Tony Pauline: Panthers will strongly consider Kenyon Sadiq if he’s there @19

[ForJimmy]

52 minutes ago, csx said:

I personally dont care at all about that. Like Mccaffrey and Thomas Davis and Burns and Stewart and D'Angelo. What matters is the career.

 

But chances are, like I said, they start a good number of games.

GMs care though.  One bad season and they can get fired.  Drafting a player in the 1st that would only start due to injury is pretty rare.  It make sense to us fans who have the luxury of thinking beyond this year. 

[Navy_football]

5 hours ago, PootieNunu said:

What assets? The defense has been neglected yet casuals still expect them to win us games.

We have went OT, QB, QB+WR, WR. 

Yet the offense is still garbage because of the huge anchor we have tied to it.

Now people want a first round TE which rarely ever works out. 

OT (injured, may never return to form which really wasn't that goog to begin with)

QB (still figuring out if he's a franchise QB - though he finished the season well, last chance this season)

QB (not even our pick)+WR (the worst 1st round WR in some time)

WR (Hit)

If they had hit on at least 2 of the 4 then they wouldn't need to draft another offensive player. 

[jfra78]

1 hour ago, ForJimmy said:

I guess there is some confusion here.  Picking an OT in the first probably isn't happening unless there is someone that drops to our spot.  We absolutely need to draft an OT in this draft for depth/future, but signing Walker gives us the luxury of taking one in the mid rounds who might not be ready to start right away.  I also wouldn't be surprised if we sign BC for a reasonable contract for depth once we clear up some space.  There seems to be mutual interest there.  Leashes are just too short in the NFL for a GM to draft a player that wouldn't be an immediate impact player in the 1st round unless there is huge value.  We also need a C in this draft to learn behind our one year rental as well.  Again I don't see this happening in the 1st, but mid to late could work there.  Ideally we draft a C and future RT to take over for Moton after this year for our OL.  Then we can decided between Walker/Icky (depending on recovery) for future LT.

Exactly I have no issue with drafting a tackle, just not at 19

[micnificent28]

1 hour ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

Icky is no guarantee to ever return to football, plus his salary is already 100% guaranteed. He's on the books no matter what. BC is coming off an Achilles injury and played much better at guard than he ever did at tackle, not to mention, Achilles is usually a 2 year recovery to full performance level. BC would be on a very low cost prove it deal. He only made 2.8m last year anyway.

You really want to put a tackle with a busted wheel, one coming off a major knee injury, or a guy that can't crack the Raiders roster on Bryce's blind side if Walker gets injured? 

He's on the roster with the idea that he will play at some point. He's another tackle. For better or worse. What I want is to not draft a backup tackle when we need skill players and DT and safety. Either way adding a premium pick for a what if walker gets hurt situation doesn't seem like a smart move.

If walker gets hurt like most teams starting tackle you look at secondary markets trades and hell maybe a 3-4th round pick. Not drafting a what if he gets hurt in the first.

[micnificent28]

4 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Exactly I have no issue with drafting a tackle, just not at 19

This

[SmokinwithWilly]

38 minutes ago, micnificent28 said:

He's on the roster with the idea that he will play at some point. He's another tackle. For better or worse. What I want is to not draft a backup tackle when we need skill players and DT and safety. Either way adding a premium pick for a what if walker gets hurt situation doesn't seem like a smart move.

If walker gets hurt like most teams starting tackle you look at secondary markets trades and hell maybe a 3-4th round pick. Not drafting a what if he gets hurt in the first.

I don't see it as drafting a premium player to sit and wait if Walker gets hurt. We need a legitimate swing T. Unless you have a Sewell or Slater type tackle that is pretty much a sure thing, these guys can need some time to develop year 1 just like a QB ideally should. They all haven't played the elite 5 star talent on the edge. If we think another franchise tackle has dropped to us at 19, you have to pull the trigger. The position is just too damn hard to find. If it's just a "we need a tackle and this guy has a T on the board", yeah, move on, take one in the later rounds. But if that guy is there, let him back up and learn a year, then slide him into LT on year 2 of his rookie deal. 

I don't see us being able to offer Walker a multi year contract after a prove it year, pay Moton his final almost fully guaranteed year, Hunt, Lewis a center and do a 50-60m extension for Bryce. The 3 most important positions on the field are QB, blindside tackle (usually LT), and edge rusher. Those are the premium positions that cost the most and are hardest to come by. If a starting caliber talent is there at 19 you have to pull the trigger. 

I understand the need for a DT and S. I've been on the C and FS train for years. If we weren't staring at a potential Bryce extension, it'd make the decision a lot easier I think. It's just with all these huge contracts I don't see how we can hedge our bets on being able or even wanting to re-sign Walker, especially if he has a bad year. Icky and BC's injuries really hurt our long term plans. 

