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TheSpecialJuan

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Everything posted by TheSpecialJuan

  1. Per Joe Person - Randy Gregory or Jerry Hughes could be other options
  2. Saw this last week when it 1st came out it's terrific an absolute must watch
  3. I think we pivot to ex-Jet Carl Lawson when Clowney signs with NY
  4. DEFENSIVE LINE The starters: Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, A’Shawn Robinson The backups: LaBryan Ray, Nick Thurman, Raequan Williams Robinson was a major free-agent addition for the trenches. The big-bodied lineman is known for his ability to stop the run, which was an attribute desperately needed for a defensive front that got regularly pushed around last season. Brown was the team’s best player last season. Coming off his first Pro Bowl, Brown is expected to lead the defense as a captain and franchise stalwart. He is likely to sign a long-term contract extension in short order Tuttle returns to his nose tackle role, where he had an up-and-down first year in Carolina. He will likely improve with the presence of Robinson, who serves as a massive body to push runners inside. Ray and Thurman surprised with solid performances last season. They’ll compete with Williams and other eventual add-ons for roster spots INSIDE LINEBACKER The starters: Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell The backups: Chandler Wooten, Claudin Cherelus With Frankie Luvu heading to Washington, the Panthers needed a veteran replacement at one of the inside linebacker spots. Jewell is a longtime starter who has experience with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and linebackers coach Peter Hansen. He should be able to hit the ground running given his experience within the system. Thompson is coming off a major leg injury, but Morgan has expressed confidence he can return to form in the middle. The Panthers are likely to get some long-term insurance for Thompson in the draft, but for now, the longtime captain is expected to make the calls for the defense this season. Wooten and Cherelus have flashed on special teams and are likely to get a leg up in most competition because of their work in the third phase. However, a mid-round rookie being added to the group feels like a foregone conclusion at this point CORNERBACK The starters: Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson, Troy Hill (nickel) The backups: Dicaprio Bootle, D’Shawn Jamison, Lamar Jackson, A.J. Parker Horn’s fifth-year option looms large as the Panthers have to make a decision on the oft-injured cornerback’s future by May Horn will return to the defense as the top player at his position, but he is a concern from a durability standpoint. When Horn is healthy, he’s a top-10 cornerback in the NFL. However, his status is put into question too often to trust him to be in the lineup. The Panthers added Dane Jackson to the lineup in free agency. Dane Jackson was a favorite of Morgan’s in Buffalo, and he should be able to fill in the spot left by Donte Jackson following the trade with the Steelers. Hill will also return as the team’s primary nickel corner after posting a solid campaign last season in Charlotte. Bootle was a special teams standout last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He also flashed potential on defense. Bootle, as of now, is probably the team’s fourth corner on the depth chart. That said, look for the Panthers to attack the position in the draft or later in free agency to make sure they have some more options beyond Jamison, Parker and Lamar Jackson SAFETY The starters: Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller The backups: Nick Scott, Jammie Robinson, Alex Cook Woods will continue to lead the safety group for a third season in Carolina. The veteran defensive back had an underrated performance in the secondary last year, and the expectation is that he will benefit from having a more athletic partner at the position this year. Fuller, a former Los Angeles Rams defender, is expected to be the youthful partner opposite Woods. Fuller, who has a history with Evero, will take the place of Vonn Bell, who was unceremoniously released this month. Fuller and Woods will be used interchangeably in the defensive backfield, and Fuller’s experience with Evero should help him adapt quickly to the defense Scott was added Friday to provide depth on defense and special teams. Like Fuller, Scott played under Evero in LA, and he should be able to pick up the defense relatively quickly for a new recruit. Cook got some legitimate playing time last season, and he flashed at times during his fill-in snaps. Robinson, last year’s fifth round pick, could see an uptick in playing time in his second season. Both Cook and Robinson are likely to be special teams mainstays as well SPECIALISTS The starters: Johnny Hekker (P), Eddy Piñeiro (K), JJ Jansen (LS) Jansen was re-signed earlier this month to make sure this trio stayed in place. Hekker is one of the best punters in the league, while Piñeiro has been relatively steady for Carolina when healthy. The only shot of competition here might be at kicker just to preserve Piñeiro’s leg for when it counts the most
  5. QUARTERBACK The starter: Bryce Young The backup: Andy Dalton The Panthers have a ton invested in Young, last year’s first overall pick, and they have doubled down on that investment by paying a pair of veteran guards a ton of cash to protect him. Young’s surrounding cast was a disaster last season, and Morgan has gone about fixing that problem by making logical additions to the offensive line and trading for wideout Diontae Johnson Young will need to step up his performance with a better supporting group around him. Dalton, the journeyman backup, will continue to be a guiding force behind the scenes for Young. RUNNING BACK The starter: Chuba Hubbard The backups: Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Tarik Cohen, Mike Boone, Spencer Brown Canales promises to be stubborn when it comes to running the football. He’s also already anointed Hubbard as his current starter in the backfield. Hubbard had a strong third season in Carolina in 2023. He will get a chance