First Round Poll: Position Drafted

[rebelrouser]

34 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I just think they know about Moton's knee and Ickey's prognosis more than they are telling us.

I don't see how they can predict Ickey's recovery or Moton's degenerative decline at this point.  Way to early.  SportsInjuryCentral

[strato]

OT seems like the most responsible pick to me. Conservative? Probably ultra conservative. Prepper like.

I can’t shake the feeling that we will regret passing on one before the season is over. Plus it lines up and sets us up to be able to use the 2027 1st on a QB if we need to. because we might. 

Think about it, worst case, we could actually be down RT, LT and QB going into next year. It isn’t that inconceivable. Matter of fact, it is very ‘Panthers’.

We have Walker yes, for this year. Whose last team let walk, and for fairly cheap money. Does that make you feel secure? (I mean okay, I feel a lot better with him than without him, no doubt just saying)  

The only thing is the tackle that fits the job has to be there at 19. You can’t force it. 

Edited 8 hours ago by strato

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

We went with the Jag and got a really nice luggage cargo carrier.  Drilled some air holes, and we were good to go.  I get it. I just think they know about Moton's knee and Ickey's prognosis more than they are telling us.  If good in both cases, Morgan may not go OT.  If either is questionable, I hope we go OT...I am not a huge fan of the OTs that could be there at 19, but I would get it.   Lomu if Ickey is bad, maybe blake Miller if Moton is the concern.  I could see it.

Yeah, there's a lot not being said about our OTs right now, just picking up a starter-quality in Free Agency spoke volumes, since we haven't done that in years. Still... maybe we get lucky and we have three active quality tackles moving into next season.

Big guys all have normal-sized knees, though and those ligaments and menisci are just as vulnerable to them as they are to you and me. 

Gosh, I really wanted that Jag, too.

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, rebelrouser said:

I don't see how they can predict Ickey's recovery or Moton's degenerative decline at this point.  Way to early.  SportsInjuryCentral

I would think the surgeon would have a prognosis about recovery time and opine on the success of the surgery.  As for Moton, we have been monitoring his knee for some time.  How is it too early?  You are collecting as much information as possible to develop a strategy on the draft.   Nobody can predict anything ever--I think you misunderstood my comment--not sure I was as clear as I needed to be. 

[strato]

Predict, no. But that monstrosity of a knee brace has scared me since Moton went with it as standard part of his equipment.. And his age is not helping him. He just worries me.  
Like riding on bald tires. 

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, strato said:

OT seems like the most responsible pick to me. Conservative? Probably ultra conservative. Prepper like.

I can’t shake the feeling that we will regret passing on one before the season is over. Plus it lines up and sets us up to be able to use the 2027 1st on a QB if we need to. because we might. 

Think about it, worst case, we could actually be down RT, LT and QB going into next year. It isn’t that inconceivable. Matter of fact, it is very ‘Panthers’.

We have Walker yes, for this year. Whose last team let walk, and for fairly cheap money. Does that make you feel secure? (I mean okay, I feel a lot better with him than without him, no doubt just saying)  

The only thing is the tackle that fits the job has to be there at 19. You can’t force it. 

I can agree with this statement if you really like the OT who is available.  The fact that they are "rare" (along with QB, Edge) positions to find should also play into it.  If we have a roster that allows for BPA,  you should (as you say) consider the difficulty it takes to find a replacement.  Furthermore, you don't want a rookie playing LT--regardless of who it is.  All that to demonstrate how I get the decision to draft a T if they like the player and have a need that could be worse than I understand right now.  

Morgan signed a starting LT and a swing T in free agency.  He signed a starting Center. We also need a "Z" WR, DT, S, TE and LB.  Of those, we need 3 starters for 2026 (Z-WR, LB, S)  and 2 rotational players (DT, and TE).  C and OT are the only players who, if we draft them, are likely to sit and not start or work into a rotation.  The Panthers seem to be in "Win Now" mode.  For that reason, I do not see OT or C being drafted until the last day.

 

[MHS831]

2 minutes ago, strato said:

Predict, no. But that monstrosity of a knee brace has scared me since Moton went with it as standard part of his equipment.. And his age is not helping him. He just worries me.  
Like riding on bald tires. 