If no blue chip talent at those 3 key positions are available at 19, by all means pass and draft another position. But I think it's pretty safe to say we don't have a guaranteed lock at any of them right now beyond Phillips, and they have to be somewhat of a priority. 

[strato]

And you cannot rely on Icky when making future decisions. You just can’t. He isn’t even under contract for next year. 

If we have too many franchise LTs I think it will work itself out. 

[chknwing]

this is smoke to push a player down to Carolina.  I been going over the possibilities and its obvious Carolina is going DL in the 1st.  It's Peter Woods or Caleb Banks

[Basbear]

6 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

No (and will probably never be an inline TE). Capable blocker against safeties, corners, and lighter LBs, but no chance he can block down linemen or stronger LBs.

His route tree is running down the seams and screen passes (from his tape at Oregon). So pretty much nonexistent.

So a raw WR?? why is everyone all on his nuts then??, I get he's the top prize, but by your assessment this guy would take years to develop if he's able.... his combine has a XL notes....

[Basbear]

8 hours ago, MHS831 said:

II see it this way: We have to look at long-term needs and current depth.  We have filled some key spots with players on one-year contracts.  I firmly believe that they intend to pay Bryce some big bucks next year.  That means you cannot hope that your rookies in 2027 can fill the spots vacated by the veterans you could not afford to re-sign.  

We need to consider the cap and the fact that the need to start a rookie is not viewed as a positive by coaches and general managers, but they value first contracts--so it is a delicate balance.

I think they have to look at the cap by position--"Can we afford a $50m QB and a $100m OL?  That is half the cap, before you pay your WRs and RBs and TEs.  They need to start getting younger on the OL as well.  

I am not suggesting that we draft OT in round 1, but we could and I would get it.  RT on a 1-year deal, they may have intel about Ickey (who was not the best LT, to be honest) and 32-year old Moton is on a bad wheel.  

Now if you go by Morgan's history, you can almost tell what position we are going to address with the first pick by noting the positions he has not focused on in free agency.  DT, considering the lack of performance by those not named Derrick Brown and the loss of Robinson, is screaming to be addressed with a top player.  Wharton is not an early down DT (DE if you want to get technical) and our LBs need to be clean--they were not in 2025.  Look for a DT early.

I also think we will address ILB (pass covering Will) on day 2.  The other day 2 pick will be an OT, in my view.

Do not rule out CB.  We are thin there too, and Jackson is in his final year.  I am not sure that we love Smith-Wade.  Some crackhead on here talked about moving him to S----stay tuned.  

Hopefully, a team wanting Ty Simpson will move up and offer us a pick or two to move back.

• DT
• WILB
• OT
• OC
• QB  (you heard it here 337th--but this pick could come sooner than you think.  

 

 

 

I think we haven't praised Morgan/tilis enough. In this thread we have some huddles best and its hard to figure out what to do with the 19th pick, if you understand that.

Im also posting what "I" believe they are doing and what I feel is best. Those FA signess send a clear signal- They are going all-in to win this coming season. If you factor that in, just believe it first, it 100% changes what going on with pick 19, cause 51st pick doesn't matter as the talent level drop is petty big between the two. So 19 is the biggest difference maker on the current plan of all-in for the 2026. 

Then you factor in who will be there at, (I better hold off on my other strong thought here- I think trade up is the best help too, yes using that 3rd to do so too...) DT, ILB(Allen? he didn't run), OC, QB(ooo my I don't want to rage drool my hate again about how I feel here, plus F it draft TY simp not joking)....... those 4 groups don't have the "BPA" at 19. You can add ILB Hill in there, but I feel 19 just is too high, other disagree. 

Slot or TE it is......Kenyon is the only TE worth a 1st and he's the classic draft dilemma- All sort of he's a top ten lock to he's a non-blocking one trick WR that's not even worth 2nd currency. Then there's he's the clear winner from the TE group, thus increases his value more no matter the opinion. 

Honestly I see the Matt Millen outcome as the current odds favorite, I think the huddle would go bonkers for weeks as result......just the truth tho, WR had the highest odds to be the clear BPA and slot is a need...plus if we are talking about Walker being a one year deal, Coker is a one year too(he may have another controll yr, I got to confirm it tho). Plus God forbid Tmac gets hurt, the drop in talent from him or Coker to Moore is fuging scary, I'd say more than the recent OT stone fellow. It goes back back to adding talent no matter what, draft now help, and where are  the weak points are in the system you want to run....  

[SmokinwithWilly]

6 minutes ago, Basbear said:

 

I think we haven't praised Morgan/tilis enough. In this thread we have some huddles best and its hard to figure out what to do with the 19th pick, if you understand that.

Im also posting what "I" believe they are doing and what I feel is best. Those FA signess send a clear signal- They are going all-in to win this coming season. If you factor that in, just believe it first, it 100% changes what going on with pick 19, cause 51st pick doesn't matter as the talent level drop is petty big between the two. So 19 is the biggest difference maker on the current plan of all-in for the 2026. 

