Sold / Not Sold

[Mr. Scot]

Here's where I'm at on several elements of the team:

Ikem Ekwonu: Sold

I've long said he'd be better as a guard, but yesterday he did his job as well as any tackle, especially stonewalling Micah Parsons.

Tetairoa McMillan: Sold

Nuff said, love that we got this guy

Xavier Legette: Not sold

Bad things tend to happen when we target him. Maybe he can improve, and perhaps he has since the start of the season, but I still need convincing.

Bryce Young: Sold, as a backup

He'a trending up overall, but I just haven't seen enough consistency in his game to make him the franchise guy. I'd absolutely keep him as a quality backup, but I'd still have to see a lot more before going further than that.

Rico Dowdle: Sold, as part of a two-back system

Great as he can be, he's also showing signs of wear that make me question whether he can be a workhorse back over a full season. Love him as the primary horse of a two-back system though. He's an absolute warrior.

Chuba Hubbard: Sold that he's still not fully healthy

I've said it many times: I don't believe Hubbard is fully recovered from the injuries he had early in the season. The question now becomes whether he will recover or if he's hit the proverbial runningback wall. In my mind though, he's done enough to deserve the benefit of a doubt.

Nic Scourton: Getting more sold

Like what I've seen of him so far and hope he continues to develop

Derrick Brown: See McMillan, Tetairoa

Jaycee Horn: See Brown, Derrick

Tre'von Moehrig: See Horn, Jaycee

2025 Draft Class: Sold so far

Long way to go yet, but I do think we got some guys who can contribute. Besides McMillan and Scourton, Jimmy Horn is coming along nicely and could be a big contributor to our offense in the future. Christian Rozeboom has a great motor but sometimes needs to improve his aim. Hoping to see more of Lathan Ransom, Mitchell Evans and others.

Dave Canales: Moving toward being sold

Biggest factor in my evaluation...he learns. Definitely needs to improve his offseason planning to fix the slow starts, but I feel like we are at least moving in a good direction (haven't felt like that for a while)

Ejiro Evero: Trying hard not to be sold

We've had some pretty surprising defensive performances this year, but the sting of last year's historic disaster is still in my head and it's gonna take a while to move past that. I will say however that I am at least willing to consider rethinking if we see more games like yesterday 

Dan Morgan: Same as Dave Canales

Again, ability to learn is key here. I'd really love to see a known quantity in charge of the Panthers Draft department, but I also feel like this year's class looks decent. Would love to see him steal some of his old Bills colleagues.

Brandt Tilis: Sold so far

Sure looks like he's had a positive effect on things this season. Hope that continues to be true 

Lastly...

David Tepper: Please sell

Okay, that's a cheap shot given that things actually do look to be improving somewhat. Bottom Line: As long as he keeps his pledge to stay out of things, I guess I'll be okay.

...

Feel free to add opinions on these or others I omitted.

[DaveThePanther2008]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Chuba Hubbard: Sold that he's still not fully healthy

I've said it many times: I don't believe Hubbard is fully recovered from the injuries he had early in the season. The question now becomes whether he will recover or if he's hit the proverbial runningback wall. In my mind though, he's done enough to deserve the benefit of a doubt.

I think you are correct.  Hubbard seems like he's not the same guy as 2024. 

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

I think you are correct.  Hubbard seems like he's not the same guy as 2024. 

Definitely.

If that's temporary, then we have a two back rotation that could help us win games.

If it's not, well...

[LinvilleGorge]

Icky: very close to being sold. His pass protection does look significantly better but I also have to consider that the 1980s "run, run, run the ball pass as last resort" (to the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat) we're being forced to run perfectly fits his skillset and probably isn't what we want to run long-term. Let's say 85% sold.

T-Mac: Sold. I think he's a legit #1 WR. He looks the part of a top 10 draft pick rookie.

XL: Pretty close to being sold that he's a bust.

Bryce: Completely sold that he's a bust.

Chuba: He is what he is. He's a solid rotational/backup RB. Good for him leveraging a good year into a payday but he's not a starting caliber NFL RB. He benefitted greatly from the investments we made in the OL last year.

Scourton: Incomplete. Pass rushers are usually not instant impact players in the draft. He looks like a decently promising rookie.

Derrick Brown: Sold that he's the best DT we've ever had.

