LWOS on the FO's error--my word--on X...traits, timelines, Brazzell, & indications of improvement.

[MechaZain]

Don't forget that Bryce's dad campaigned for XL before the draft. You think the FO still trades up for him without that? I doubt it. 

And I've worn this tinfoil for awhile but I'm convinced they passed on McConkey because they saw him as redundant with Theilen on the roster. They weren't sure how much longer Theilen had, he wanted action, and they didn't want to risk a rookie eating into his touches. XL was the safer choice because he was a different sort of reciever and the preferred pick of Bryce's camp. Legette will forever be the scapegoat but I think those dummies chose what amounted to a two year rental of Old Man Theilen over Ladd.

[frankw]

9 hours ago, TD alt said:

Coddling and making moves that make sense are not the same thing. Having your finger on the pulse of your team, as opposed to just drafting people for measurables, is a good thing. 

The huddle has long discussed our propensity for overvaluing RAS over skill and that continued after Fitterer's exit. Anyone that has concerns about drafting for measurables in this particular instance needs to speak with Dan Morgan and Craig Young.

In terms of Legette I feel most people expected and were willing to give him time based on his one season of production. But the social media schmoozing the lazy route running the lack of basic focus on bringing down passes the poor decision making all around getting himself ejected in that preseason game last year etc. These issues that are hindering him from having even a basic significance to the offense level of impact can largely be corrected by him very quickly if he puts his head on straight and commits to his career.

[rebelrouser]

Its a good article about how pathetically bad our past drafts ('23 and '24) have been. Building the team in '23 since we weren't ready yet and taking your qb in '24 made so much more sense in hindsight. Ladd McConkey over XL is pretty much a given but not sure it does as much to change Bryce's trajectory as the author suggests.  As bad as '23 and '24 drafts were, the '25 and '26 really give me hope.  

[TD alt]

55 minutes ago, frankw said:

The huddle has long discussed our propensity for overvaluing RAS over skill and that continued after Fitterer's exit. Anyone that has concerns about drafting for measurables in this particular instance needs to speak with Dan Morgan and Craig Young.

In terms of Legette I feel most people expected and were willing to give him time based on his one season of production. But the social media schmoozing the lazy route running the lack of basic focus on bringing down passes the poor decision making all around getting himself ejected in that preseason game last year etc. These issues that are hindering him from having even a basic significance to the offense level of impact can largely be corrected by him very quickly if he puts his head on straight and commits to his career.

Well, that's the thing. Drafting players only for their physical measurables as you are suggesting only really happened during 2024, and X unfortunately has become the poster child for that. To be clear, it's not necessarily about drafting RAS over skill, but RAS over NFL-readiness and/or a solid body of work. Lots of players show skill in college, but those skills don't necessarily translate to the NFL for a multitude of reasons. But, getting back to the main point, to be clear, I believe that our FO is still enamored with physical gifts (who wouldn't be?), but now they're letting Dr. Eric Eager's proprietary system--his "secret sauce" prioritize the players that the Panthers draft, and it seems like it weighs not only a solid body of work, relative to a college career of course, but consistent gradual improvement as evidenced by production pretty highly. 

[strato]

5 hours ago, MechaZain said:

Don't forget that Bryce's dad campaigned for XL before the draft. You think the FO still trades up for him without that? I doubt it. 

And I've worn this tinfoil for awhile but I'm convinced they passed on McConkey because they saw him as redundant with Theilen on the roster. They weren't sure how much longer Theilen had, he wanted action, and they didn't want to risk a rookie eating into his touches. XL was the safer choice because he was a different sort of reciever and the preferred pick of Bryce's camp. Legette will forever be the scapegoat but I think those dummies chose what amounted to a two year rental of Old Man Theilen over Ladd.

I said the same thing.  That draft was all hands on deck make Bryce work. And it wasn’t about the future it was all about the 2024 season.  McConkey was seen as redundant due to AT. They thought they could use XL right away alongside AT. Again the mindset was we are running Chinese fire drill with the main consideration being prop up Bryce Young.  At all costs.  
It makes sense if you accept that it was a instant gratification thing based around Bryce. Which I totally do.  

Edited yesterday at 06:09 PM by strato

[jfra78]

The hate for XL is unreal.  Better ball placement would fix some of his issues

[Basbear]

19 hours ago, AceMan said:

Would be crazy if XL and Jonathan Brooks both breakout this upcoming season.

I feel.. your choice of words are ...........

 

Face the fact Kermit malhomes has already won the CBPOY award. 

 

I don't care, Im still in the true belief that brooks will be a great #2 and get numbers that help team wins. Brooks being a great catcher would open more lanes for growth of this weak offense too. 

Edited 21 hours ago by Basbear

[Tomcatn]

4 hours ago, jfra78 said:

The hate for XL is unreal.  Better ball placement would fix some of his issues

Keeping his feet in bounds will help too.

[PootieNunu]

5 hours ago, jfra78 said:

The hate for XL is unreal.  Better ball placement would fix some of his issues

How dare he not show out with a QB who only passes for over 175 yards in half of his starts. 

[strato]

XL earned his criticism but some people just do not like him. 
I won’t defend him other than to say he isn’t alone in his empty headed short circuit moments. 

[AggieLean]

On 5/31/2026 at 11:36 PM, csx said:

He needs to drop that fake accent and get to work. He didn't talk like that in interviews from high-school or early college.

He’s definitely exaggerating it

[csx]

1 hour ago, AggieLean said:

He’s definitely exaggerating it

A Lil bit

https://youtu.be/Li7w0fqmks4?si=aID8kx4XgtcTqp__