A look at the team after the draft and udfa signings...

[KillerKat]

My projection. I think at WR its time to go with youth. This means Moore should be the odd man out. Horn can return both punts and kicks and Tremayne is a better WR than Moore. XL gets one more year to prove himself, although I could see a trade in the future which would mean Moore could stay.

For OL, I would like us to bring back Brady if we can. The RBs, Trevor can return both punts and kicks too. With the uncertainty of Brooks and Dillon, its hard to choose either one. I think the team would like for Brooks to have a breakout season to clear any uncertainty that he deserves a spot. For now, I have them both even and on the team.

DL looks solid as well as OLB. Watch out for the UDFA of Aaron Hall and Isaiah Smith at OLB. They look promising and could knock someone off the team. ILB is still the biggest weakness on the team. We need to upgrade that any means necessary. CB is strong and Im praying to all the Gods that Wheatley beats out Scott at FS. 

OFFENSE:
WR: Tetairoa McMillan - *Chris Brazzell II* - Brycen Tremayne
TE: Tommy Tremble - James Mitchell
LT: #Rasheed Walker# - *Monroe Freeling*
LG: Damien Lewis
C- #Luke Fortner# - *Sam Hecht*
RG: Robert Hunt - #Saahdiq Charles#
RT: Taylor Moton - #Stone Forsythe#
TE: Ja`Tavion Sanders - Mitchell Evans
WR: Xavier Legette - Jalen Coker - Jimmy Horn Jr.
QB: Bryce Young - #Kenny Pickett#
RB: Chuba Hubbard - Trevor Etienne - #AJ Dillon# - Jonathon Brooks

DEFENSE:
LE: Tershawn Wharton - Bobby Brown III 
NT: *Lee Hunter* - Cam Jackson
RE: Derrick Brown - LaBryan Ray
LOLB: Nic Scourton - Patrick Jones II 
LILB: Trevin Wallace - Bam Martin-Scott - *Jackson Kuwatch*
RILB: #Devin Lloyd# - Claudin Cherrelus 
ROLB: #Jaelen Phillips# - Princely Umanmielen
LCB: Jaycee Horn - Akayleb Evans
RCB: Mike Jackson - *Will Lee III* - Chau Smith-Wade
SS: Tre`von Moehrig - Lathan Ransom
FS:  Nick Scott - *Zakee Wheatley* - Demani Richardson 

SPECIAL TEAMS:
K/KO: Ryan Fitzgerald
P/H: Sam Martin
KR: Trevor Etienne - Jimmy Horn Jr.
PR: Trevor Etienne - Jimmy Horn Jr.
LS: J.J. Jansen 

* = Draft Pick
# = Free Agent / Trade
() = Undrafted Free Agent
 

[jfra78]

Not sure we go 4 RBs, we'll see

[Byrdman4real]

Coker is over Legette at WR stated by Canales 

[Sup]

I feel pretty good about this roster. QB is the weak point, but that just is what it is at this point.

[Byrdman4real]

7 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Not sure we go 4 RBs, we'll see

Probably will keep 7 WRs and 3 RBs

[jfra78]

7 minutes ago, Byrdman4real said:

Probably will keep 7 WRs and 3 RBs

Thats what I'm thinking or even a 3rd QB

[MHS831]

Here is how Morgan is strategic-He re-signs Scott because he was not going S in round 1--he had the chance, and he did not.  He saw the top of the draft at T and knew none of them would be ready to start day 1, so he signs a veteran to a one-year deal, giving his tackle selection a chance to learn and prepare for what might be LT or RT.  Those two moves suggested, perhaps ironically because they contradict each other, what he was going to do, based on the talent pool.  He never brought in a Robinson replacement at DE/NT, and then moves up to draft one.  

I almost wonder if the intent was to draft DT/DE all along at some point, maybe with a trade back, but then Freeling dropped to them.  

Of course, we felt that they were looking WR, and wonder if the plan was to draft a WR in round 2 if you traded back in round 1.  However, when Freeling was there, the trade back fell apart.  Then we traded up for Hunter.  We could stick with XL and hope Metchie steps up, so we sat still in round three and took Brazell II, a 1000 yard speedster and perfect Z WR.  What a break.

At that time, CB and Center were our biggest needs, and with several possible centers on the board and a good fit for our defense at CB, we grabbed Will Lee III.  Lee and Thornton have people in front of them, but I think Morgan knew we needed a guy who can play the outside and press--and probably step in as Jackson's replacement in 2027.    After making trades to get back into the fifth round, where we grabbed one of the best centers in the draft.  This is significant because we signed Fortner to a one-year deal; maybe Morgan saw what some of us saw--the center position is strong in this draft--on day 3, and day 3 players need a year, in most cases. 

Moments later, a safety they had been talking to whose skill set matched what we are looking for in a FS.  As stated, Scott was signed,  but the fact that the Panthers were talking to Wheatley and not Theiemann means that they might have known they were not going FS early, but would need a developmental FS later--which explains why we signed Scott. 

So if you pay attention to the one-year, vet deals, you can tell where we planned to sign later-round, developmental players. 

What positions did we draft early that did not have 1-year veterans signed in front of them:  DL (Hunter) and WR (I don't count Metchie because I count starting-level players).

I would not be surprised to learn later that the plan was DT and WR in rounds 1 and 2--then Freeling fell.  Notice that Freeling--from Mt Pleasant SC, did not come in for a visit.  Most of the other OT candidates had short arms or were certain to be gone. I don't think Freeling was in their plans.  I think a trade back and Hunter and maybe Boston was the vision.  I am guessing that CB was also high on their list.

 

So in this draft, we got 

[Gapanthersfan]

I 100% think they did not expect Freeling to be available, but then he was. When your starting LT suffers a potential career ending injury and a complete specimen like Freeling is there… only a fool would pass on him. 

[frankw]

59 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

KR: Trevor Etienne
PR: Trevor Etienne

[strato]

3 minutes ago, Gapanthersfan said:

I 100% think they did not expect Freeling to be available, but then he was. When your starting LT suffers a potential career ending injury and a complete specimen like Freeling is there… only a fool would pass on him. 

It is due diligence at that point. Irresponsible not to take him. 
Crossing my fingers on this one, he has everything you look for except experience.  

[Soul Rebel]

Let's put a cherry on top of this offseason...

[Hugo]

I have a feeling that Isaiah Simmons is gonna play way more than we think. He has a chance to beat out Trevin Wallace for the starting LB role next to Lloyd.

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

We’re deep at most positions except ILB and OG. All we would need to do is sign a vet at these positions to add depth. 

[XClown1986]

22 minutes ago, Hugo said:

I have a feeling that Isaiah Simmons is gonna play way more than we think. He has a chance to beat out Trevin Wallace for the starting LB role next to Lloyd.

Except we have him playing safety, so there's that.