We signed Devin Lloyd ILB

[Montsta]

Can’t discount the aspect of players signing with a perennial bottom-dweller franchise for less than their consensus market rate. Anyone can sign a crazy contract to get the dollars, but when a team like the Panthers gets a top tier free agent without getting ass raped, it must mean the player believes in something about the team I assume. 

[mav1234]

34 minutes ago, Montsta said:

Can’t discount the aspect of players signing with a perennial bottom-dweller franchise for less than their consensus market rate. Anyone can sign a crazy contract to get the dollars, but when a team like the Panthers gets a top tier free agent without getting ass raped, it must mean the player believes in something about the team I assume. 

It does suggest we may not be viewed as negatively as our fans think.

[SOJA]

The mad lad did it 

[Shotgun]

51 minutes ago, Montsta said:

  it must mean the player believes in something about the team I assume. 

And that "something" is Derrick Brown. lol

[FattyFatFat]

14 hours ago, HeelsPanthersCanes said:

Exactly.  You and me are the only ones pushing this - at least that I've seen on this board.

I’m ok with tackle because lord knows we are thin, but saddiq, to me looks like he could really be special and I think would really elevate our offense. Plus, someone correct me if I’m wrong but I think he’s a decent blocker. 

[rodeo]

25 minutes ago, Shotgun said:

And that "something" is Derrick Brown. lol

Derrick Brown and signing Jaelan Phillips like 2 hours earlier. Lloyd probably saw us making moves.

[Bear Hands]

1 hour ago, rodeo said:

Derrick Brown and signing Jaelan Phillips like 2 hours earlier. Lloyd probably saw us making moves.

It’s a strong looking defense all of a sudden. A highly competent vet at every level:

D Brown, Philips, Lloyd, Horn and Moehrig

That’s 5 guys who were arguably (at least) top-12 at their position last season.

And not excluding that we have some decent vets here too like BBIII and MJ

If we can get even just 1 or 2 of the young guys to develop into a dude, it could be a nice unit. Looking at Ransom, Scourton, Princely, S-W. 

It would be nice to target a OT, C, ILB and Slot Defender in the draft. 

 

[Mage]

1 hour ago, Montsta said:

Can’t discount the aspect of players signing with a perennial bottom-dweller franchise for less than their consensus market rate. Anyone can sign a crazy contract to get the dollars, but when a team like the Panthers gets a top tier free agent without getting ass raped, it must mean the player believes in something about the team I assume. 

This is why making the playoffs was important.  Whether we "deserved" it or not - perception matters, and it likely gave us somewhat of an edge in negotiations.

[strato]

1 hour ago, Mage said:

This is why making the playoffs was important.  Whether we "deserved" it or not - perception matters, and it likely gave us somewhat of an edge in negotiations.

I would go further and say the way they played in the WC game changed the perception. It isn’t just making it, they backed in. Big time backed in.

If they had gotten whipped like they didn’t belong, which I think a lot of people expected, people don’t see them like they seem to see them now. 
 

The stadium atmosphere, the team playing like they deserved to be there, made a big impression on people. 

[jfra78]

1 hour ago, rodeo said:

Derrick Brown and signing Jaelan Phillips like 2 hours earlier. Lloyd probably saw us making moves.

Probably having a former MLB as GM didn't hurt either

[HeelsPanthersCanes]

15 minutes ago, strato said:

I would go further and say the way they played in the WC game changed the perception. It isn’t just making it, they backed in. Big time backed in.

If they had gotten whipped like they didn’t belong, which I think a lot of people expected, people don’t see them like they seem to see them now. 
 

The stadium atmosphere, the team playing like they deserved to be there, made a big impression on people. 

The Panthers played great in that game.  But that game had zero to do with why Phillips or Lloyd are here.

They are both here because we WAY overpaid for Phillips production and health, and we made a HUGE bet that Lloyd's 2025 campaign wasn't a fluke, but instead was a glimpse at what he might be.  But then you have to ask yourself why the Jags didn't pick up his fifth year option, which would've been way less than what we just paid him to figure out if his production is sustainable year over year.

I'm glad Morgan and Tillis did something, but anyone telling themselves Phillips and Lloyd are here primarily because of this team's potential is lying to themselves.

[strato]

26 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Probably having a former MLB as GM didn't hurt either

I heard Morgan speak about what he wanted in a LB. Defensive captain. QB. A guy that could make plays using athleticism and instincts, wear the green dot, and command the respect of the other ten guys… If I find the clip I’ll post it. 

If you heard him say it and you have any ego at all you want to be that guy. I think Dan probably laid it on him. 

[strato]

19 minutes ago, HeelsPanthersCanes said:

I'm glad Morgan and Tillis did something, but anyone telling themselves Phillips and Lloyd are here primarily because of this team's potential is lying to themselves.

You use the word primarily, did anyone actually make that claim?To say it wasn’t a factor, would be less than realistic. And then who is lying to themselves?  

[frankw]

25 minutes ago, HeelsPanthersCanes said:

The Panthers played great in that game.  But that game had zero to do with why Phillips or Lloyd are here.

They are both here because we WAY overpaid for Phillips production and health, and we made a HUGE bet that Lloyd's 2025 campaign wasn't a fluke, but instead was a glimpse at what he might be.  But then you have to ask yourself why the Jags didn't pick up his fifth year option, which would've been way less than what we just paid him to figure out if his production is sustainable year over year.

I'm glad Morgan and Tillis did something, but anyone telling themselves Phillips and Lloyd are here primarily because of this team's potential is lying to themselves.

Phillips took a steep overpay that any other human in his shoes would have signed. But he is undoubtedly very talented.

Lloyd looks to be a situation of he quickly realized the value of himself in his and his agents eyes did not align with the rest of the league based on the sample size. I mean when your top suitors are the mess that is the Bengals and the Panthers that doesn't make it a very difficult decision.