Ikem

[csx]

Could he become our RT in next few years? 

[tukafan21]

I'm more intrigued at him becoming our future LG.

There were some people who thought he was better suited to be a guard in the NFL to begin with.  Then if Freeling ends up being a legit LT, moving Ickey to LG could give us an incredibly strong left side of our OL for years to come.

Ickey has only played on the Left side his whole career, both in college and the NFL, so I just wonder if keeping him on the left side, even if shifting inside, would be better than putting him outside on the right side.

Just hoping him growing up a Panthers fan will make him want to stay here and move positions than enter FA so he can stay at LT somewhere else, particularly since LT is the big money position on the OL, so he likely can get paid more by someone else to play LT than play LG or RT here for us.

Edited 19 hours ago by tukafan21

[PleaseCutStewart]

I'm more curious if he can recover from his injury and still be a starting caliber olineman

[Pejorative Miscreant]

40 minutes ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

I'm more curious if he can recover from his injury and still be a starting caliber olineman

[The Third Reich]

Canales was asked about Freeling at OTAs getting beat by Princely and Scourton.  He basically described the learning curve, and it sounds as if Freeling has a lot to learn before taking the job.  Walker gives us time.  Having said that, Motown talks like he has a few (2-3?) years left---and I would love to see it.  

If you look at the contracts, It is a good bet that Hunt and Lewis are extended and given some guaranteed $$$ to lower the cap hit.  Lewis is about 29 and Hunt is 30, I believe.  That gives us about a 3-year window to start grooming their replacements.  Ickey seems to be the person who could be left without furniture in the musical chairs game.  I would move him to guard and use him like a Travelle Wharton--we have a good problem--we could have six or seven starting OL on the roster.  Of course, that won't last long.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

3 hours ago, tukafan21 said:

I'm more intrigued at him becoming our future LG.

There were some people who thought he was better suited to be a guard in the NFL to begin with.  Then if Freeling ends up being a legit LT, moving Ickey to LG could give us an incredibly strong left side of our OL for years to come.

Ickey has only played on the Left side his whole career, both in college and the NFL, so I just wonder if keeping him on the left side, even if shifting inside, would be better than putting him outside on the right side.

Just hoping him growing up a Panthers fan will make him want to stay here and move positions than enter FA so he can stay at LT somewhere else, particularly since LT is the big money position on the OL, so he likely can get paid more by someone else to play LT than play LG or RT here for us.

If hypothetically, Ickey comes fully healthy, would he be willing to give up left tackle money for left guard money? In the Panthers case, moving Ickey LG or RT would be in our best interest and as it gives us our best starting offensive lineman combination.

However, Im sure there's another team that would be desperate and willing to dish out top dollars for Ickey to have him come play left tackle for them. In that case, Ickey would just leave for that team instead.

[The Third Reich]

5 hours ago, Dave Gettleman's Shorts said:

If hypothetically, Ickey comes fully healthy, would he be willing to give up left tackle money for left guard money? In the Panthers case, moving Ickey LG or RT would be in our best interest and as it gives us our best starting offensive lineman combination.

However, Im sure there's another team that would be desperate and willing to dish out top dollars for Ickey to have him come play left tackle for them. In that case, Ickey would just leave for that team instead.

Serious question:  Why LG and not RG?  There may be something I do not know, but Hunt's contract is huge and he could be let go after this season (post june 1 cut) and it would save the Panthers a ton of money.  Extending him would be paying a G who is in his mid 30s guaranteed money (and I do not see that as a terrible thing).  So if we release him at age 31, we save $19m.  I like him, but at 31, will he be worth the mega contract?  

LG Damien Lewis has actually outperformed Hunt and he is a year younger.  He would also save less vs. the cap and leave less in the dead cap pool.  While his current contract expires after the 2027 season, he is a better prospect (IMO) to extend because only 50% of his current contract was guaranteed.  Here are his contract numbers.  

Now, getting to Ickey--he could want LT money if he is offered a second contract.  If we pay him LT money to play either G positions, we are likely overpaying.  Secondly, the injury he suffered could be one that limits his productivity.  Ickey was improving, but he was an average LT.  The only way I re-sign Ickey is to have him accept a G contract and make a lot of it incentive based.  

 

I feel like I am missing something, but in my mind, Ickey was always a guard if you consider the fact that he is an average OT and would be a great G.  Is that still the case (injury)?

