Could Morgan be eyeing Trey Hendrickson

[mrcompletely11]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The problem is that legit contenders would also be willing to offer that. The only way we likely lure in a player like Hendrickson is offering him more, maybe considerably more, than teams in better situations to compete now and that gets very very dicey with players on the wrong side of 30.

but we won the division this year

[kungfoodude]

7 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

but we won the division this year

Do we hand out the Division Championship rings after the season or have a ceremony before Game 1 of 2026?

[CanadianCat]

We were probably 1 pass rusher away from advancing in the playoffs this year.. 

We also have 1 more cheap year on BY's contract. This is the year to spend. 

So we need someone.. (please no more Viking players...)

[jb2288]

7 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

We were probably 1 pass rusher away from advancing in the playoffs this year.. 

We also have 1 more cheap year on BY's contract. This is the year to spend. 

So we need someone.. (please no more Viking players...)

I think this place is jaded from Fitt's headscratching contracts and decisions, which is fair. Dan has done a good job so far of keeping the FA contracts to 2 years and then a favorable out for the team. I agree, spend a lot of money this FA and do not give up draft picks. We've waited too long in the "rebuild" stage to not take a big swing this upcoming year. If it doesn't work, we can do a reset next offseason and get a lot of our older players off the payroll in 27/28 fairly easily. I hope we spend $70M this offseason while not trading away any draft capital. 

[Bear Hands]

3 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The problem is that legit contenders would also be willing to offer that. The only way we likely lure in a player like Hendrickson is offering him more, maybe considerably more, than teams in better situations to compete now and that gets very very dicey with players on the wrong side of 30.

It's dicey no doubt, the market is thin and we're not getting a high end 3-down guy at 19. So if we mess around with more role players and situational PRs, then we're kind of still floating in this same space.  

If we're absolutely set on finding an anchor we can just put in for 90%+ snaps, Hendrickson or a trade may be our best bets for better or worse. 

But realistically, the NFL is evolving in how defenses are structured.  You go for him if you can’t find those diamonds like Myles, Hutch, Watt, WAJ, etc. but otherwise, the best avenue could also be more of a versatile approach like the Seahawks and Broncos have done.  Bonnito blossomed into a top guy, but Denver very much had a balanced build through youth.    

I'm a tad conflcited, I can see the reason why, but it would no doubt be a hefty price to pay that takes away our ability to do much else impactful signing wise. 

I think it boils down to:

Is the overpay worth it/Does he elevate the defense that much? And are we okay with a 2-3 year window for him? 

If our FO thinks we can make a run with Bryce, then its about boosting the lines and skill players - so I wouldn't be hating it.  It's a gamble, but could get us into the next steps of where we want to go.  

 

 

[kungfoodude]

52 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

We were probably 1 pass rusher away from advancing in the playoffs this year.. 

We also have 1 more cheap year on BY's contract. This is the year to spend. 

So we need someone.. (please no more Viking players...)

I don't think any pass rusher in the NFL, Garrett included was going to win us that game. It goes a lot deeper than that.

[SmokinwithWilly]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

Do we hand out the Division Championship rings after the season or have a ceremony before Game 1 of 2026?

During the pizza break on Halo night. 

[UnluckyforSome]

I have no specific insight, but I think he wants to go somewhere that is a Superbowl contender. He's over 30, he's spent time already with bad ownership and contract fights and holdouts. My guess is he would prefer to go to a contending team and be taken care of financially and just work on getting sacks for a year or 2 and maybe a ring along the way.

Rams? Eagles? Pats? Niners? Broncos? Seahawks?

But who knows. Maybe he is the mood for more ownership shenanigans and missing the playoffs.

[Zaximus]

I mean is there a point with Evero?  Even our own players act like he won't let them pin their ears back.  I would say do it if 4-3 or even a DC that seemed to care about pressure lol.

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, Zaximus said:

I mean is there a point with Evero?  Even our own players act like he won't let them pin their ears back.  I would say do it if 4-3 or even a DC that seemed to care about pressure lol.

The 3-4 switch led us to Evero and both of these choices were reportedly David Tepper. 

I am gonna guess we will not be seeing any 4-3 in the foreseeable future here in Carolina.

[strato]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

The 3-4 switch led us to Evero and both of these choices were reportedly David Tepper. 

I am gonna guess we will not be seeing any 4-3 in the foreseeable future here in Carolina.

I would say if we did, it would point to Tepper keeping his hands off and letting his people work. Chances of that? Highly doubtful. 

I would have to assume Morgan is a 4-3 fan. 

[Soul Rebel]

18 hours ago, Basbear said:

I know you are a draft nut, here's the bottom line. Panthers still need another couple rounds of talent injection. Personally Id take another 2025-like draft with the UDFAs fillers right now and forget the rest. 

Just need talented players, no matter the positions. I've even thought about if Dbrown got a young pup running mate like Rams young, verse, or Fiske. I think that would open up many things for D and Brown to win DPOY. 

Last chip- Dbrown, Tmac, Lewis, and Hunt. Those are the only true spots that are untouchable type stuff. Every other spot on the field can and should be upgraded. (injuries have hit two of them..)So draft talented players at them......

Agree wholeheartedly that a youngster beside Brown would be welcomed with open arms. A’Shawn is a great rotational guy but I want someone with a bit more pass rush juice and younger legs helping Brown out.
 

I feel like we are doing with DB, what we did with Cam. Knowing how dominant they are as a 1-of-1 player, we aren’t supporting them with more talent around them. Putting JAGs like Shy and Ray out there were awful choices. I LOVE what the Rams have with done w/ Fiske-Verse-Young-Turner. Same with SEA - Murphy/Hall (draft) & Williams/Lawerence (trades).

I think 2024 was a rough draft but our FO learned from it and had a successful ‘25 draft. I think this crew can find 3-4 starters again and land another late round/UDFA gem like Coker and Fitzgerald, we’re in business. 

We’re right where we should be (possibly a win or two/division crown early actually), and won’t be complete even with this offseason. I also think with a successful FA/draft, we’re at worst a 10-win team, and favorites to win the NFCS. 
 

 

Edited January 20 by Soul Rebel

[PootieNunu]

51 minutes ago, Soul Rebel said:

I also think with a successful FA/draft, we’re at worst a 10-win team, and favorites to win the NFCS. 

This type of thinking is going to have a lot of people with their feelings hurt come next season.

I think this season was the high point of the BY/DC Era. 

Hope they prove me wrong.

Edited January 20 by PootieNunu

[mrcompletely11]

1 hour ago, PootieNunu said:

This type of thinking is going to have a lot of people with their feelings hurt come next season.

I think this season was the high point of the BY/DC Era. 

Hope they prove me wrong.

No matter what anyone says about refs, coaching or whatever, this was the season where we caught some vital breaks on the way to 8 wins.  I mean we could easily and I mean easily have been a 4/5 win team.

 

If dave doesnt figure out this offense stat then the reality could set in early.   thats why the icky news really blows, having to deal with that amongst our other issues just sucks