Gantt mailbag spawns some truth, & the nitty-gritty about drafting & draft philosophy.

[TD alt]

"So much of what the Panthers are going to do next week isn't dictated by their preference, but by what happens above them. That's another benefit of not getting locked into need. For instance, if you're thinking you want a receiver, seeing five or six of them go off the board and reacting by taking the sixth or seventh off your list instead of the first (or second or third) something else isn't necessarily wise."

https://www.panthers.com/news/ask-the-old-guy-back-into-the-weeds-of-the-nfl-draft-bryce-young-charlotte-hornets-mock-draft

This is what some don't seem to get, I don't care how many times it is said: You're NOT going to draft an inferior person at one position, just because that position is perceived as, or is in fact, a bigger need. That would basically nullify, or at least lessen, the reason why you set yourself up via free agency to be able to take the BPA/BAP on the board in the first place. 

Yes, the process is complex, very much involved and ongoing, but the overall philosophy is not rocket science. You set yourself up in order not to be pigeonholed into taking a lower graded player at the expense of a higher graded one. This is why Morgan, Gantt and countless of others say the same thing. This is why it's just nonsensical to set yourself in a position where you don't have to, but then act like you have to come hell or high water: "Oh, we have to draft [whatever position], and we can't draft [this position]." 

I'm good with whatever they do, until proven otherwise, but even then, you have to be mature enough to know that drafting is an imperfect exercise, filled with hits and misses. And, you generally don't know if you've hit, and especially missed, right away. Moreover, like I've said before, sometimes two players--different positions or not--can both be hits on their respective teams, so in that sense, it's not purely about a right or wrong pick as much as it's about putting puzzle pieces together at the time the best way that you know how. 

At the end of the day, people are going to believe what they want to believe, but one thing that's true is that what the Panthers do regarding the draft is dependent upon what others do, and what others do can and does change things. That being the case, it's just another reason why you can't go in with tunnel vision. The thought of doing that is preposterous.

[SOJA]

which is why I'm happy Dan has filled out the roster nicely, gives us a chance to just take good talent and not worry about position 

[Khyber53]

11 minutes ago, SOJA said:

which is why I'm happy Dan has filled out the roster nicely, gives us a chance to just take good talent and not worry about position 

This ^! 

[DaveThePanther2008]

5 hours ago, TD alt said:

"So much of what the Panthers are going to do next week isn't dictated by their preference, but by what happens above them. That's another benefit of not getting locked into need. For instance, if you're thinking you want a receiver, seeing five or six of them go off the board and reacting by taking the sixth or seventh off your list instead of the first (or second or third) something else isn't necessarily wise."

https://www.panthers.com/news/ask-the-old-guy-back-into-the-weeds-of-the-nfl-draft-bryce-young-charlotte-hornets-mock-draft

This is what some don't seem to get, I don't care how many times it is said: You're NOT going to draft an inferior person at one position, just because that position is perceived as, or is in fact, a bigger need. That would basically nullify, or at least lessen, the reason why you set yourself up via free agency to be able to take the BPA/BAP on the board in the first place. 

Yes, the process is complex, very much involved and ongoing, but the overall philosophy is not rocket science. You set yourself up in order not to be pigeonholed into taking a lower graded player at the expense of a higher graded one. This is why Morgan, Gantt and countless of others say the same thing. This is why it's just nonsensical to set yourself in a position where you don't have to, but then act like you have to come hell or high water: "Oh, we have to draft [whatever position], and we can't draft [this position]." 

I'm good with whatever they do, until proven otherwise, but even then, you have to be mature enough to know that drafting is an imperfect exercise, filled with hits and misses. And, you generally don't know if you've hit, and especially missed, right away. Moreover, like I've said before, sometimes two players--different positions or not--can both be hits on their respective teams, so in that sense, it's not purely about a right or wrong pick as much as it's about putting puzzle pieces together at the time the best way that you know how. 

