Icege

So you agree with Matt Rhule's evaluations?

There are definitely some glaring limits to his game. He doesn't seem strong at the point of attack nor does he appear to move guys off of the spot. However, he's got good feet and holds his blocks. I've got to go back and re-watch the last two games to see if I was being hyper critical, but the dude looks like he could hold down either of those spots on the left for us.

You're preaching to the choir on Creed + Trey. I wanted Slater, Humphrey, and Smith in that order round-by-round. To top all of that off: the Chiefs invested a 2nd + 6th shoring up their OL last year. Niang was a 3rd round selection the year prior. We're sitting on our 3rd round LT now and are looking to invest a 1st + potentially a 4th or 5th. The rebuild should be complete this season coming if we're using the Chiefs as an example. Not in 2023. How do we fix this with current resources? Draft Linderbaum in the top 10, put BC + DB at LT + RG, and then sign a veteran LG or draft one in the later rounds. Draft Linderbaum in the top 10, put BC + DB at LG + RG, and gamble on a day 3 left tackle. Draft Ekwonu or Cross in the top 10, put BC + DB at LG + RG, and gamble on a day 3 center. If we're going to go off of current trends, then DB is likely a starting caliber RG that Rhule & co have kept on the bench like they did with BC. This upcoming free agent class is going to have a lot of affordable, quality guards that can plug and play. However, there are very few LTs or Cs in free agency next year. The available centers, if they aren't old, aren't good. The LT group has some quality players available but they will be expensive. All of that taken into consideration, I believe that the first option of drafting Linderbaum, signing an LG, and starting BC + DB at LT + RG is the best option to give this team a chance to compete going forward. But I wouldn't be mad at all at drafting Ekwonu or Cross if they and that day 3 center panned out.

Go grab Buchanon out of Army to line up at FB to make it a party

If it takes two years to rebuild this OL, that means the staff failed this year and the new staff has to do it.

The fact that Norwell became the highest paid guard as an LG after going undrafted while being thought of as strictly an RG due to his speed is one of my favouritest Panthers' glow ups ever.

Duke Mayweather declared Tyler Linderbaum OL #1. I'll take his word over your's since you're too busy this year to run your algorithm. Linderbaum and Cross are also not undersized, unless you think Christensen's arms are too short. Matt?

Evan Neal is not going to be available at #6 when the Panthers make their selection, and he's being projected as a RT to boot. Ikem Ekwonu would be an incredible pick because both he and Christensen can play LT/LG so just figure out who fits where best and let them go. Charles Cross is looking like a very, very intriguing LT prospect that has gotten some eyes on him recently. Tyler Linderbaum is the #1 OL in the draft, being rated above Neal the same way that Slater was rated higher than Sewell though Sewell was projected higher (I will never understand that tbh). He also plays a position that literally effects the entire OL. Shiiiiiit... even if Rhule tries to go full Rhule there's still Kyle Hamilton, George Karlaftis, or a QB. I'm really, really excited for this draft despite not having a 2nd or 3rd. I'm eager to see who that next franchise cornerstone is expected to be.

re: bolded; ALL OF THE YES The Lindstroms, imo, have been great college players but awful pros. Alex is stronger than Chris though, and more aggressive from what limited Boston College action I've caught this season (tbh, he was the only guy on the roster. The issue for me though is that between him and Tyler Vrabel (another lineage player) is Zion Johnson who is much, much higher rated than both guys. Was their success due to their high college floor and sandwiching a 2nd round OL prospect? At the very least, he'd be a solid back-up with the potential to develop into a starter. Luke Matthews is in the same boat, funny enough both of their brothers are Failcons. Jarrett Patterson out of Notre Dame looks like a Dollar General version of Lindstrom to me as well. Have you heard anything about Dylan Parham out of Memphis? A buddy of mine that's got a pretty good eye for talent mentioned him recently to me as a potential guy to watch.

Hard pass on Lindstrom, but Newell is an intriguing option late if the team goes QB or LT in the first. I'll have to check Cryder out. I've been pounding the "draft a starting center!" drum since the Paradis signing. Anybody that wants to see how much having a center that doesn't understand football hurts, just go back and watch the game vs. TB when Tecklenburg was sliding protection away from the blitz. -_-

It can be harvested

Quick question for all of the folks saying that we can get a quality center in the 2nd or 3rd. First and foremost, with what picks? Second and most importantly, who? Zach Tom out of Wake Forest? A guy that has at best been seen as a late 3rd rounder? The drop off is HUGE and you still end up overdrafting a guy.

Evan Neal Tyler Linderbaum Charles Cross Ikem Ekwonu With Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux very likely going in the top 3, George Karlaftis surging up draft boards as DE3, and other QB-hungry teams willing to overextended themselves to gamble on a QB, there is no way this team doesn't have their selection of those listed OL.

Big gap between Linderbaum and C2 this year. Linderbaum is a top 10 selection, the next highest rated center has a 4th round grade. Free agency doesn't leave much to write home about either. So of course this means we will be going into 2022 with Elflein & Tecklenburg as the centers.

I've been begging for us to draft him since last season when he was a junior. Pls make it happen

Really, really digging Williams. He's a super solid beat writer.

I'm pretty sure that was Turner + Norwell's rookie seasons

Priority: Luvu, Gonzalez, Reddick, Zylstra Luxury: Gilmore, Abdullah, Jackson Maybe: Chandler, Stanford, Haynes, Newton, No: Paradis, Jones, Burris, Scott, Jansen, Miller, Thomas, Edwards, Erickson, Melvin, Panasiuk, Walker, Carter Jr, Ricci, Parker, Bonnafon, Herron

Exactly. PJ's runs up too iirc, so can't throw him out there either.

Brady clearly had issues. Was he the issue? No, but if he told Rhule that his offense didn't need an average offensive line to function then I'm flipping tables.

We might have tackles. The gap between Linderbaum and the next best center in the draft is massive. The free agent options? Non-existent unless you're wanting to pay an old guy to be on a 1yr rental. Stick Linderbaum in the middle, get Deonte Brown some reps on Sunday, and find an LG so that Erving nor Elflein ever see the field again.

The only upside is if we are able to trade down and pick up an extra 1st in 2023 so that the new coaching staff can have two firsts and an OL with at least 2/5 spots filled when we ride Sam into the bottom 5. This is hell.

Take Linderbaum. If the team can trade down a couple of spots while recouping a 2nd or 3rd and still land him, that'd be awesome. This OL needs a center that can make the blocking adjustments necessary to keep the QB clean and improve the play of both guards. With the talent available, the only players worth taking instead of Linderbaum are Neal and Cross if they're believed to be LT1/OT2. I've seen a few different scouting reports call out Neal as a RT but if he looks like he can be an LT and is OL2 then I wouldn't be upset to see him drafted.

I saw the same posters talking up Dennis Daley hyping up BC, so he has that going against him. Been rewatching him to see if he'd be a potential "Unsung Heroes" focus and the dude did not look good vs TB. Tecklenburg missing adjustments vs the various blitzes TB sent at them didn't do him any favors tho. Hopefully he looks improved when I get to rewatch the game without drowning it out with booze.

"Sam doesn't have trade value" really doesn't help folks' arguments because it's not like Cam has any.