I feel the same.  OK, tell me which OT is on your radar if you were the GM--

[strato]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

I feel the same.  OK, tell me which OT is on your radar if you were the GM--

I haven’t scouted them to say, because I am not GM and have no say. The Miami kid, but he will probably be gone. Freeling. Proctor is interesting. Like I said I haven’t really scouted but I would look closer at him because I have seen some claiming he has the quickness and feet even at his inflated size. So I would look closer at that. 

My ideal outcome is one of the top guys who are probably not gonna fall, falls and we use 19 on him. Obviously, I guess. I am  not wanting to trade up or anything - not putting it like code red at all costs, but if we get a chance to get that covered I would for sure want to take it. 

Also it looks like we might be able to drop down a few slots and find a future RT at decent value which I would also be fine with.  I think if someone fell that made 19 a hot pick, then I would want to trade out unless it was a top T. 

I would probably want to get a run stopper for the DL if the tackle thing didn’t fall right. That is what I voted for here because I feel it is more likely that we don’t have things fall to fit my scenario. 

[MHS831]

2 minutes ago, strato said:

I haven’t scouted them to say, because I am not GM and have no say. The Miami kid, but he will probably be gone. Freeling. Proctor is interesting. Like I said I haven’t really scouted but I would look closer at him because I have seen some claiming he has the quickness and feet even at his inflated size. So I would look closer at that. 

My ideal outcome is one of the top guys who are probably not gonna fall, falls and we use 19 on him. Obviously, I guess. I am  not wanting to trade up or anything - not putting it like code red at all costs, but if we get a chance to get that covered I would for sure want to take it. 

Also it looks like we might be able to drop down a few slots and find a future RT at decent value which I would also be fine with.  I think if someone fell that made 19 a hot pick, then I would want to trade out unless it was a top T. 

I would probably want to get a run stopper for the DL if the tackle thing didn’t fall right. That is what I voted for here because I feel it is more likely that we don’t have things fall to fit my scenario. 

If it were me, I would take Proctor over the rest, but I would have a firm understanding and (if this is legal) an escape clause in his contract if he decides to spend his signing bonus at the Pancake Barn (the edible kind).   After that, Freeling and then Lomu to a lesser degree.  I really like Miller, but he is a RT only, based on my understanding.

I am not dismissing the quality of Tackles that are expected to go day 3.  They have issues, but they also have time to develop.  I think of it this way:  When would Freeling have been drafted in 2025?  What happened between 2025-2026 that moved him from a mid-rounder to a top 16 player?  Find a guy with upside if you are not starting him day 1 and develop him.   That is how I would approach it--I am sure there are others who might do it many different ways.

[strato]

16 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

If it were me, I would take Proctor over the rest, but I would have a firm understanding and (if this is legal) an escape clause in his contract if he decides to spend his signing bonus at the Pancake Barn (the edible kind).   After that, Freeling and then Lomu to a lesser degree.  I really like Miller, but he is a RT only, based on my understanding.

I am not dismissing the quality of Tackles that are expected to go day 3.  They have issues, but they also have time to develop.  I think of it this way:  When would Freeling have been drafted in 2025?  What happened between 2025-2026 that moved him from a mid-rounder to a top 16 player?  Find a guy with upside if you are not starting him day 1 and develop him.   That is how I would approach it--I am sure there are others who might do it many different ways.

That is reasonable, the development aspect and I hope to heaven they do that if they don’t want to invest early. 
Gross went at 8 I think, and was RT his rookie year.  

Edited 2 hours ago by strato

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, strato said:

That is reasonable, the development aspect and I hope to heaven they do that if they don’t want to invest early. 
Gross went at 8 I think, and was RT his rookie year.  

I would add that it is probably likely that you need a T during the season--I am wildly speculating that they like something about Forsythe.  However, that is not enough.  We need 4 players who can play OT in the NFL---we have 3. That suggests that we are going to add an OT at some point. 

Perhaps related, but probably a pure depth move:

Brady Christensen is an interesting situation--we should sign him. He is likely to miss the first 2 months of the 2026 season, and he will be 30.  He can play all OL positions.  That would give depth when it is usually most needed--the last half of the season.  With his injury, I doubt his phone is ringing much.  I think I would offer a 2-year deal (1.5 if you want to be realistic) for the vet minimum.  

 

Edited 40 minutes ago by MHS831

[Jon Snow]

1 hour ago, strato said:

That is reasonable, the development aspect and I hope to heaven they do that if they don’t want to invest early. 
Gross went at 8 I think, and was RT his rookie year.  

He was a RT because they wanted him to play. That wasn't his natural or chosen position. He was drafted to play LT.