Horn: Sold that he's our best CB since J-No and praying he's completely over his injury issues.

Moehrig: Sold that he's a great SS who has to play SS. If you're consistently playing him in the deep third he's going to be a liability.

2025 draft class: Sold that it's our most promising draft in a loooooong time. Which granted isn't saying much but it's something. So far so good.

Canales: Stubbornly avoiding riding Rico for so long is frustrating but I like how he's adjusted and he's quick to limit the damage Bryce can do to us. After the ugly endzone INT we were done throwing downfield yesterday and after the near INT to T-Mac on the final drive we were done throwing period.

Evero: I still have my issues but I mean, I can't deny that our D is looking better and better despite most of the cap being spent on the other side of the ball. Just don't ask the man's opinion on free agent targets. Like ever. Just don't.

Morgan: I've seen enough to give him another year.

 

 

 

[Jon Snow]

I think I agree with you on most of this, even on Young.  He's playing like a backup and always has. He's able to make a play when you absolutely need it. He's also able to make the most boneheaded mistake in the most crucial part of the game. 

On Canales I'm not sold...yet.

Evero is still a sell for me. I do not like his bend and break defense. 

[Candler Cat]

10 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Here's where I'm at on several elements of the team:

Ikem Ekwonu: Sold

I've long said he'd be better as a guard, but yesterday he did his job as well as any tackle, especially stonewalling Micah Parsons.

Tetairoa McMillan: Sold

Nuff said, love that we got this guy

Xavier Legette: Not sold

Bad things tend to happen when we target him. Maybe he can improve, and perhaps he has since the start of the season, but I still need convincing.

Bryce Young: Sold, as a backup

He'a trending up overall, but I just haven't seen enough consistency in his game to make him the franchise guy. I'd absolutely keep him as a quality backup, but I'd still have to see a lot more before going further than that.

Rico Dowdle: Sold, as part of a two-back system

Great as he can be, he's also showing signs of wear that make me question whether he can be a workhorse back over a full season. Love him as the primary horse of a two-back system though. He's an absolute warrior.

Chuba Hubbard: Sold that he's still not fully healthy

I've said it many times: I don't believe Hubbard is fully recovered from the injuries he had early in the season. The question now becomes whether he will recover or if he's hit the proverbial runningback wall. In my mind though, he's done enough to deserve the benefit of a doubt.

Nic Scourton: Getting more sold

Like what I've seen of him so far and hope he continues to develop

Derrick Brown: See McMillan, Tetairoa

Jaycee Horn: See Brown, Derrick

Tre'von Moehrig: See Horn, Jaycee

2025 Draft Class: Sold so far

Long way to go yet, but I do think we got some guys who can contribute. Besides McMillan and Scourton, Jimmy Horn is coming along nicely and could be a big contributor to our offense in the future. Christian Rozeboom has a great motor but sometimes needs to improve his aim. Hoping to see more of Lathan Ransom, Mitchell Evans and others.

Dave Canales: Moving toward being sold

Biggest factor in my evaluation...he learns. Definitely needs to improve his offseason planning to fix the slow starts, but I feel like we are at least moving in a good direction (haven't felt like that for a while)

Ejiro Evero: Trying hard not to be sold

We've had some pretty surprising defensive performances this year, but the sting of last year's historic disaster is still in my head and it's gonna take a while to move past that. I will say however that I am at least willing to consider rethinking if we see more games like yesterday 

Dan Morgan: Same as Dave Canales

Again, ability to learn is key here. I'd really love to see a known quantity in charge of the Panthers Draft department, but I also feel like this year's class looks decent. Would love to see him steal some of his old Bills colleagues.

Brandt Tilis: Sold so far

Sure looks like he's had a positive effect on things this season. Hope that continues to be true 

Lastly...

David Tepper: Please sell

Okay, that's a cheap shot given that things actually do look to be improving somewhat. Bottom Line: As long as he keeps his pledge to stay out of things, I guess I'll be okay.

...

Feel free to add opinions on these or others I omitted.

https://x.com/JoshNorris/status/1985360468131610794

[SmokinwithWilly]

Ikem Ekwonu: Sold - Question is, how much is he going to cost and how are we going to pay everyone. Bad idea to pay Moton this past off season with Icky's contract on the horizon and 2 huge guard contracts and Bryce's 5th year option needing to be decided.

