BeenPounding

Of course you want to win it all, but you need to start somewhere. Would you call the season by Jacksonville a disappointment? Outside of the way the Chargers lost, I would be excited as a fan by the potential, but also likely calling for a new HC. How about the Giants and Vikings? I would take those seasons after 5 consecutive less than 9 win seasons. Everyone wants the ending without having to go through the journey. Peyton at the cost of 2 first rounders may not be it. I wouldn't be past a Reich hire or Reich/Wilks combination and continue to watch us rise out of the MESS that was the Rhule era. I miss being excited on a weekly basis more than anything. 2003 and 2015 were fun, but so were the other years where we had a chance.

I know the trade here won't happen, but...... If we could work our way up to #5 and grab a QB..... Free Agency: Find a bridge QB, TE, and resign Boz/Foreman, and a veteran DT. We need a DE, CB, and LB depth out of this draft. If Williams is healthy he can compete for the #2-3 CB. Move Chinn back to OLB. Start the T'oo T'oo train. Joseph is a heady safety, Tippmann is the perfect IOL for us. Can play center, but also 6'6 315lbs, can play G or RT as well. Having him and Mayes provides great depth at the interior. Schoonmaker is a perfect blocking TE, but I would also throw a bag at either Irv Smith Jr. or Gilseki during free agency. Cut Ian Thomas and Eflin. The rest of our picks provide quality depth. McIntosh could be a legit homerun threat at RB.

Randy is King!!!!

Agreed, SP is using his resources at Fox to trump up his profile and price. Cowherd is a step below Skip Bayless when it comes to credibility in my opinion.

Lamar is worth two picks, with our O-line, we would run over so many teams. I could coach them to the playoffs. Tepper is aggressive, but I really wouldn't call him a fool. He's going to find his way sooner rather than later. Olsen is THE top analysist out there. He has a feel and eye for the game that is pretty rare for a commentator. His dad was a coach, he was like having a coach in the locker room. G.O. knows his stuff. He is spot on about the best HC/OC combination for our team. If he gets put off by fox anointing Brady as their new #1 I could legitimately see him as a future John Lynch type who gets to run a team the right way.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reported in February that Fox was discussing a deal with the 58-year-old to potentially have him succeed Troy Aikman as the lead color commentator. McCarthy reported Payton might earn as much as $10 million annually. If he wants the Panther's job he is going to name his own trade compensation. According to the draft value chart, a mid to late round 1st round pick is about the same as our higher 2nd, and our 3rd round pick. SP is smart enough to not hamstring his own surroundings. The compensation for the Belichick in '97 would not fly today. Draft picks are much more valued. If the Saint's don't budge, he'll stay put and make that easy money broadcasting. The Saints know that he's going to come back, and if he doesn't do it this year they aren't getting much of anything for him. If SP has a legit plan to right the ship, I'm in, but I have a few conditions. 1. What is the QB plan for 2023? 2. Are you committed for 5 years? 3. Who is your successor or coach in waiting? If we are going to open the bank and risk draft picks for him, he has better be grooming someone. 4. You need to be able to collaborate with Fitty/Morgan on roster/draft control with Tepper making the final call on contested decisions. Not a big fan of Tepper having final say, but that gives him the opportunity to utilize all the minds in one room. Plus, he did pay 2.2 Billion for the team so be a boss Boss.

In the Coward interview Peyton said that after this year, the compensation changes drastically. Just because NO wants a mid to late first doesn't mean they will get it. Denver can offer their first. Peyton doesn't have to take the job, he can still call games while living it up in LA. If I were Tepper I'd offer our higher 2nd rounder and toss in an additional 2nd next year. If they accept it great! If not, you get a younger coach or Wilks. Peyton is smart as well, if he is serious about actually coaching and not collecting a check, he wouldn't hamstring his future employer. The Texans could be the wild card in the race for Peyton. With two first round draft picks, 11 total picks, a weak division, and a front office that he could easily control, I see that as the top opportunity. Additionally, no state income tax. Hopefully Nicole is there to make sure Big Tepp isn't getting smitten out of his $$$ again. While I think this could be a good short term move, I'm also fairly positive it could screw us in the end. I'd much rather pair Johnson/Moore/Kafka with a DC who used to be a head coach, or retain Wilks with an up and coming play caller.