Then you factor in who will be there at, (I better hold off on my other strong thought here- I think trade up is the best help too, yes using that 3rd to do so too...) DT, ILB(Allen? he didn't run), OC, QB(ooo my I don't want to rage drool my hate again about how I feel here, plus F it draft TY simp not joking)....... those 4 groups don't have the "BPA" at 19. You can add ILB Hill in there, but I feel 19 just is too high, other disagree. 

Slot or TE it is......Kenyon is the only TE worth a 1st and he's the classic draft dilemma- All sort of he's a top ten lock to he's a non-blocking one trick WR that's not even worth 2nd currency. Then there's he's the clear winner from the TE group, thus increases his value more no matter the opinion. 

Honestly I see the Matt Millen outcome as the current odds favorite, I think the huddle would go bonkers for weeks as result......just the truth tho, WR had the highest odds to be the clear BPA and slot is a need...plus if we are talking about Walker being a one year deal, Coker is a one year too(he may have another controll yr, I got to confirm it tho). Plus God forbid Tmac gets hurt, the drop in talent from him or Coker to Moore is fuging scary, I'd say more than the recent OT stone fellow. It goes back back to adding talent no matter what, draft now help, and where are  the weak points are in the system you want to run....  

I hope we're not going all in this year. We couldn't outright win our own division with a losing record. We had 2 anomalous wins. Typically you aren't going to win scoring 13 and have your opponent have an absolute train wreck offense.  Also, a team scoring 16 on 6 trips to the red zone is not normal either. I'm not trying to be a pessimist. We're not there. Bryce isn't there. Most of the year our offense legitimately struggled and the missing piece wasn't a TE. Keep building through the draft and reasonable FA. When we have a team that's on the edge of being able to make a legitimate SB run, then go all in. Otherwise, going all in right now feels like another Bryce situation. Sell out and pray. That's not how consistent winners are built. 

[Basbear]

9 hours ago, csx said:

If offense you grab your RT of the next 10 years not a TE in name only.

We have a great, Id say even perfect example of drafting OT on a team with Walker....plus Ill just toss in the solid respected vet Motown too.

 

Green Bay used a 1st rounder to draft Jordan Morgan with the plan he's the LT. Short this story- Walker beat him badly, so bad they switched positions to OG cause using that 1st is too pricey to sit. That was in 2024, come 2025 in steps a new fresh hope for LT 2nd rounder Anthony Belton..... Another 1st TKO by Walker and the same "ooo my god try him at OG to save face"... Walker clear winner both times. 

I think even if the Panthers had first pick of OT, that guy is not unseating Walker or Motown. 

Now to talk out of both sides, Id still say using the 1st on OT is a wise move.......but if you believe panthers are in win-now mode and worry about 2027 in 2027 and factor in Walker beating any and all young pups..... the thing is, if this goes well enough...... Walker will want to re-sign here and he's still young for a LT...plus my god LT are the hardest spot to fill. Then Ickey makes a full recovery(just go along for now)...now you have 32 Motown, Icky back on a cheaper RT deal, and a happy LT Walker. 

Just making a case and filling in some history, now I still want to draft OT, just maybe not as hot to use the 1st with landing Walker..... I mean isnt using the 4th or one of the 5th better and smarter to develop a OT rather than 1st where you need to score TDs or stop them? But Im with you tho....AND I understand what I feel the panthers will do.

[Swaggasaurus]

46 minutes ago, Basbear said:

So a raw WR?? why is everyone all on his nuts then??, I get he's the top prize, but by your assessment this guy would take years to develop if he's able.... his combine has a XL notes....

They don’t watch film. They don’t know what they are looking at if they do. Half of this MF pedestrian 561 yards came off wheel routes out of the backfield. 

[Basbear]

8 minutes ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

I hope we're not going all in this year. We couldn't outright win our own division with a losing record. We had 2 anomalous wins. Typically you aren't going to win scoring 13 and have your opponent have an absolute train wreck offense.  Also, a team scoring 16 on 6 trips to the red zone is not normal either. I'm not trying to be a pessimist. We're not there. Bryce isn't there. Most of the year our offense legitimately struggled and the missing piece wasn't a TE. Keep building through the draft and reasonable FA. When we have a team that's on the edge of being able to make a legitimate SB run, then go all in. Otherwise, going all in right now feels like another Bryce situation. Sell out and pray. That's not how consistent winners are built. 

I fully agree, just panthers are not agreeing..... I dare say his name, cause this feels like "I want to win NOW".....after all those seasons of losing and seeing the revenue take from that playoff game made him go "wow thats more rod stewart with Billy Joel made for me..." Those FA signings are a clear signal, they are going all-in and believe it....

If only that QB room had some hope there, I'd understand somewhat....