Very intrigued how Morgan and Canales handle the offseason

[45catfan]

Kmet for XL straight up.  We need a proven TE and I don't want us reaching this draft.  If we take a day 3 flyer again, okay, but not on day 1 or day 2.  Much bigger needs with those three picks over a TE.  Also, we need production now, not production in a year or two.

Hey, this worked out well for us once before.  

"Carolina hasn't gotten a season of at least 400 receiving yards out of one of their tight ends since 2019. (Yeah, when Greg Olsen was still around.)"

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2026/01/31/nfl-trade-rumors-panthers-bears-cole-kmet/88446124007/

Edited Sunday at 02:23 PM by 45catfan

[PootieNunu]

1 hour ago, 45catfan said:

Kmet for XL straight up.  We need a proven TE and I don't want us reaching this draft.  If we take a day 3 flyer again, okay, but not on day 1 or day 2.  Much bigger needs with those three picks over a TE.  Also, we need production now, not production in a year or two.

Hey, this worked out well for us once before.  

"Carolina hasn't gotten a season of at least 400 receiving yards out of one of their tight ends since 2019. (Yeah, when Greg Olsen was still around.)"

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2026/01/31/nfl-trade-rumors-panthers-bears-cole-kmet/88446124007/

We definitely dont need to be drafting any TEs this time around we have way too many pressing needs. 

Also when your QB is barely making 3k passing yards and one guy has 1k of those in McMillan its kind of hard for any of the other 10 or so guys to get over 400 yards. 

[LinvilleGorge]

The Bears are loaded at WR. Why would they want to trade a good #2 TE for XL? It wouldn't make any sense. A good #2 TE is better for their roster than a guy fighting to hang onto the last WR spot on the depth chart.

[flagfootballcoach28]

Please sign Leo Chanel Dan Morgan. 

[SOJA]

On 1/30/2026 at 6:27 PM, Panthero said:

1. What do you do with Icky? Likely a scratch for next season and due a massive contract (if healthy)

2. Coker has the talent for 2nd WR, but do you pay a guy who gets hurt that premium? I think hes your number 3 simply due to risk. Will the Panthers seek another vet or go surprisingly high in the draft?

3. Do you give X more feature time? Or cut bait now?

4. Planning the long term/short term on OL

5. How do you address LB?

6. Do you bank of Chuba bouncing back? 

These moves will determine if Dan's can maintain a consistent playoff level team. 

1. Prepare for life without Ickey. Whether thats a high draft pick or solid FA. IF and big IF he comes back then you have a succession plan for Moton at RT. But as stated I would assume Ickey will never be our starting LT again

2. Sign Coker now. He's only going to get more expensive. Give him a decent #2 WR contract and call it a day

3. XL I would give this next season. Unless someone like Dallas blows you away with a ridiculous trade offer. XL showed promise his rookie year, I still have faith he can be a contributor to this team

4. Short term - LT and drafting a Center are musts IMO

5. LB would be awesome to get Sonny Styles in the draft but he likely goes long before then. We really need a good MLB, Devin Llyod from Jax may be available 

6. I ride next year with Chuba, Etienne and Brooks - too many other needs to worry about RB right now 

[shaqattaq]

On 1/31/2026 at 10:42 AM, 45catfan said:

The only positions we don't take on day one and two are: QB, RB and TE

I wouldn't be upset with QB TE if I'm being honest. Obviously depends on the player and I have no idea who'd be sitting there at 19 and 51. I'm not sold on Bryce or Sanders , Tremble is average, Evans doesn't have enough playtime to judge yet.

[shaqattaq]

On 1/31/2026 at 4:04 PM, 45catfan said:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Caleb-Lomu-OL-Utah

Lomu is about 305 taken the average weights I've seen him listed at. He probably needs to get to about 315. I'm not worried about his age; more mature in my book. This whole thing about being a year or two older than the average draftee matters none to me.  His pass blocking is top notch.  That's what you want from your blindside tackle. Run blocking can be refined more easily than vise-versa. Pass protection has a lot more nuances and technique to get correct to be efficient over run blocking.

My thought is if Ickey can make it back, great, but I'm not betting the future of the team on it since LT is arguably the second most important position on a football team besides QB. Also, I want to draft our LT this year to get a season under his belt so he can protect our rookie QB in '27.

