Jeremy Fowler: Don’t be surprised if Carolina makes some big moves on defense

[CarolinaLivin]

More From the article...

• Something an NFL head coach said to me, unsolicited: "Watch for Tua [Tagovailoa] in Atlanta."

• If the Panthers lose running back Rico Dowdle in free agency, I don't think they'll rush to find an external replacement. They have Chuba Hubbard under contract, they like second-year back Trevor Etienne's promise and they're optimistic on 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who has played only three games in his career because of injuries. I'm told Brooks is making good progress in his rehab and was up over 21 mph on the treadmill in a recent workout. Carolina is at least hopeful that Brooks can contribute this season, though obviously, his health history will always make that a question. Wide receiver Jalen Coker could receive a contract extension in Carolina.

• Panthers center Cade Mays: Some teams anticipate he could make $8 million per year on a new deal.

• Fowler: Mike Evans will limit his choices to a handful of teams in part because of his criteria. He wants a quarterback he believes in, a chance at a Super Bowl, a top-shelf offensive coordinator and the promise of high-volume touches. Only so many teams fit that mold. The Buccaneers will aggressively pursue re-signing Evans and met with his agent, Deryk Gilmore, on Thursday.

• Teams I expect to see gauge the free agent RB market include the Chiefs, Texans and Giants, among others. Carolina's Rico Dowdle and Atlanta's Tyler Allgeier are both free agents their respective teams would consider bringing back at the right contractual price, but I expect both to get a chance to hit free agency and see if they can get starter-level money elsewhere.

• Graziano: The Falcons will release Kirk Cousins before the start of the league year, when his $67.9 million salary would become fully guaranteed under the terms of his reworked contract. Atlanta has to pay Cousins a $10 million roster bonus this year, whether he's on the team or not, but it does not appear to be interested in bringing back Cousins.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48045815/2026-nfl-combine-latest-buzz-news-rumors-free-agency-draft-qbs-trades-offseason

[flagfootballcoach28]

Devin lloyd is too expensive when you consider other alternatives that would provide us with similar production. I'd much rather have Leo Chenal. He should be much cheaper 

[strato]

34 minutes ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

Devin lloyd is too expensive when you consider other alternatives that would provide us with similar production. I'd much rather have Leo Chenal. He should be much cheaper 

What do you think Lloyd’s price will be? 

[mrcompletely11]

3 minutes ago, strato said:

What do you think Lloyd’s price will be? 

3 years 20mill per

[strato]

5 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

3 years 20mill per

Uhh, yeah that is pretty steep. 
 

Here is where I am going to say Dan will be an asset. He will know if we can get by with a little less for a lot less.

My ideal would be get a good bona fide pro level starter and shoot for the all pro or pro bowl guy in the draft. 

[Jon Snow]

1 minute ago, strato said:

Uhh, yeah that is pretty steep. 
 

Here is where I am going to say Dan will be an asset. He will know if we can get by with a little less for a lot less.

My ideal would be get a good bona fide pro level starter and shoot for the all pro or pro bowl guy in the draft. 

Its all about the guaranteed money. 

[strato]

8 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Its all about the guaranteed money. 

Yeah that is true. And maybe a two year defacto commitment would cover us if we drafted and developed a couple in the next couple of years.

 

If this guy is the prize of the LB class he won’t have to settle for a glorified prove it deal. 

edit: as much as I want That Guy we are in a position where a no doubt starter level player would be a big improvement. So maybe we don’t have to have the big dog. 

 

Edited 22 minutes ago by strato

[Jon Snow]

2 minutes ago, strato said:

Yeah that is true. And maybe a two year defacto commitment would cover us if we drafted and developed a couple in the next couple of years.

 

If this guy is the prize of the LB class he won’t have to settle for a glorified prove it deal. 

edit: as much as I want That Guy we are in a position where a no doubt starter level player would be a big improvement. So maybe we don’t have to have the big dog. 

 

It all depends on how it's structured. I trust Tillis with that. If he earns the full contract then he was worth it. If not then you're not on the hook for it all.

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, strato said:

He is slow to the ball. Around the piles not at the bottom of them. 

Excellent way of describing him. Then there was Rozeboom made a lot of tackles, but they were often 5 yards past the LOS...

Edited 11 minutes ago by MHS831

[strato]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Excellent way of describing him. Then there was Rozeboom made a lot of tackles, but they were often 5 yards past the LOS...

He made it easy for me One of those songs that writes itself.