Bear Hands

It's not really possible in the NFL and this team is already bare bones. We need to start developing some of those...what do you call it...cornerstone players again. We got so used to so many for a while and now we have jack sh*t. Need a substantial turnaround, need to start hitting draft picks, need to finally have a competent offense for once in nearly a decade.

Daniels developed some really good pocket awareness in 2022 from what I saw. He's a lot more refined than others he compares to coming out. I was keeping my eye on him last draft season along with Cam Ward and Michael Penix. None ended up going into the draft but Daniels was the one of those guys who really stepped his game up. He's come a long way in his college career.

I remember when people were thinking a Carson Strong/Matt Carrol/Sam Howell 1st round crop was looking promising …and the only guy that wound up in the first wasn’t on radars (Pickett). Amazing what one year can do. Re: Maye - He has some accuracy issues on his medium length throws and some poor decision making under pressure. Nothing that can’t be corrected but I just think the potential of Daniels could override Maye in some (not all) teams’ eyes. Could easily be #2 to WAS and would be #1 overall in other drafts

I don't think you want to have too heavy of a weight financially on the DL. Tillis is here to hopefully ensure we have some balance with the structure of the team from that standpoint. I would love Huff or Greenard if Burns goes elsewhere, if he stays...then I think that high 3rd or 4th could be DL. Bralen Trice is a name to watch if he falls to the 3rd, he's gets to the QB and is good enough against the run. Adisa Isaac out of PSU is another guy to watch as he was PSU's captain and real defensive leader. That dude hustles. Has a mentality that matches what we claim we're looking for and should transition well to the NFL. One of my favorite picks top of the 3rd. Good size for a balanced EDGE defender in Evero's defense.

This is the year the NFC gets infused with the QB talent. My thoughts right now: 1 - Bears - Caleb Williams 2 - WAS - Jayden Daniels - Gut says teams like him more than Maye, most importantly, WAS does. 3 - NYG (from NE) - Drake Maye - They drop a Dookie for Tarheel. I think they trade up w/NE, as they've given up on Jones. Daboll is in his 3rd year - time to make a move, they can't afford to keep sinking. They're one of a few teams needing to sh*t or get off the pot in their situation. 5 - MIN (from LAC) - JJ McCarthy (w/Wilson) - They can't have Jefferson sitting there with another middling guy at QB. They need to pickup with the timeline and O'Connell can't let his seat start to get hot, similar to Daboll. They wanted a QB early last year. They're going to be aggressive and honestly, get the best type of insurance in Wilson. 2nd-3rd - PIT - Pickett (+Tannehill or a Michael Pratt type pick) - These are the QBs I put in the Steelers orbit this year. I don't think they give up on Pickett, as bad as he's looked under that putrid Matt Canada offense. I see them as a 2025 QB team with a final roll of the dice situation this year. Late 1st-2nd - NE - Michael Penix (Maybe add Howell as well) - I just don't see them winning the Fields/Cousins sweeps and also don't see them doing the flashy top of draft franchise QB route. They trade down to build out their team, including a second tier type in Penix. FA - ATL - Kirk Cousins - I see this as a good fit and there's some rumors picking up. They are the most "insert vet here" team ready for Cousins. Allows them to use their first on someone like Jared Verse. FA - Raiders - Justin Fields - This has to be the team going for him w/Baker staying in TB. I also have a feeling the Raiders are going to be an entertaining see-saw type team next year with Pierce. Perfect situation for an up and down guy like Fields. *Broncos stick with Stidham for 2024, could draft a guy late like Rattler or Travis. Potential Ewers/Sanders sweeps 2025: Panthers, Broncos, Steelers

The reality is always somewhere in the middle. No matter what we may think with our bias as fans, he's still a young (25), higher end player at a premium position (He's younger than Kenny Pickett lol) And there are many EDGE desperate teams that are contenders who he would help put over the top. He's not the well-rounded defensive centerpiece we want out of an EDGE or DE talent (rather one dimensional), but he's absolutely still valuable and for at least a 1st and could probably notch out a 15-sack type season on the right team. There are definitely some skewed perspectives in this place. He's was a top-3 overall FA available this season by nearly every site and analyst for a reason (the respected and awful ones alike) We're not getting 2 firsts, but we should easily get a min one. Now, I'm unsure if we'd necessarily be getting a 2024 1st, but I could see a 2025 and a mid-rounder this year. Something in that ballpark. And that's if he doesn't sign long term which still obviously seems like what we are at least putting out there. My longshot wish is getting a minimum 2024 3rd and 2025 1st for him. Then you go after a Greenard or Bryce Huff long term in the $15-19 mil range. That's roughly 10-12 mil more a year to work with for a similar output in a rebuilding environment. Send him to a spot where he can keep doing his spider pose.

Combination of their historical MO, Tomlin, Arthur Smith's preferences, and the rumors they want to give Pickett one more shot. I think that's who signs Tannehill as in-season insurance to Pickett and they'll end up in the QB hunt (maybe with us) come 2025.

Fields is destined for Vegas or a sleeper team. ATL and PIT aren’t happening.

Our 8-pick 2018 draft will almost be gone entirely minus Haynes. Donte (along with Haynes) have not been in the NFL for a winning team yet in 6 years. And then with Burns likely gone, that's no one remaining from 2019. Moton and Shaq are the only guys here who've experience any modicum of success as Panthers. Just crazy. Almost a decade removed from the SB run and 7 from the immediate playoff exit in 2017. Can't believe it's been this many years of crap.