I think the real mystery here is what has Matt Corral been up to since he hurt his foot? Has been able to put on good weight? Has he been in the QB room and learning from the defensive meetings? If you don't try to develop him, essentially we have tossed away two 3rd round picks. Honestly, wasting 3rd rounders is a Panther's tradition... Grier, Gaulden, Dasehon Hall, Darryl Worley, Terell Mclain, Sione Fua, Armanite Edwards. Jury is still out on Tremble. The only good ones I see going back to 2010 was BC and Trey Turner. The only QB in the draft I would consider a trade for is CJ Stroud. I would only attempt to trade as high as Arizona, and only offer the year's 2nd and at most next year's 2nd as compensation if I was 100% sold on him. I truly believe that running it back with Sam, Matt, and possibly bringing Gardner Minshew into the fold would be our best option. If we did that, we could trade back in the first, land somewhere from the late teens to early 20's, collect an additional 1st for next year along with an extra 4th or 5th round pick in an effort to make a bold yet calculated move towards the top for whatever QB we like in 2024. If so, sign me up. Our roster still needs additional depth in other areas that FA isn't guaranteed to address. This QB class isn't it. I would much rather take a gamble on Williams, Maye, Penix, or even Quin Ewers at their current level of play over anyone aside from C.J. Stroud in this year's draft. Heck, what if all Darnold or Minshew needs is a solid o-line and a stout defense to grow? Sam isn't the long term answer in my opinion, but he's showing improvement and could fill the void and allow the team to grow into success while we search for the QB of the future that can thrive with an established roster. Build the roster, ride out a sweet 5 year rookie contract, then pay the piper when he comes calling.

He was never a Panther

Here is my guy I think we should target. I think he could be a baby Bozeman. Big bodied center, pulls well, and is really strong. Additionally, he has position flexibility along the interior. Ladies and gentlemen your mid round steal Joe (great mullet) Tippmann https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/joe-tippmann-b6994694-fab6-4281-9688-d006948d0aef/

Is that really a prudent decision on his part? I brought this question up to KB on the radio, and he agreed with you saying, and I quote, "I'd leave the room flipping the double bird" Wilks has been bouncing around the country since he was fired from the Arizona job. At what point would he like security and normalcy in his life/career? Additionally, outside of the pride aspect, if he truly believes in the Panthers and the players on this team would a move to DC/Assistant HC really be a demotion? Initially, it would be a tough pill to swallow, but he began the year as the DB coach. Raheem Morris did an commendable job in Atlanta, but then was uprooted to LA to take on the role of DC. If Wilks is not getting any calls to interview as a HC this cycle where does that leave him going forward? Being a DC/Assistant HC may not be a bad get. If he stays around for a bit in that role I could easily see him getting a front office position in player development/mentoring even if there is a regime change, solidifying his future in his home town. Odd take, I know, but as a middle aged warrior myself I know the value of being close to home. Personally, I'd like to see Wilks HC/ Riech OC / young up and comer as passing game coordinator/QB coach

More proof that PFF has no idea how to rate players.... I'd be over the moon if this happened.

Obviously this was the missing link the last go round. Maybe this is kind of like when Robert California's wife wanted a job at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. (Season 8 episode 9...yes I'm that much of a nerd)

By innovative I meant to say the doctors did not cut vertically from the top of my knee to the bottom. I had a graft and horizontal incision.

It'll be close for him to get back to camp. ACL tears are weird. I tore mine 21 years ago and had what was, at the time, innovative surgery. Now a days, it can be done almost completely arthroscopic. If he didn't tear the meniscus he should be good to go by the beginning of the season. That sucks though. Stupid turf.

Both of those guys likely will end up as coordinators before they are head coaches again. I would take either as an OC

Does anyone think that Wilks would return as DC not head coach? I know it may sound "insulting" to him, but let's be honest, outside of Carolina he has not had too much stability. Arizona, Cleveland, and Missouri before he had the opportunity to come back home as a DB coach not even a coordinator. Depending on the amount of openings he may or may not get another chance at anything above that position. He's not going to Denver. Anyone with a brain will stay far away from Indy. I really don't think he'd be too keen to return to Arizona. My preference to WIlks being the HC is because he has the locker room. Finding that young offensive coach is great, but the young coach needs a solid voice in his ear. Ron Riveria said the same thing as he began his career. DO you think that Wilks would see that as a demotion if he was asked to mentor a young HC and be the DC?

Yeah I must have been so wordy that you realized that is what I didn't say.

