45catfan

Jake was a seasoned veteran. Corral, despite his potential is a rookie QB. Rookie QBs struggle, period. Sure, there a few outliers, but as a general rule of thumb, it's usually a rough road for them. This ALL boils down to how comfortable Rhule will be with another losing season. I have zero argument about the long-term trajectory for this team and how we should handle the QB situation. That's being practical, but again, will Rhule be practical given another losing season is staring him right in the face with Darnold/Corral as QB1 and QB2?

Problem is the schedule isn't set up that way. Like last season, the first few games are some of the most winnable of the season. The back half of the schedule is brutal.

Knee-jerk reactions are what Rhule does best, so rational, long-term goals for the team are tenuous propositions at best. What if they think Mayfield would be a better tutor for Corral than Sam? Sam and Baker are one and done, it's a matter of who can mover the needle this year and be the better mentor (on the field) for Corral. Corral starting isn't an option for Rhule, period. It's a guaranteed losing season for us. Despite Tepper going to bat for Rhule this offseason, I'm not sure he's taking that endorsement to the bank. Rhule knows he needs a winning season this year to be back in Charlotte in 2023 for certain.

FIFY. As I understand it, Rhule has got to actually confer with Fitts and get his stamp of approval as well now before moves are made.

Don't expect this to happen before training camp is almost upon us. Depending on how much of hardball we are playing, it may not happen until TC is actually underway. It's happening none-the-less. Cleveland can't keep Baker and Rhule can't dig this team out of the cellar with Darnold.

You don't tell people at the table the cards you are holding in a game of poker. Rhule also says players are training camp MVPs only later to cut them.

Flinging someone and unwrapped Baby Ruth bar. How thoughtful...

Yup. This game of chicken is ultimately gonna see us flinch first. It's a matter of getting Cleveland to their best and final offer. The last report was half of Baker's salary was the most the Browns were willing to eat. We want less, but if that ends up being Cleveland's best offer, we ultimately take it. 100% Baker is in a Panthers uniform sometime during training camp. Mark it down.

I got us with 6 wins with Darnold and 9 wins with Baker. Wins (either QB): Browns (minus Watson), Giants, Saints (home), Falcons (home), Seattle and Detroit. Wins that Baker gives us over Darnold: *49ers, Falcons (road) and Saints (road). * A healthy Jimmy G isn't starting. Now, one can question 'are those extra wins worth it for a one-year rental?' For Matt Rhule, the answer is abso-freaking-lutley.

These next four weeks are going to be brutal. I doubt we make it out of this week before a "new uniforms" thread pops up. That's when you know it's officially summer.

And that's the exact reason we are looking at Mayfield. Despite Rhule's coachspeak on riding with Darnold, I don't think he's 100% sold on Tepper keeping his word about seeing this through until at least year five. Rhule knows he needs a winning season and Darnold most likely can't deliver that. Baker most likely will.

Yeah, apparently we won't take more than $5million of Baker's contract. If the Browns want rid of Baker that badly, what's another $4M?

Cleveland cuts Watson; Tepper and Rhule watching the waiver wire like

Yeah, Teddy had like 100+ yards more passing than Baker in the 2020 season. Ouch you got me. How about TDs and INTs, you know what wins and loses games? Teddy was 15/11. Baker was 26/8. Baker's rating and QBR was better than Teddy's too. You cherry picked the stat that Teddy beat Baker in, BARELY... literally they were #17 and #18 respectively in yardage. For perspective Daronld was #28 and that's currently who's our #1, not Teddy, so....

$5 million for a potential franchise QB is worth the risk over a pass rushing specialist, with limited snaps that's looking to cash in on probably his last contract. See the difference?

He's the difference between Baker and Darnold. Darnold has a lot of the tools to be a good NFL QB, but hasn't shown it outside of flashes here and there. Baker has most of the tools a guy needs to be successful as a NFL QB, HAS shown it, proved it, but hasn't done it consistently.

His 4 years have run hot and cold. Last year being a cold year and being the most recent, the one everyone looks at. He actually had good years in his first and third seasons. Put it together means he has the tools, BUT he needs a scheme that fits him, to be coached up more and lastly, grow up becoming a better professional. If he sucks, we don't resign him. If he does okay, we offer him a deal in FA at a reasonable price where he takes it or signs elsewhere. At that point he's not on our team any longer, we still look to the 2023 draft, which is exactly where we sit right now if Baker doesn't sign. Corral is a non-factor this season in any scenario, so I'm not factoring him into the situation. Darnold is toast, he's not here next year unless as a backup on a cheap deal.

If, and this is a BIG IF, Baker can put it together here, a QB can turn the fortunes of a team. I think you knew that, but couldn't resist the snaky remark temptation. If it's only for the $5M (max) the Panthers said they would be willing to take on, it's worth the roll of the dice.

For the right price, I wouldn't hate it. The right price being taking on $5M of Bakers salary straight up. No future draft picks involved.

No comp picks.

My strategy is to save cap money for 2023 when this team should be better and should compete for a playoff spot. That's when you add those last pieces to the puzzle late in FA; when the team is on the cusp. The 2022 Panthers aren't going anywhere and adding guys like this is just burning valuable cap room in the future...when we actually will need it.

So adding any FAs this late in the offseason isn't about getting substantially better as a team, it's about moving the benchmark forward for Rhule, even if it's just a little. That's precisely what I thought.

Don't tell that to the guys holding out hope for saviors in free agency.

With Tepper basically giving him another mulligan year, why not? If we suck, he points to the QB situation. If we do better than expected, Rhule comes out on top. It's really a win-win for him.

Yes, the Rams are in FULL win now mode. They hit their championship window precisely, which is VERY rare. They are in the red for the cap for the foreseeable future. Basically, they are living in the moment and the instant that magic falters, they will tear it all down. Until then, they have one Super Bowl and are hoping for at least one, if not two more, before inevitable occurs. The fact that you are putting us in the same breath as the Rams is dumbfounding.