NFLTR: Panthers Offseason:Team Needs, pending free agents, draft picks

[csx]

7 hours ago, strato said:

I understand that some people want WR. I am solidly against using yet another high pick there. Coker is pretty good and we used No picks on him. 

What I think we really need at WR is a little bit of a Smitty lite. It is ridiculous to say let’s get a Smitty because you just can’t do that, but someone not tall and long striding but more in his mold. I think we’d have a pretty well rounded group. 
 

Looking at tackle, with replacing Moton looming, it just seems like the no brainer.  You fill in Icky short term. Depending on how he recovers, and how the new guy plays, you go from there.

A tackle at 19 is most likely either a LOT, a ROT, or a big talented guard, at worst. We will need all three in the next couple of years. 

I would love to have a stud ILB be there at 19 but the OL is the responsible thing to do I believe. 

A tackle is a tackle or a guard? Confused. 

[shaq]

WR is by no means a priority this offseason we have enough invested there and have a certified #1 in Tmac and a solid #2 in Coker personally I don’t hate XL as the #3 and am hopeful he can develop a bit and just avoid his bone headed mistakes. FS is a definite need,  Moerig is a textbook SS, and just optimistically hoping if we had a true center fielding FS maybe just maybe Evero would play a bit less off coverage knowing we had somebody deep with true range and not Nick Scott.

[csx]

With teams employing nickel defense most of the time it just doesn't seem the ballhawk free safety thing has been much of a thing for a while. I'll take one though but I dont expect it to be a priority attempt 

[PleaseCutStewart]

If we draft OT in the 1st round with all of the holes we have on defense, that tells me the staff has no faith in Icky or BC ever being quality starters again. Possible with the injuries they suffered, put passing up on an edge or LB with the complete talent deficiency (outside of Scourton) we have at both positions would be worrying - unless there isn't a good choice at 19 for those positions, which could also be possible.

[Aussie Tank]

Would you trade a late pick for Will Levis to be our developmental QB? 

[BeenPounding]

OT is the top priority as it is both an immediate and future need.  I wouldn't be past trading up slightly to get the guy we want.  You need that rookie contract right now.  Icky is a dead 17.5 million for the season.  Morton is 20+ mil for the season, Hunt is 20+ mil for the season.  There needs to be forward thinking regarding the future.  

Caleb Lomu is a left Tackle, he's a solid prospect, he may be the best pick for us now and in the future.  I would seriously consider cutting Hunt after 2026, and let Lomu and Icky fight for the LT job, loser moves inside.  Icky's future may be at guard after this injury anyway.  If Damien Lewis keeps up his level of play he will need to be paid sooner rather than later.  Yosh and BC can be our top two depth OL at an affordable price.  You will need to look at OT again in 2027.

Getting an EDGE for the sake of getting an EDGE outside of the top 10 is pretty risky.  I wouldn't be against eyeing someone like Cashius Howell, Derrick Moore, or TJ Parker in the 2nd (even if we trade a future pick to move up) or DDS in the third.

I'd love to see us try to sign both Leo Chenal and Matt Millano in FA.   Chenal for the blitzing element we are missing from our LB corps and Millano for his elite coverage.  They could both work in tandem.  Remember, our FO has deep ties to both KC and Buffalo.

I love thinking about the draft, but until Free Agency hits, we are clueless.  Looking at the strength of FA and the draft, OL is priority #1, LB #2, and EDGE #3.  We know what happens to Bryce when protection falls apart.

[BeenPounding]

Tennessee isn't trading a QB on a 2nd round contract that has starting experience.  That's bad business.

[Panthero]

Given that the immediate impact we need at edge. We almost certainly address that in Free agency, not in the draft. Same with Linebacker, unless Styles or Allen is still there at 19. I think the same for OT. 

What is the position that we could draft in the 1st round and get immediate help in the first is how im approaching their decision-making 

I know ill get dragged for this, but im thinking they go DT in the first. A guy that can play right away and be a complement to D.Brown to wreak havoc at the LOS.  

So unless a top tier LB is there, I think DT will be the move. 

[PanthersNCSU]

12 hours ago, rebelrouser said:

I would take Lomu at 19 and Anthony Hill Jr at 51 right now. 

This is the best path forward IMO right now. 

Try and get a pass rusher with potential in FA, and those guys as the first two picks? Sign me up. 

We have to get another LT in here in case Icky is done for, for Bryce and/or the next QB. Part of me says screw it, build the defense, get Nijman back for LT, and if Bryce can't make it work, he shows it.

But then we're just right back in 2027 probably needing a QB AND a LT. I think LT has to be one of the first 2 picks and we hope he's a good one. Every move right now to me should be about building the team that's ready made for a QB in 2027, whether that's Bryce or another rookie. 

[scratched]

LT has to be the most important pickup this offseason. Without it, we will be looking at Andy Dalton by week 6. We have to protect BY at all cost first and foremost. Ekonwu may not ever come back, and Moton can't hang on but so long. Proctor(should be available) or Lomu(could be available) in the 1st and someone like Zion Young (EDGE) in the 2nd would be a good 1st and 2nd round IMO.

[hepcat]

10 hours ago, Aussie Tank said:

Would you trade a late pick for Will Levis to be our developmental QB? 

yes but if he has any sense or say in the matter he will tell his agent to try to get him traded to be the 49ers backup 

[mrcompletely11]

10 hours ago, Aussie Tank said:

Would you trade a late pick for Will Levis to be our developmental QB? 

While I like his arm talent and athleticism, he just missed this year due to surgery and he is in the last year of his deal.  It wouldnt make a ton of sense to trade for him

[hepcat]

11 minutes ago, scratched said:

LT has to be the most important pickup this offseason. Without it, we will be looking at Andy Dalton by week 6. We have to protect BY at all cost first and foremost. Ekonwu may not ever come back, and Moton can't hang on but so long. Proctor(should be available) or Lomu(could be available) in the 1st and someone like Zion Young (EDGE) in the 2nd would be a good 1st and 2nd round IMO.

I would really like them to pick a LT in the first but other than Proctor there isn’t a prospect that fits the LT mold that should be on the board at 19. They’ll have a lot of edge and LB options. I honestly think unless a big time LT falls to them, they should trade back in the first if possible, try to get another second or third round pick, and pick a later round tackle in addition to a LB and edge rusher. The can probably get Anthony Hill Jr late in the early second, he’s gonna be a baller 

[ProcessBlue2]

My guess is there are 1-2 players Dan will have flagged and if they aren’t there he trades back. 
 

Its hard to frame the draft until FA is over.