Tetairoa McMillan: Sold

WR1. Easy peasy

Xavier Legette: Not sold

Some days his head is in the game, some not. Not the guy you trade up to get in the 1st with better WRs on the table. 

Bryce Young: maybe as a backup, but only if I'm desperate

Maybe as a backup, but not where he wants to be and certainly not for 5th year money. He'd need to take a serious pay cut and I can't see that happening. He'd be at the bottom of my options

RBs  Don't pay big contracts to RBs

Nic Scourton: Getting more sold

Like what I've seen of him so far and hope he continues to develop

Derrick Brown: See McMillan, Tetairoa

Jaycee Horn: See Brown, Derrick

Tre'von Moehrig: See Horn, Jaycee

2025 Draft Class: Sold so far

Liking it so far, but really hard to tell if these guys would be starters on a good NFL team, or if they are because the Panthers have been ass for so long. 

Dave Canales: Not sold at all

Not sold at all. Leadership council to determine if Rico needs to play. Give me a fugging break. You don't bench the guy averaging 8YPC. His offense is generic, anemic and lacks big play ability. If Bryce or Andy can't do that, then tell your GM you need another QB. Had the opportunity this off season and didn't do it. 

Ejiro Evero: Trying hard not to be sold

It's been surprising but not a fan of playing 10 yards off when it's 4th and 3. Hard to be extremely critical when everything has been mortgaged to surround our franchise game manager JAG. 

Dan Morgan: Not even close to sold

Good draft this year and that's about all I've got to say positive. The QB room is a disaster. Last year's draft, fugging horrendous. Dumping an insane amount of resources to surround a bottom of the barrel QB to be a game manager and then everyone bitches because our defense has no players. We are in a poo situation this offseason with our offense. Decision on Bryce's 5th year with yet another forgettable season, an overpaid offensive line that needs a true center and to sign our now expensive franchise LT, a backup QB that should have been put out to pasture 2 years ago, a less than ideal 2026 QB class, a bleh FA QB market, and several teams with QB needs. 

David Tepper: Please sell

He's still involved as evidenced by him openly stating he walks through the building making his opinion widely known and Dalton being kept and keeping Bryce competition free and his job 100% safe. 

[DeSim]

Christian Rozeboom is a 6 year vet, not part of the 2025 draft class.  So we definitely to upgrade after this year bc he’s going to keep taking bad angles.

But yes, I agree on everything else. 

[Mr. Scot]

33 minutes ago, Candler Cat said:

https://x.com/JoshNorris/status/1985360468131610794

Between Ickey and the backups (sounds like a good name for a musical group) I should probably give a "Sold" to Joe Gilbert.

[Mr. Scot]

2 minutes ago, DeSim said:

Christian Rozeboom is a 6 year vet, not part of the 2025 draft class.  So we definitely to upgrade after this year bc he’s going to keep taking bad angles.

But yes, I agree on everything else. 

Oy

I usually map out the roster but I haven't done that this season. Hell, I'm having to look up jersey numbers in games when I see a play.

Figures

[PNW_PantherMan]

I can understanding thinking Bryce is a backup in this league.  But there is no realistic path to him being our backup.  The fate of the backup in the NFL is typically playing for so many teams that you become a free space on Immaculate Grid.

[Mr. Scot]

5 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

I can understanding thinking Bryce is a backup in this league.  But there is no realistic path to him being our backup.  The fate of the backup in the NFL is typically playing for so many teams that you become a free space on Immaculate Grid.

No argument...

I always say anything is possible but the path to that destination is just about unnavigable.

[HPPantherzfan]

The problem with our two back system, at least to me is they are the same type of back.  Both are maulers that perform better the more they are used.  We don’t have a Montgomery and Gibbs situation where one is a scat back and the other is a mauler.  I don’t see how Chuba and Rico fit on the same team cohesively unless you plan on handing the ball off 50 times a game…which might be the plan

[Jon Snow]

2 minutes ago, HPPantherzfan said:

The problem with our two back system, at least to me is they are the same type of back.  Both are maulers that perform better the more they are used.  We don’t have a Montgomery and Gibbs situation where one is a scat back and the other is a mauler.  I don’t see how Chuba and Rico fit on the same team cohesively unless you plan on handing the ball off 50 times a game…which might be the plan

Rico has much better vision than Chubba.