Rookie Mini Camp

[Soul Rebel]

1 hour ago, strato said:

btw we will probably see a thread or should have one but Freeling is signed. 

20.1 mil 4 years of course 

11 mil guaranteed.  I mean his whole contract is less than a year of Icky and also two other OL we have under contract  

I am pleased with this, if he can perform   

 

If Freeling & Hecht can step in for the final 7 or 8 games as a starter and look the part, our OL is in good shape. Moton's salary is what it is, but I'm sure we're eyeing a day 2 replacement in next year's draft. Maybe Icky, but I could see having 3/5 of our OL on rookie deals when the 2027 season starts. 

Hunt comes off in '28 (if not sooner) and we're in business.

[Basbear]

5 hours ago, Soul Rebel said:

If Freeling & Hecht can step in for the final 7 or 8 games as a starter and look the part, our OL is in good shape. Moton's salary is what it is, but I'm sure we're eyeing a day 2 replacement in next year's draft. Maybe Icky, but I could see having 3/5 of our OL on rookie deals when the 2027 season starts. 

Hunt comes off in '28 (if not sooner) and we're in business.

Motown let on like he'd like to play at least another 5 years in his presser. I fell he was truthful and us fans over did his knee. The guy started like 108 starts in a row and only missed like 2 games over each of the past years. 

I think as long as the team agrees with his value that Motown has, he will sign another contract extension to push the void years into the 2030s. 

OLmen can play at high levels up til 40. Trent williams is doing it, Richie Incognito leftd and came back to play until he hit 38. Lane Johnson is still playing at a top level while 38. You member Greg Van Roten, he's somehow still playing at 36 and he started here after being a substitute teacher years before. If you are able to get over the 32 year bump, its possible to reach 38 with luck. Colleges do a poor job of preparing new OLmen, many times that vet is better.  

Rams were begging Andrew Whitworth to come back while he was 39, if you got the genes, luck and still willing to put in the hard work....it is possible to play until 38 as a OLmen*starting level*

[strato]

13 minutes ago, Basbear said:

Motown let on like he'd like to play at least another 5 years in his presser. I fell he was truthful and us fans over did his knee. The guy started like 108 starts in a row and only missed like 2 games over each of the past years. 

I think as long as the team agrees with his value that Motown has, he will sign another contract extension to push the void years into the 2030s. 

OLmen can play at high levels up til 40. Trent williams is doing it, Richie Incognito leftd and came back to play until he hit 38. Lane Johnson is still playing at a top level while 38. You member Greg Van Roten, he's somehow still playing at 36 and he started here after being a substitute teacher years before. If you are able to get over the 32 year bump, its possible to reach 38 with luck. Colleges do a poor job of preparing new OLmen, many times that vet is better.  

Rams were begging Andrew Whitworth to come back while he was 39, if you got the genes, luck and still willing to put in the hard work....it is possible to play until 38 as a OLmen*starting level*

I appreciate TMo, he has been a rock. Plug and play, set and forget. But there are stories that they ice his knees or knee in game when he goes to the sidelines. If it is that bad that is pretty rough and it probably won’t get better with age and more wear. 
 

 You want to pay him, and commit that money, I shouldn’t object. But let’s at least roll him over a year at a time.  He isn’t a particularly good long term gamble. 

Edited 16 hours ago by strato

[Jai.]

Man, I havent posted in a while, happy to see the forum is alive and well!  Really excited about this upcoming season, and this draft class!  Lee Hunter will be an instant fan favorite, i might go ahead and purchase his jersey.  Will be interesting to see what we do at Receiver, a lot of talent and a lot of bodies, does XL get traded, or do they give him a shot this season to see what he has?

[Basbear]

1 minute ago, strato said:

I appreciate TMo, he has been a rock. Plug and play, set and forget. But there are stories that they ice his knees or knee in game when he goes to the sidelines. If it is that bad that is pretty rough and it probably won’t get better. You want to pay him, and commit that money, let’s at least roll him over a year at a time.  He isn’t a particularly good long term gamble. 

I honestly thought he would not make it this far, but he's a pure pro that's remained in the top half of RTs. If panthers agree that's worth 20,000,000 why not?

It is full boat with the Icky, Walker, Motown, and Freelings...... The current best I see- Freelings is the LT of now and future. Motown stays another 5. Icky either moves to OG after Lewis or hunt is cut(but why?!?!). Walker is wildcard and he can not sit this season, so he's got to be traded at some point this season. LT has the same injuries as QBs in TC, but the main issue is the league put him at a 4 million value....... its a rough sell and panthers will have dead cap in any trade (around 2-3 mill). I think at the end, Icky walks...

Dan is holding 4 of kind, in a game in which 16 Gms are wanting 1 of those. It mainly falls on freeling, if proves to the coaching staff he can play 17+ games.....You almost have to trade Walker or he'd be the largest cancer since "choosen" Anderson....

