hepcat

Are these contracts pre-drafted? Like if he signs an undrafted FA contract are all the stipulations and pay already decided by the rookie wage scale? Or can the Panthers juice it up with incentives and stuff?

I understand not wanting to walk. It's not his "class". He doesn't get to be there with his teammates, classmates, from when he was a full time student there. Wouldn't feel the same.

Just as a franchise...hard to imagine, even if everything is cool and he's cleared, to sign a guy that was even remotely tied to killing a pregnant woman. I think it's Saints or Cowboys for Collins.

Been a Panthers fan long enough to know this ain't the kind of thing they usually do

"Hands > Jumping ability, blocking ability, size, speed and everything else you can think of" You were saying?

If this was true, Jason Avant would still be a Panther....

so true....

Agree with Atlanta. New coach, new defensive talent, dangerous offense especially if they focus on the run game again. New Orleans is ripe to implode and Tampa is probably 2 seasons away until Winston develops more.

I wouldn't rule it out but I don't think the Panthers will make this move. For some reason I see him signing with the Cowboys.

Bersin was an alright receiver but I can't see him making the team with KB, Funchess, Brown, Ginn, Cotchery, and Boykin in front of him. Unless they consider Funchess a TE ala Jimmy Graham, Bersin won't make the final 53, it's a near certainty in the numbers game. Rooting for my fellow Latin alum but I'd rather watch the Panthers win....

Boxing is dead. That fight was horrible. It might have been fixed. All I know is Mayweather and Pacquiao made hundreds of millions of dollars off that fight when there are people starving all over the world. fuging sucks.

I don't think a former football player who watched all of Texas State's football games opinion on one of their players is "beyond irrelevant". He watched Mayo play more than anyone else here...

You realize I live in Austin and San Marcos is just down the road...right?

Barner isn't even that big of a miss - Edmund Kugbila is his biggest whiff. Spending a 4th rounder on a guy that won't even see the field in the NFL unless a miracle happens. Mayo was projected to go undrafted. I have a friend who goes to and writes a blog for Texas State sports and he was surprised Mayo was drafted. He was expecting him to be on a roster during training camp but thinks he could do well on the Panthers because they already have such good linebackers it was a good situation for him. Sure I don't know if he would have gone undrafted I just think they could have gotten more value out of that spot, but surely Gettleman knows a ton of poo I don't. Doesn't mean I have to be a fan of the pick, I think the rest of the draft was solid.

The rub is he could have almost certainly been signed as an undrafted FA, much like Edmund Kugbila two years ago. He might turn out to be a fine player but reaching for small school players has almost never worked out for the Panthers.

Round 1, Pick 25: LB Shaq Thompson (Washington). GRADE: B+ I was lukewarm on this pick at first but after watching some game footage and learning more about Thompson, I think it's a solid pick especially for the long term. Super athletic guy with a ton of potential. Round 2, Pick 42: WR Devin Funchess (Michigan). GRADE: B- Trading up to grab this guy seemed a little desperate, and Gettleman even admitted it. "The board was being picked clean." Still, this is another super athletic receiver with high-upside. The Panthers have been making a statement about what they think about Cam's accuracy, so they go find big receivers who can go GET the ball. Wise pick to fit Cam's unique skillset. Round 4, Pick 102. OT/OG Daryl Williams (Oklahoma). GRADE: A Big fan of this pick, not just because it's a badly needed tackle on the Panthers shaky O-Line, but because this guy plays mean. Gettleman adds a potential mauling RT to an improving offensive line that suddenly has some decent depth. This could be the best pick of the draft for the Panthers. Round 5, Pick 169. LB David Mayo (Texas State). GRADE: D- The only reason I give this pick a D- instead of an F is I trust Gettleman's scouting and process. But I'm left scratching my head at this one like the rest of the Panthers fans out there. This is a player that would have almost certainly been available as a free agent after the draft. Reminds me far too much of Edmund Kugbila, reaching for a small school player that over performed against lesser competition. Here's hoping I'm wrong but I am not a fan of this pick. Round 5, Pick 169. RB Cameron Artis-Payne (Auburn). GRADE: B+ Obvious RB pick all Panthers fans knew was coming. Solid pick for a very productive one year Division I player. Had a phenomenal year at Auburn and Cam has to be happy to be handing off the ball to a fellow War Eagle. Another pick that could prove a steal if he beats out Fozzy for the backup RB job, but let's not get our hopes up over a 5th round pick. Still I have high hopes for the guy and this could be another huge value pick along with Daryl Williams. Overall Grade: B Aside from the Mayo pick, this is a very solid draft class. Shaq Thompson will be a Panther for the next decade eventually succeeding Thomas Davis. Funchess could be the long awaited #2 WR the Panthers have lacked since Moose retired. Daryl Williams has the potential to be a road-grading RT to open up the running game. Artis-Payne could be the RB busting through the holes opened up by Williams. David Mayo....I'm hoping you make the roster and prove me wrong. Overall I think it's a solid haul that addresses some obvious holes, but not as good as the 2014 draft which could go down as one of the best in Panthers history.

Wikipedia says he turns 23 in June, not sure which is correct.

Probably the only time I'll ever agree with Prisco about anything. I trust Dave but man I think this was a waste of a pick. Why do you reach for small school players that would have easily been available as an UDFA???? Why?!?!

I hope so but man this looks straight up like another Kugbila pick. WAY over-reaching for a small school player that would have been available as an UDFA. Still a ton of good DT's on the board and depth is an issue there.

With Michael Bennett on the board, Cole and Dwan Edwards both in their mid 30's, you'd think a DT would be a solid depth selection after already selecting a LB. I really hope Dave knows what he's doing here but Mayo would have been available after the draft.

RB pick we all knew was coming. Direct competition for Fozzy. No brainer selection. Still scratching my head at the LB pick though.

Going to call this now, that's a Kugbila pick. He was going to be available as an UDFA and probably won't ever see the field. Obviously I could be wrong but this is the first pick where I'm left scratching my head. Another LB?? Alright Dave I know you know something I don't but, really?

Really three spots they can go: RB, CB, or D-Line. Wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a safety though

SAY GOODBYE TO NATE CHANDLER!

Big difference for Funchess from Kelvin is he won't be relied on to be the primary target. Let's face it, Cam force fed the ball to Benjamin a lot of the time because he didn't have a lot else to work with. Also, Benjamin ended up with inflated stats partly because of some blowouts the Panthers were involved in. My predictions for Fuhchess are a reasonable 40 catches for 500 yards, 5 TDs, with some spectacular catches. But, I had similar predictions for Benjamin so I hope I'm off.