PanthersNCSU

This is the one pick that I might be most against. I've cooled on Jalon Walker after listening to too many podcasts and have my hopes up for Graham now, but Stewart at 8, or even in the teens after a trade down, and I'm not thrilled.

I do think there's some truth to this. If there's not a big gap between guys you have ranked 8th to 80th, why not add "something". Granted, I don't want to add crap for the sake of adding crap, but might be the FO's MO here in a bad draft and just needing to build depth and hopefully get lucky on a starter or two. Also why I've gone more towards position value be damned to a certain extent. If Warren is a blue chip guy for instance...I'd rather take the blue chip guy at TE than a DE that some teams think is a 1st rounder, others think is a 2nd rounder, etc. It's a weird draft, and I don't think a lot of the age old parameters necessarily work when looking at it.

This is my biggest concern. Georgia guys can take a year or two to start realizing their potential in the NFL it seems like. Add in Evero essentially coaching for his job, and I'm hesitant on the impact any rookie makes on defense this year not named Carter, Hunter, or Graham. That said...I want Walker unless Graham falls. I think Walker is clearly a starter and difference maker, but will Evero play him how he needs to be played? Or will he square peg and round hole it to death sticking to his guns knowing his job is on the line?

Ding ding ding. The state of LT's is bad...and getting worse. Only a few colleges could probably be trusted to coach up a LT, and now with NIL/transfer portal causing so many moves? Forget about it. If you even have an average LT at this point, I think you hold on for dear life.

My high school played (got killed by) Albemarle around TA's time...nice to randomly read the story of what we always assumed. EJ Abrams Ward was another name a decade later from Thomasville who seems like he was in the same boat. One of the best athletes I ever played against, poof done because of bad choices and continued to make them once he flamed out. Small town NC and football/basketball stardom is a helluva slippery slope.

I think TMac is a lot more of an option than we believe (or want to believe). Walker or Graham are my guys at this point, but if they're both gone all bets are off.

Twitter sources, but supposedly the Rams want him. He might actually go Round 1.

Some of Mike Kaye's recent tweets revolve around TMac. Conspiracy part of me thinks he's dropping some hints.

He was a good ST player and well liked, so sucks to lose him. But at the same time...that's all he was. If that's your only role and you're not making 2-3 standout ST plays a year, you're replaceable. I won't miss his penalties or near penalties for being a dumbass.

Kinda my thoughts too. He may have a 1st round promise, but if not, a Day 2 promise. Either way, a cool experience to go as long as you're not expecting to go early. Show up night one, have fun, sit back knowing you're not getting drafted, don't do anything to become a meme, and then get all the TV coverage to help build your brand as an underdog.

I think Sanders goes before our pick, but that is an interesting little nugget. For that matter, I also think Dart goes a lot higher than many think, and maybe someone wants ahead of the Saints for him just the same. The Dolphins (Tua's contract, though) and Colts are the only two *close* to us that could jump up IMO. Don't think I love going all the way to 21 to the Steelers pick. Seems like teams 17-32 (except the Steelers) have their guy now (shocking, good teams have a good QB). A trade down with a QB needy team could happen, but don't know if it materializes unless there's a Jordan Love/Aaron Rodgers surprise out there.

I think we might look at Isiah Bond in the 2nd/3rd. Speed/deep play threat, Texas connection which we may like, and a project? He's the perfect Panthers pick.

25 picks, to cut 15 of them. Peak offseason content, just needed some uniform talk.

IIRC, it was basically down to him and DB in 2020. New regime and all, but I'd imagine us not showing interest yet means we're not interested.

Probable best case this year is 9-10 wins. Worst case is Bryce's wheels fall off, and we're number 1 pick territory. 6.5 sounds about right.