At the end of the day, people are going to believe what they want to believe, but one thing that's true is that what the Panthers do regarding the draft is dependent upon what others do, and what others do can and does change things. That being the case, it's just another reason why you can't go in with tunnel vision. The thought of doing that is preposterous.

Well said.  Last year we blew so much smoke that everyone believed, or most everyone, believed we were going after Walker.  In the end we made the right pick.  I have zero expectations for Thursday because I honestly don't know where we are going.  I can say that whoever it is, it will be in the mold of who Morgan wants on this team. Smart, gitty, tough and a DAWG.  

[frankw]

We can wax poetic about needs BPA situational value philosophy and draft strategy. The onus is on the Panthers decision makers to prove they can consistently draft well. To this point they have simply not. Until then all this rhetoric like the Panthers are playing 4D chess is just hot air. Let's see them nail this draft and go from there.

[strato]

It will be pretty hard to equal the impact in the broad sense of immediate returns across the board, of last season. 
The higher the floor sits, the tougher it is to raise it. 
So in a sense last year was a lot easier than this year. 
 

We still have a few spots that are low hanging fruit.

I have looked at these WRs a little bit. If we can’t get the USC kid, what is the point of 1st round WR? They either don’t really have the hands, or they are just carbon of what we already have, I don’t see the attraction. It seems to me that a lot of the BPA people are all over WR, which I believe they see as a need. It is basically incognito need drafting unless you really get a big time guy. 

Edited Sunday at 12:09 AM by strato

[csx]

8 hours ago, TD alt said:

This is what some don't seem to get, I don't care how many times it is said: You're NOT going to draft an inferior person at one position, just because that position is perceived as, or is in fact, a bigger need. That would basically nullify, or at least lessen, the reason why you set yourself up via free agency to be able to take the BPA/BAP on the board in the first place. 

This happens nearly every time a team picks a QB in round 1. 

[csx]

You left off the beginning of that reply by Gantt.

 

 

Why the heck is there still an offensive lineman in the mock draft, Kenyon Sadiq or KC Concepcion, or Ahkeem Mesidor, all the way!!!! — Niko, Phoenix, AZ

 

Those are all valid thoughts, but so are all the tackles you keep seeing pop up in the mock drafts, and there's a reason for that.

 

Partially because that's a perennial need for good teams, no matter how good your starters are. And partially because there's a good amount of really good offensive linemen in this year's class.

 

For the Panthers in particular, there's actually a reasonable case for getting younger up front, and the temptation of a first-round tackle is real. Taylor Moton's still playing the kind of football that merited an extension last year, but he's 32. On the other side, you have Rasheed Walker and Ikem Ekwonu on one-year deals, and Ekwonu's also coming back from a torn patellar tendon. Even inside, Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis are in their prime years, but Hunt's turning 30 this year, and Lewis is 29.

 

So much of what the Panthers are going to do next week isn't dictated by their preference, but by what happens above them. That's another benefit of not getting locked into need. For instance, if you're thinking you want a receiver, seeing five or six of them go off the board and reacting by taking the sixth or seventh off your list instead of the first (or second or third) something else isn't necessarily wise

[csx]

Interesting to see other teams outlooks on the draft. To be taken with several large grains of salt.

Veach seems to suggest OT is the value at end of the first with WR being a better value in mid rounds.

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-draft/199047/pockets-value-brett-veach-talks-chiefs-draft

 

 

 

[SmokinwithWilly]

1 hour ago, csx said:

You left off the beginning of that reply by Gantt.

 

 

Why the heck is there still an offensive lineman in the mock draft, Kenyon Sadiq or KC Concepcion, or Ahkeem Mesidor, all the way!!!! — Niko, Phoenix, AZ

 

Those are all valid thoughts, but so are all the tackles you keep seeing pop up in the mock drafts, and there's a reason for that.

