, your analysis might be deeper.  Tweets and headlines that announce who a team is going to draft based on some anonymous insider info is the reason they do not trust you.  What would good journalism look like?  "When asked about the free agent signings on the IDL, Morgan responded that the Panthers are not done yet."  "Smith-Wade struggled against quick slot WRs in 2025, based on statistics....."  Instead, he is like a girl at a slumber party flipping through the yearbook, pointing at potential prom dates.

This is sort of a reply to both your posts. This draft is set up perfectly for us to really add some depth to our roster.

I can't see us not taking 2 defensive players in the top 2 rounds. Whether that be edge, safety or interior Dline.

And with us having a few picks in rounds 3-5 we should be able to grab some talent at the WR position, some more Dline help and another RB.

And if Bryce proves to be the guy next year, the next draft should have some more top end reciever talent. Fingers crossed we have to trade up for seeing we had a much better season 

[SOJA]

Safety is techinically the most pressing need but obviously not at 8 overall. I see edge, DT or offensive playmaker as the easy choices at 8 

[SOJA]

On 3/19/2025 at 5:18 PM, kungfoodude said:

The Venn Diagram of Huddlers who loved the DJ Johnson pick and Huddlers who want us to take Shemar Stewart at 8 is a circle.

People liked the DJ Johnson pick?

[kungfoodude]

13 minutes ago, SOJA said:

People liked the DJ Johnson pick?

Bro, it was not a small amount. Not a majority but a very vocal minority.

Same as many of our headscratching picks over the Tepper years. The fanboys just want it all to work out. I get it.

I just don't see things as perpetually sunny in the NFL.

[Icege]

58 minutes ago, SOJA said:

People liked the DJ Johnson pick?

 

44 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Bro, it was not a small amount. Not a majority but a very vocal minority.

Same as many of our headscratching picks over the Tepper years. The fanboys just want it all to work out. I get it.

I just don't see things as perpetually sunny in the NFL.

 

I don't remember anybody liking it outside of some understanding that the team needed a pass rusher and there had just been a run on them. There was concern about his age and being a 4th-rounder that was new to the position. Being an older prospect and having been a former TE meant that there was going to be development required for an already older player. However, there were also a few older players in that draft due to COVID years.

I don't necessarily think that's seeing things as perpetually sunny in the NFL as much as it's an accepting of a situation that as fans we have no control over.

I'd also argue that not everything has to be perpetually miserable either.

Edited March 22 by Icege

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, Icege said:

 

 

I don't remember anybody liking it outside of some understanding that the team needed a pass rusher and there had just been a run on them. There was concern about his age and being a 4th-rounder that was new to the position. Being an older prospect and having been a former TE meant that there was going to be development required for an already older player. However, there were also a few older players in that draft due to COVID years.

I don't necessarily think that's seeing things as perpetually sunny in the NFL as much as it's an accepting of a situation that as fans we have no control over.

I'd also argue that not everything has to be perpetually miserable either.

Check the record, there were definitely people amped about the pick. I have no idea why, it was clearly a reach on a UDFA.

The "perpetually sunny" is the group of cheerleaders in which every year is our year and we make no wrong decisions. Basically the firmly delusional that cannot grasp the reality of our situation.

We all hope this turns around but it's admittedly a longshot.