Most likely outcome: HC: Wilks - He has the locker room. Wilks has respect around the league. Honestly I think his hiring could depend on what kind of staff he can assemble. NFL coaches have these things lined up prior to accepting jobs. It's not Wilk's first rodeo, he has likely been sending feelers around shortly after it appeared that he has earned a legitimate shot at the HC gig. Tepper could roll the dice and go for a splash hire, but our franchise needs goodwill and stability. Looking at our potential schedule for next year I could easily see us winning 10 games. #KeepPounding is important to the Carolinas and I think Tep has realized it finally. No one in the organization knows what that means better than Wilks. OC: Ben Johnson (QB coach Eagles) or Shea Tierney (QB coach Giants) - Looking at the growth of both Daniel Jones and Jalen Hurts and the offensive turnaround of each team over the past year I would start with these two. Tierney has been with Dabol since he was at Buffalo and our ties from Carolina North should give us a good read on how capable he could be as an OC. The Eagles offense is a dream for Carolina. If Steichen stays with the Eagles Johnson could really build his case to be a future HC by taking the Carolina job. QB: Darnold/Carrol/Tanner McKee - I have made no effort to hide my affinity for Uncle Rico/Mustache Minshew, but honestly I see a whole lot of similarities to him and Darnold. Additionally, Sam has shown growth and had more natural talent than Uncle Rico. I see a lot of Jake Delhome in Minshew but I just don't see it happening. Additionally, I think hitting on a first round QB is pretty dicey if you don't have the opportunity to pick the first QB off the board. The odds of finding a Big Ben, Eli, Payton, Mahomes, or Burrow who you know out of college can be a steady QB presence for 10 years are pretty rare. Darnold has shown stability behind a solid O-line. I'd rather try to see what his growth could be when he is not hampered by the incompetence of Adam Gase and Matt Rhule over meh college options with just as many questions marks. Sammy D is well liked by his teammates and has a pretty good rapport with DJ Moore. We could sign Sam to a two year deal for back up money allowing us to build our team without shipping off draft capital. If done correctly, we could get a few year like the Titans have had recently. I'd take that over the mess that has been the last 5 years. Out of the college QB's I think Stroud is the best long term prospect out of the group, but there is not miles and miles of separation between draft eligible QB's. We are not going to get Stroud or Young. Levis is the question mark, but I would not mortgage out future draft capital to roll the dice on him. Tanner McKee has first round potential but was stuck on a bad team. Looking at our team needs at DE, DT, LB, RB, and CB I think using our first pick on a QB with question marks rather than a more developed player at other impact positions would be a better use of draft capital knowing that we likely can have a steady game manager QB available with Darnold or another veteran free agent. Here is a link of all first round QB's drafted since the Super Bowl era began. I think the list is pretty eye opening when you are not 100% sold on a prospect being the QB of the future. He could be had as a late 3rd or 4th round pick. Matt Coral is a big question mark. I think he will develop into at worst a serviceable back-up. No one has seen or heard much from him, but I have a feeling he has been hitting the weights and film knowing that his next opportunity may be his only opportunity. Looking at our potential schedule next year with us playing the NFC north and AFC South I could see us getting 5 wins from that group. Us going 4-1 or 3-2 in our division in not a reach if we stay healthy. That would put us at or over .500 before playing wither the 2nd or 3rd place NFC east, NFC West, and AFC East teams (Cowboys/Giants, Seattle/Rams, Pats/Dolphins). Winning two of those three would put us around the 10 win mark. While that isn't the SuperBowl, I'd be over the moon for those results. Lock up DB and BB, clear out the bad contracts from last year, and then make a move up the draft board/go big after a QB if necessary. Knowing Fitty and AGM#55 I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up moving down the draft board to get more picks to build depth.

Looking back, was Joe Brady really a failure? Our offense was more productive that it was at the beginning of the season with less talent. Rhule micro-managing everything, leaving when Brady is working in lock step with Cam - then firing him as he is game planning was a horsepoo move. Someone with a philosophy like Greg Roman would be perfect. You know Wilks will hire someone as an assistant who has experience so the OC could be progressive with an old head assisting him. Pep Hamilton would be a great choice. Heck Brian Johnson would be pretty cool if you could pair him with an experienced OC coach like Mike Shula.

You be smart for the future.....

I'd be calling every younger free agent hoping they are in pretty good physical shape. Vernon Hargraves, Kevin King, Corn Elder, or Xavier Rhodes / Jimmy Smith if we are looking for a vet.

I'm willing make my final stand on Minshew Mountain. I effin love that guy. I

We just need to sign Gardner Minshew II. Draft a stud DE in the top 10. Fill out the holes with our other picks. Him and Matt Corral in a QB room would be a blast. Our offense needs some spice and flavor, this dude has the recipe to at least make the Panthers fun again. I really hope he starts for Philly this week and our scouting department is all over the tape. I know I'll be glued to that game if he's playing. Aside from the hype that his personality brings, the QB's coming out this year are not impact QB's. It's going to take a few seasons for any of them to develop into what he is capable of. We aren't getting Young or Stroud. Levis is not it. Hooker is about the same age as GMII without the years of pro experience. Long story short, most college QB's outside of a clear #1 such as Burrow or Lawrence are a roll of the dice. None of the 2023 draft class is worth what it would take to make a boss move to into the top 3 or 5. 2023 Free Agent QB's - Lamar Jackson - He's not leaving Baltimore Tom Brady - He's not coming here Teddy Bridgewater - nope Baker Mayfield - nope Sam Darnold - We know how this will go, maybe as a back-up if Corral has no future Daniel Jones - Basically Sam Darnold 2023, hard pass Jimmy Garoppolo - The QB equivalent of the missionary possession; no risk, can get the job done, but after a while everyone has your game figured out. Jacoby Brissett - One part Teddy B mixed with a garnish of Jimmy G This is the hill I am willing to die on until Uncle Rico rescues me with deep pass sailing past our mountain of futility. Keep Wilks, bring in Frank Reich as OC or throw a bag of money at Shane Steichen so GMII can come in knowing the offense.