No FA could be a huge factor in the draft...

[firstdayfan]

Anyone else realize that if no CBA is complete before the draft there will also be no free agency. We may potentially go into the draft not knowing if we are going to be able to resign guys like Kalil, Johnson, Davis, or Anderson. These are all guys who are big time pieces to the puzzle for us. For example, how tempting would Bowers be if Johnson signed somewhere else? No free agency also means we wont be able to bring in a veteran QB or help at DT.

This will be a huge handicap going into the draft, not knowing who will and won't be on the roster. We picked the absolute worst year to have the number one pick.

Here's hoping the CBA gets knocked out prior to April.

[Panther53521]

I would say there is a VERY small chance of the CBA not getting done until sometime around August into September

[Mr ocho nueve]

Let's just hope JR isn't running the show at the cba meetings.

[Matthias]

FA is usually in March maybe, that is nothing but two months away. Goddell said he was confident a deal may be done around the time of the superbowl. The superbowl is less than a month away, and I haven't heard any improvement of a deal being done. JR's press conference shows us the opposite.

Yet let's look at it another way. They had all last year and more to get a deal done. If they couldn't get it done by now, what makes us think they will be able to do it in a couple of weeks or so? I hope they get it done, but time is not going to wait on anyone.

[theyhateme45]

Anyone else realize that if no CBA is complete before the draft there will also be no free agency. We may potentially go into the draft not knowing if we are going to be able to resign guys like Kalil, Johnson, Davis, or Anderson. These are all guys who are big time pieces to the puzzle for us. For example, how tempting would Bowers be if Johnson signed somewhere else? No free agency also means we wont be able to bring in a veteran QB or help at DT.

This will be a huge handicap going into the draft, not knowing who will and won't be on the roster. We picked the absolute worst year to have the number one pick.

Here's hoping the CBA gets knocked out prior to April.

Wow your right, I never thought about this. All teams are going to be drafting blind if there is no CBA.

[firstdayfan]

Wow your right, I never thought about this. All teams are going to be drafting blind if there is no CBA.

Exactly...kinda hard to select a guy number one overall when you don't know how your team is going to look.

[panthers55]

I don't think that not having a free agency period will change the draft much at all for us. No one can sign our free agents before we do and many of them will be restricted free agents rather than unrestricted ones. Third we typically pick the BPA rather than positions of need so not knowing who we might lose to free agency won't change who we draft that much. Fourth, most of our free agency activity is usually done after the draft as other teams dump players they are replacing with draft picks. This year it will happen later than normal if there is a lockout, but I don't think that the disaster or serious problem being suggested by the OP.

[calebdv]

they need to just come up with a draft board, draft the best player on it, and move on. what else can they really do ? sign the free agents after your draft, if you take bowers let johnson go and focus elsewhere, if you take a qb dont worry about a vet and so on..

[theyhateme45]

....Third we typically pick the BPA rather than positions of need so not knowing who we might lose to free agency won't change who we draft that much. ....

Not true as of recently. Pass years the huddle has pretty much been on point with the positions we draft early in the draft. Last year we needed WR/Qb, and that's what we drafted. Before it was DE because of the risk of losing Peppers and that's what we drafted. It was running back and we all knew we were drafting rb's and we did. So we have been drafting according to needs lately and not just BPA.

[Snake]

Not true as of recently. Pass years the huddle has pretty much been on point with the positions we draft early in the draft. Last year we needed WR/Qb, and that's what we drafted. Before it was DE because of the risk of losing Peppers and that's what we drafted. It was running back and we all knew we were drafting rb's and we did. So we have been drafting according to needs lately and not just BPA.

If thats true we will pick QB and DT this year. No more glaring holes then those two.

[theyhateme45]

If thats true we will pick QB and DT this year. No more glaring holes then those two.

And I agree.... Me quoting myself from another thread.

At this point I am 90% certain that we are drafting a top QB.

1) I do not believe to front office has confidence that Moore or Jimmy will spark this offensive turnaround.

2) New Coaches and Coordinators mean they are going to want to come in a win right away. They are not gonna want to be set-up to go 4-12 next year a struggle their first year. Knowing this they are gonna lobby to get their guy, "their QB".

Coaches always fell they can bring out the best in great raw talent. Between Mallet/Cam/Gabbert they will feel one of these guys have all the measurables and the upside to make them into a star. That's the coaching mentality.

They get the job they are gonna do everything to win now... and between the 3 QB's I believe they will see one that they believe in and think they can coach up.

I do wish we would draft Green/ or defense and pick up a qb next year cause to me no one is this class is worth the #1 pick. To me any QB we take will be a reach, and I believe it will set us back at the end of the day.

[Catalyst]

I don't see how it makes a difference. They already know which of our FA's they're going to re-sign (likely Kalil, Johnson, Anderson, & Davis). Now, I suppose it could affect the DeAngelo Williams situation. I'm not sure if a player can be franchised with no CBA in place, which would mean we wouldn't be able to deal him until after the draft and get the pick next year.

But as far as the #1 pick goes we have to go BPA. That's Green. Peterson isn't what I consider a top CB prospect, TBH. I actually like Brandon Harris from Miami best at the corner position this draft. Green is the best WR and it's not even remotely close.