 

Partially because that's a perennial need for good teams, no matter how good your starters are. And partially because there's a good amount of really good offensive linemen in this year's class.

 

For the Panthers in particular, there's actually a reasonable case for getting younger up front, and the temptation of a first-round tackle is real. Taylor Moton's still playing the kind of football that merited an extension last year, but he's 32. On the other side, you have Rasheed Walker and Ikem Ekwonu on one-year deals, and Ekwonu's also coming back from a torn patellar tendon. Even inside, Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis are in their prime years, but Hunt's turning 30 this year, and Lewis is 29.

 

So much of what the Panthers are going to do next week isn't dictated by their preference, but by what happens above them. That's another benefit of not getting locked into need. For instance, if you're thinking you want a receiver, seeing five or six of them go off the board and reacting by taking the sixth or seventh off your list instead of the first (or second or third) something else isn't necessarily wise

This is what Fitts did. He panicked and ended up on the end of runs or just completely out of position. Reading the draft is a gift and not one he had ever been given. 

[TD alt]

2 hours ago, csx said:

You left off the beginning of that reply by Gantt.

 

 

Why the heck is there still an offensive lineman in the mock draft, Kenyon Sadiq or KC Concepcion, or Ahkeem Mesidor, all the way!!!! — Niko, Phoenix, AZ

 

Those are all valid thoughts, but so are all the tackles you keep seeing pop up in the mock drafts, and there's a reason for that.

 

Partially because that's a perennial need for good teams, no matter how good your starters are. And partially because there's a good amount of really good offensive linemen in this year's class.

 

For the Panthers in particular, there's actually a reasonable case for getting younger up front, and the temptation of a first-round tackle is real. Taylor Moton's still playing the kind of football that merited an extension last year, but he's 32. On the other side, you have Rasheed Walker and Ikem Ekwonu on one-year deals, and Ekwonu's also coming back from a torn patellar tendon. Even inside, Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis are in their prime years, but Hunt's turning 30 this year, and Lewis is 29.

 

So much of what the Panthers are going to do next week isn't dictated by their preference, but by what happens above them. That's another benefit of not getting locked into need. For instance, if you're thinking you want a receiver, seeing five or six of them go off the board and reacting by taking the sixth or seventh off your list instead of the first (or second or third) something else isn't necessarily wise

I mean, it's really not germaine to the ultimate point, which is what was quoted.

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, TD alt said:

I mean, it's really not germaine to the ultimate point, which is what was quoted.

The goddamn Germans got nothin' to do with it.

[TD alt]

3 hours ago, strato said:

It will be pretty hard to equal the impact in the broad sense of immediate returns across the board, of last season. 
The higher the floor sits, the tougher it is to raise it. 
So in a sense last year was a lot easier than this year. 
 

We still have a few spots that are low hanging fruit.

I have looked at these WRs a little bit. If we can’t get the USC kid, what is the point of 1st round WR? They either don’t really have the hands, or they are just carbon of what we already have, I don’t see the attraction. It seems to me that a lot of the BPA people are all over WR, which I believe they see as a need. It is basically incognito need drafting unless you really get a big time guy. 

BPA is based on the board, not the WR position. Some want to make it about WR because of their own notions, but it's about the board and whoever is at the top of it.

[Basbear]

On 4/18/2026 at 7:00 PM, frankw said:

We can wax poetic about needs BPA situational value philosophy and draft strategy. The onus is on the Panthers decision makers to prove they can consistently draft well. To this point they have simply not. Until then all this rhetoric like the Panthers are playing 4D chess is just hot air. Let's see them nail this draft and go from there.

QB room. I swear, if not for that dud, Id be OD'ing on hope.

Why not take TY Simpson at 19 and cancel the 5th year??? Itd make WWE history as the biggest heel turn. And fug the noise, its the right move. 

The team is set up for a QB on a rookie deal if you check the future cap stuff........

You drankin that frank???