[strato]

9 minutes ago, Basbear said:

I honestly thought he would not make it this far, but he's a pure pro that's remained in the top half of RTs. If panthers agree that's worth 20,000,000 why not?

It is full boat with the Icky, Walker, Motown, and Freelings...... The current best I see- Freelings is the LT of now and future. Motown stays another 5. Icky either moves to OG after Lewis or hunt is cut(but why?!?!). Walker is wildcard and he can not sit this season, so he's got to be traded at some point this season. LT has the same injuries as QBs in TC, but the main issue is the league put him at a 4 million value....... its a rough sell and panthers will have dead cap in any trade (around 2-3 mill). I think at the end, Icky walks...

Dan is holding 4 of kind, in a game in which 16 Gms are wanting 1 of those. It mainly falls on freeling, if proves to the coaching staff he can play 17+ games.....You almost have to trade Walker or he'd be the largest cancer since "choosen" Anderson....

Walker likely depends on a couple of things. What exactly did Dan promise him, to start with. 
How much other interest he actually had for a starter job at high pay is another question. It isn’t outside the realm of possibility that he could stay on as a swing tackle waiting to take Moton’s spot when it opens. 
 

I can’t get myself to consider Icky as a viable anything until we see him back on the field.  
 

Hunt seems to be a team player and good guy but I don’t think he is worth what he is being paid. I have him tentatively earmarked for cap causality in the near future. 
 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by strato

[rebelrouser]

Moton's knees were an issue before last season. He will be 32 before the season starts and gets 14.2M in '26 and 21.5M for '27 (not guaranteed). LT Icky and Rasheed Walker are signed through '26 and Freeling through '30 (option); LG Lewis signed through '28, C Fortner through '26 and Hecht through '29; RG Hunt through '28, RG Moton through '27.  They did a good job shoring up that oline.  We can have a starting oline of: LT Freeiling, LG Lewis, C Hecht, RG Hunt, and RT Moton pretty much locked up through the '27 season (will just take a Moton option to do). That's good because we need to be ready to pull the trigger with next year's QB class.  

[strato]

14 minutes ago, rebelrouser said:

we need to be ready to pull the trigger with next year's QB class.  

That is a big reason why getting LT covered this year was such a big deal. We need to be free to use that 1st next year on whatever, not be stuck need8ng a T And a QB.  

[bythenbrs]

4 hours ago, strato said:

Walker likely depends on a couple of things. What exactly did Dan promise him, to start with. 
How much other interest he actually had for a starter job at high pay is another question. It isn’t outside the realm of possibility that he could stay on as a swing tackle waiting to take Moton’s spot when it opens. 
 

I can’t get myself to consider Icky as a viable anything until we see him back on the field.  
 

Hunt seems to be a team player and good guy but I don’t think he is worth what he is being paid. I have him tentatively earmarked for cap causality in the near future. 
 

 

You didn’t mention Lewis but, IMO he earned his pay this past season, easily.  Hunt has the better overall league reputation but I’d pound the table to keep Lewis beside rookie or second year Freeling, to help his transition.  YMMV.

Edited 11 hours ago by bythenbrs

[strato]

16 minutes ago, bythenbrs said:

You didn’t mention Lewis but, IMO he earned his pay this past season, easily.  Hunt has the better overall league reputation but I’d pound the table to keep Lewis beside rookie or second year Freeling, to help his transition.  YMMV.

Yeah. I didn’t mention him because his money isn’t outrageous.  He is good value compared to Hunt.  Trim Hunts money and maybe even Moton’s money, owe have an affordable OL. 

 

2027 ….. Left to right rookie deal at LT l 50 mil at G 5th round rookie deal at C. Then see about that right side. Might be able to draft a big old tackle to play LG. Maybe cheaper post injury Icky fits. That makes Moton the only  20 million dollar dude.  Whatever you end up doing there.  

Edited 11 hours ago by strato

[csx]

14 hours ago, Basbear said:

Motown let on like he'd like to play at least another 5 years in his presser. I fell he was truthful and us fans over did his knee. The guy started like 108 starts in a row and only missed like 2 games over each of the past years. 

I think as long as the team agrees with his value that Motown has, he will sign another contract extension to push the void years into the 2030s. 

OLmen can play at high levels up til 40. Trent williams is doing it, Richie Incognito leftd and came back to play until he hit 38. Lane Johnson is still playing at a top level while 38. You member Greg Van Roten, he's somehow still playing at 36 and he started here after being a substitute teacher years before. If you are able to get over the 32 year bump, its possible to reach 38 with luck. Colleges do a poor job of preparing new OLmen, many times that vet is better.  

Rams were begging Andrew Whitworth to come back while he was 39, if you got the genes, luck and still willing to put in the hard work....it is possible to play until 38 as a OLmen*starting level*

I too would prefer to be 30 forever 

Edited 1 hour ago by csx