I never thought he was a negative asset but hard to know this past year-- I only lasted the first quarter for most of our games on a quad box or just went to redzone lol.

Greenard or Huff make a lot of sense in FA. Those two are my favorite targets for us overall, not just at EDGE. Need more consistent pressure on D. Unsure how realistic the Burns trade is. Think we net a future 1st for him if something happens, but it won't be a 2024 1st.

Baker is not a given back in TB - they could be a sleeper team that shoots for Cousins or Fields (Fields especially) ATL and PIT are the common refrain as suitors but it doesn't match the Steelers profile and I think ATL wants a young potential franchise guy like JJ to bring into that offense.

okay then...

For what Canales seems to run, I think we want the shiftier soft hands type in the slot that has a bit more diverse skilset. Mingo is too stiff and he didn't show enough to warrant us avoiding of competition. So add that need with a reliable outside type that is our go-to dude. Those are the two big spots from my vantage point. Pittman would be great in FA, but is unrealistic...that's where Thomas and Mitchell become pretty clear targets. McConkey is a do-it-all and I think warrants consideration in that bracket as well. I hear you on Franklin though, I can see a scenario where he falls a tad. I loved watching him last year (big fan) but he's not at the level of refinement we need at 33. We need the quick acclimators, instant impact. Worthy, I mean, he's getting buzz but unsure. He leaves a lot to be desired when watching. Great WR draft though.

I like McConkey because he just does it all and very well. He seems like one of the easier transitions to play from the crop aside the top 3. Thomas/Mitchell/McConkey/Franklin are the guys to consider at 33 IMO. Love the WAS kids but they may fall to the 3rd-4th. Other than that, Pearsall has been the biggest surprise for me this draft season and in watching back. He’s another that just brings a lot out of the gate and could surprise production wise in R3, maybe as high as R2. He’s one of 3 plug and play slots in this draft that includes UVA Washington and Corley.

I think he did a lot more for FSU than people give him credit for but I just don’t view him as a fit. We need quick, technician do it alls I.E McConkey, Mitchell Shifty slot types with eventual outside potential like Pearsall, Washington, Corley Or the guys with big play, high ceiling potential like Franklin, McMillan, heck even J Jackson, Thrash or Baker a bit later. The two I’m just not feeling are Coleman and Legette. They just don’t check the “feel” barometer for me and don’t align with what we need.

Kevin Dotson makes a lot of sense and would fit well if we’re carrying over some of the Carrol/Waldron system.

Being more of a west coast college sports watcher, Franklin passed the eye test for me during the last 2 seasons. I've been a vocal fan. He's one of the receivers that lifted the team in games. Wasn't reliant on the guys around him.

There's two FA targets that could help redefine our pass rush that our young: Jon Greenard & Bryce Huff (especially) Those are the type of FA targets I'd like to see us go after. Not many, but the ones we do should either have longer term sticking potential or should just be band aids while we build.

...and we will not be the team getting him

Something I had no idea until I looked at our contracts is that we signed Jordan Matthews this past year. Crazy, he was so promising early in PHI (3 seasons in a row over 800 yards) and found his way back on a roster in SF after a position switch to TE.

Going back to some of the players he liked, I do think Jha'quan Jackson out of Tulane is one to keep an eye on if we double dip. He definitely seems like one of the deeper prospects that will have some NFL action and people will be like, "who is that guy? where'd he come from?" Sneaky YAC guy with shiftiness. A muscle bound speedy 5'9. KR/PR. Could have a Demario Douglas type impact year 1 with some coaching up needed. A few injury red flags that could make him a R5-6 guy to just take a flier on late. Another mid rounder to watch out for: Anthony Gould. Had a nice year, good Shrine game, and he seems to have a high floor. Is at least in the middle of the pack class wise in most metrics. I also see why Ja'Lynn Polk is easy to like. He made big plays, in big games. Solid in contested catch situations (over 55%), good size, quickness, route running, toughness. Fun watch. Between him, McConkey and Troy Franklin, I think the guy at 33 could be one of those names (if) we go WR.

I’m countering the notion that rookie WRs don’t make impacts. They absolutely do this day/age and have been. How good Mingo is, ehh that’s still TBD. Last year’s offense wasn’t one that allowed for much to happen for anyone but he had some notable speed bumps. Hard to know for sure at this stage.

Person's latest article had a tidbit below. Get ourselves (1) first, wash our hands, and look to the future. A long term deal in CAR isn't coming to fruition and he'll still garner plenty of interest, just not at 2022 Ram' level. Just tag and see what the offers look like. There will be a return, healthy enough to just move forward and not find us in a Peppers' or Norman situation. Get done what needs to get done if he's not coming here long term. And then you can have 2 picks in the top 33 again. Would completely reshape how we could work this draft. https://theathletic.com/5288729/2024/02/21/panthers-brian-burns-franchise-tag-free-agency/

Wilson gives me pause for some reason, think it’s what the Michigan offense asks of their guys so it’s hard to really see everything. Nice picks though. Mentioned elsewhere but Jha’Quan Jackson and Javon Baker are two of my deeper favoritrs. Those two just play tough. Have a real consistent burst to their game and were the elevators of their offenses.