to earn a big-money contract — by running back standards — if he can put up a career year in his fourth different offense in four years. Sanders is coming off a brutal first year in Charlotte, and he will need to bounce back in a big way to earn playing time, despite his lofty guaranteed salary. Blackshear will likely continue to handle kick return duties, but he could face competition from Cohen, whose comeback story is worth monitoring. Running back feels like a position where the Panthers will invest a Day 3 pick in a young prospect. The Panthers are lacking in the power department at the position WIDE RECEIVER The starters: Diontae Johnson, Jonathan Mingo, Adam Thielen (slot) The backups: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Terrace Marshall, Cam Sims, Michael Strachan, Jalen Camp Johnson, acquired for cornerback Donte Jackson and a late-round pick swap, was an immediate upgrade on the outside at wide receiver. Johnson had his locker room struggles in Pittsburgh, but he could be just what the Panthers need at the top outside receiver spot, as he is a terrific route runner with above-average speed. The Panthers were lacking in both attributes last season. Thielen surpassed 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards for the second time in his career last year. He is a dependable slot receiver who should benefit from Johnson’s presence on the outside. The Panthers are also hoping that Mingo, last year’s second-round pick, improves with Johnson in the lineup. The 2024 season is going to be a huge one for Mingo, who failed to haul in a touchdown pass as a rookie. Smith-Marsette — the team’s primary punt returner — is probably the only other wideout who should be penciled into 53-man roster projections. Moore was signed because he’s familiar with the staff, but he’s not guarantee a spot. Marshall, Sims, Strachan and Camp will likely be upgraded in the draft, perhaps by multiple prospects. The Panthers are likely to take at least one wide receiver on Day 2 of the draft TIGHT END The starter: Tommy Tremble The backups: Ian Thomas, Stephen Sullivan, Jordan Matthews, Chris Pierce The Panthers quickly rid themselves of Hayden Hurst at the start of the new league year, despite the massive dead money penalty that came with his release. The team has yet to replace Hurst in the lineup, but Morgan was quick to praise Tremble in Indianapolis during the NFL Scouting Combine Tremble is likely to lead the position group, barring a high pick being spent on a tight end during draft weekend. Tremble showed some legitimate growth as a playmaker last year, and he is one of the better blocking tight ends on the team. Thomas, who took another pay cut this offseason, is likely to be a fixture of two-tight end sets this season, while Sullivan will be more of the flash player at the position. Matthews and Pierce will likely compete with an incoming rookie to force the Panthers to keep four tight ends OFFENSIVE LINE The starters: Ikem Ekwonu (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Austin Corbett (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Taylor Moton (RT) The backups: Yosh Nijman, Brady Christensen, Cade Mays, Nash Jensen, Chandler Zavala, JD DiRenzo, Ricky Lee, Ilm Manning, Badara Traore The Panthers made it a priority to upgrade the two guard spots following the disastrous injury turnstile at both positions last season. They paid huge sums to land Lewis and Hunt, and the hope is that the new linemen will be able to give Young time to step up in the pocket. With Lewis and Hunt on board, Corbett, the former starting right guard, is expected to shift to center. Corbett is considered an athletic upgrade over former starter Bradley Bozeman. He is also considered to be among the smartest players on the squad. Corbett is coming off his second knee surgery in as many years, so the move to center will probably be a work-in-progress throughout the offseason Ekwonu and Moton will continue to man the tackle spots. They’ll be backed up by the presence of Nijman, who signed an incentive-laden deal to be the swing tackle for the foreseeable future. If Moton or Ekwonu falter this season, Nijman has the experience and athleticism — and the contract — to replace either of them this year and beyond. Christensen, the former starting left guard, has the versatility to back up four positions. That versatility should keep him active on game days, barring an unexpected trade. Mays, Jensen, Lee, DiRenzo, Manning and Traore are the youngsters competing for depth spots, but they are likely to be joined by a rookie draft pick or two this summer
  6. https://x.com/patmcafeeshow/status/1772319247986794740?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA
  7. https://x.com/elrodsspn/status/1772079880970043594?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA
  8. McConkey is a media creation the guy can pay no doubt but there will be better WR options at #33
  9. This decision by the front office gives me hope. An actual intelligent decision was made
  10. sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't
  11. https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/nick-scott/49012
  12. https://x.com/josephperson/status/1771294389999911088?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA lol
  13. https://x.com/mike_e_kaye/status/1771295318849507397?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA
  14. Nick Scott CARSafety#33 Panthers signed S Nick Scott, formerly of the Bengals. Scott was released by the Bengals in a cap-saving move back in mid-March. The former seventh-round pick played in 17 games for the Bengals last season while making 10 starts. He totaled 57 tackles and one fumble recovery in those games and has started in 27 of the 81 games he’s appeared in for his career. Scott can step in to start when needed, but will likely serve as more of a depth signing for the Panthers.
  15. https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1771290212141773217?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA
  16. https://x.com/catcraveblog/status/1770848275341427097?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA
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