[PleaseCutStewart]

10 hours ago, The Third Reich said:

Canales was asked about Freeling at OTAs getting beat by Princely and Scourton.  He basically described the learning curve, and it sounds as if Freeling has a lot to learn before taking the job.  Walker gives us time.  Having said that, Motown talks like he has a few (2-3?) years left---and I would love to see it.  

If you look at the contracts, It is a good bet that Hunt and Lewis are extended and given some guaranteed $$$ to lower the cap hit.  Lewis is about 29 and Hunt is 30, I believe.  That gives us about a 3-year window to start grooming their replacements.  Ickey seems to be the person who could be left without furniture in the musical chairs game.  I would move him to guard and use him like a Travelle Wharton--we have a good problem--we could have six or seven starting OL on the roster.  Of course, that won't last long.

Not surprised - he definitely was raw technique wise and was dominant in college because of his freak athleticism for a tackle. That same advantage goes away against NFL edges without technique.

The plan was always Walker to play LT this year, gauge how well Icky comes back from his gruesome injury, and then figure out if Freeling will be ready to start by year 2.

Edited 6 hours ago by PleaseCutStewart

[csx]

13 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

I'm more curious if he can recover from his injury and still be a starting caliber olineman

Well that's what Im asking.

[csx]

2 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

Not surprised - he definitely was raw technique wise and was dominant in college because of his freak athleticism for a tackle. That same advantage goes away against NFL edges without technique.

The plan was always Walker to play LT this year, gauge how well Icky comes back from his gruesome injury, and then figure out if Freeling will be ready to start by year 2.

The plan is they will complete.

[strato]

I don’t think we are going to know anything much that is solid about Icky for while.   
 

Freeling is young. I wonder if he is going to get any consideration anywhere other than left tackle.   

[Davidson Deac II]

13 hours ago, Dave Gettleman's Shorts said:

If hypothetically, Ickey comes fully healthy, would he be willing to give up left tackle money for left guard money? In the Panthers case, moving Ickey LG or RT would be in our best interest and as it gives us our best starting offensive lineman combination.

However, Im sure there's another team that would be desperate and willing to dish out top dollars for Ickey to have him come play left tackle for them. In that case, Ickey would just leave for that team instead.

Imo, its unlikely he comes back "fully" healthy this year.  More than likely, if he recovers fully, it will be in 2027.  And he is not under contract with us in 2027.

If I am correct, then there are several questions.

1.  Would would we play a less than 100% Ikem at guard or rt?  Or would we just sit him for the year? 

2.  If we sat him for a year, would we be willing to extend his contract for another year, or longer so that we get some benefit?

3.  If we play him some, and he is ok, but not great, would some other team be willing to step up and pay him lt money on the hope that he eventually fully recovers.

Lots of questions, and fwiw, he seems like a genuinely good guy, so it sucks that we are having this conversation.

 

[Jon Snow]

25 minutes ago, strato said:

I don’t think we are going to know anything much that is solid about Icky for while.   
 

Freeling is young. I wonder if he is going to get any consideration anywhere other than left tackle.   

They have been giving him a lot of snaps at RT to give TMo some relief in camp. I think that will continue for the time being.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

1 hour ago, Davidson Deac II said:

Imo, its unlikely he comes back "fully" healthy this year.  More than likely, if he recovers fully, it will be in 2027.  And he is not under contract with us in 2027.

If I am correct, then there are several questions.

1.  Would would we play a less than 100% Ikem at guard or rt?  Or would we just sit him for the year? 

2.  If we sat him for a year, would we be willing to extend his contract for another year, or longer so that we get some benefit?

3.  If we play him some, and he is ok, but not great, would some other team be willing to step up and pay him lt money on the hope that he eventually fully recovers.

Lots of questions, and fwiw, he seems like a genuinely good guy, so it sucks that we are having this conversation.

 

That's the current dilemma on both parties at the moment.

If Ickey comes back too soon, he won't be 100% and his play will suffer. Leading to a potential decrease in his contract. If Ickey is unable to play and sits the entire 2026 season, his contract will still take the same hit since it tells all 32 team that he is not fully recovered.

On the Panthers side, I'm sure they would want to keep Ickey if he is fully recovered but he is obviously in a contract year. They don't want to re-sign him to a massive deal since it be too risky and they know if Ickey is able to return to form. 

Best case scenario, the Panthers wants to offer Ickey a 1-2 year heavily incentive based prove it deal. However, Ickey would most likely decline the offer and test the market as  another team can come in and offer Ickey a better deal if they are desperate enough for O-line help.