I know that it is wwaaaaay early for mock drafts but a quick ask google says that this guy doesn't make it to 27, we likely have him in play at 19. I'll take a technically sound pass blocker over a behemoth mauler any day.

"Projection: Late first round (approx. 16th-23rd overall)"

[firefox1234]

On 2/1/2026 at 9:07 AM, 45catfan said:

A lot of mocks are zeroing in on us taking Woods or McDonald.  I don't love either of those guys. At this point, Styles does not make past #15 with Dallas the most common landing spot. The Saints are the favorites to land Bailey.  The top tier OTs are always gone, with Lomu creeping up on some mocks.  He may make it to a top 20 prospect.  I am really leaning to a move back.  

If mocks are stating that Woods and McDonald are the best fit on the board for us at #19, we could move back several spots and land someone just as good, if not possibly one of those guys anyways.

I’ve seen those two DTs fall out of the first round in quite a few mocks.

[ProcessBlue2]

Dan tends to attack one specific position group per offseason and the sprinkle others throughout the roster. He extended Moton, signed Hunt, Lewis, Nijman one offseason and then extended Brown and signed Wharton and Hunt and drafted Jackson next offseason. My guess is he attacks LB and Edge this offseason. 
 

1. What do you do with Icky? Likely a scratch for next season and due a massive contract (if healthy)

They will bring back Nijman and Christensen and draft a guy on Day 2 is my guess and hope one of them can fill the hole.

2. Coker has the talent for 2nd WR, but do you pay a guy who gets hurt that premium? I think hes your number 3 simply due to risk. Will the Panthers seek another vet or go surprisingly high in the draft?

They will probably sign him more and longer than the RFA Tender to keep him happy and not break the bank in the process. Can see them getting a Vet in FA like Tutu Atwell or Hollywood Brown. Somebody with speed but also isn’t overly expensive. I think Horn and Tremayne stick around and unfortunately Legette. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tremble released and a real TE in brought in, there is a good FA group this year.

3. Do you give X more feature time? Or cut bait now?

I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded him but I’m willing to bet he gets one more year. Maybe Canales can find a role like Shenault had with McAdoo. 

4. Planning the long term/short term on OL

Like I said I think Christensen and Nijman are brought back for T with a Day 2 rookie and prayer something sticks. Moton, Hunt, Lewis return ofcourse. Probably resign Corbett as a safeguard at Center but I think they go C in the 1st or 2nd. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Morgan trade to the back end of the 1st to get a solid C and add picks.

5. How do you address LB?

I think Rozeboom leaves. Hoping CJ Allen or Sonny Styles is still there is too big of a risk. They probably go get Kaden Elliss or Leo Chenal and pay good money for them. Maybe a guy on Day 3 for depth with Cherelus and Martin-Scott. Also think he takes a swing at Edge, wouldn’t be shocked to see Hendrickson or Oweh here. 

6. Do you bank of Chuba bouncing back? 
 

I think Chuba remains Chuba. There are some decent change of pace backs out there this year that will be cheap. Still developing Etienne and Brooks may be healthy. I think it’s Chuba and that crew maybe a veteran that’s not Dowdle. More like Deejay Dallas who was here already once. 

I also think Dalton calls it and they get an upgrade at back up. Nobody that would endanger Bryce’s job but somebody that isn’t 55 years old either. Trubisky, Minshew, Pickett, Kyle Allen (yes same one).

 

Edited 16 hours ago by ProcessBlue2

[Basbear]

On 2/2/2026 at 9:29 AM, shaqattaq said:

I know that it is wwaaaaay early for mock drafts but a quick ask google says that this guy doesn't make it to 27, we likely have him in play at 19. I'll take a technically sound pass blocker over a behemoth mauler any day.

"Projection: Late first round (approx. 16th-23rd overall)"

One of the NFL gurus already has him 5th overall-

Im sorry 3rd 

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2026-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-electric-rb-jeremiyah-love-cracks-top-10-49ers-take-tight-end

[shaqattaq]

11 hours ago, Basbear said:

One of the NFL gurus already has him 5th overall-

Im sorry 3rd 

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2026-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-electric-rb-jeremiyah-love-cracks-top-10-49ers-take-tight-end

We were discussing Lomu, who Zierlein has going 24th in this mock. It's very unlikely that Fano or Maulgoa make it to us without a major redflag popping up in the next few months.