Bear Hands

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.

Rookie WRs have been making instant impacts for the past 5-6 years, trending away from that former idea. I mean, look just in the past 2 years, I count at least 13+ easy who went in and immediately made an impact. Zay Flowers, Tank Dell, Rashee Rice, Puca Nacua, Jordan Addison, Jayden Reed, Josh Downs, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Christian Watson, Drake London, George Pickens, JSN...Wicks & Demario Douglas even turned it on.

Aiyuk is one of the most well rounded WRs you'll find and one of the best route runners in the entire league. One of my favorite players. That being said, I highly doubt we end up with him, but one can hope.

Yeah he’s had more than a few that were spot on. Not saying we should 100% take his thoughts to the bank but they’re worth sharing. Plus it’s Steve Smith—all in good fun to get some prospect talk going.

Notable Comments: His big faves in this class: Ja'Lynn Polk - Washington - HUGE fan. Malachi Corley. His "Steal of the draft" Worthy & Mitchell - Both Texas boys are body catchers... Note that Worthy reminds him of a taller Tank Dell. But definitely lukewarm on them Spoke highly of McConkey at UGA Troy Franklin - He got an "okay/meh" hand waive but gave him a Jordan Addison comp Jha'Quan Jackson out of Tulane - He's a fan. Needs to look at him more, but likes what he's seen.

If Burns doesn't want to come back here (which is obviously the case IMO), you're looking at either the tag or letting him walk and getting whatever comp may be awarded in 2025. For all of our opinions, he's rated the #1 overall Free Agent by The Athletic and will be sought after, regardless of what we think of his effort or 2023 play. You risk the tag and see who calls. Interestingly enough, I think the teams who own the picks that equal his value are the likeliest destinations: 27-30: Cardinals, Bills, Lions, & Ravens. Just get one of those picks and call it a day.

It kept feeling stranger every year. The Horn pick felt so unneeded at the time. It wasn't on many/to any radars until DB rumors came in about him and Surtain within the final few weeks leading into that draft. It was even more notably obvious when we were all looking at that 2022 class ahead of the draft and saw this massive 131-pick gap between pick #6 (Cross dammit) and the next. Then we trade up again losing a crap ton of capital for Bryce - when we could've sat and probably got Richardson at 9. We had so much to gain yet bled through all that we had like monopoly money. Dan better do a lot damn better.

I really don't see a landing spot for him. There's only a few teams where it could work - ATL & LV. Vikings may be a long shot if Cousins goes elsewhere.

Imagine the capital we could have had with three simple plays we didn't make: 1- Take the reported offers for 1-8 in 2021 - could've still landed Slater, Parsons or Darrisaw and gained a 1st or 2nd 2- Played hardball for CMC and got more for him. I mean, (2) 2nds and a 3rd should've been the minimum target. Or at the least, you know, get a known asset packaged with in return for the best dual threat in the league. 3- (2) 1sts for Burns This crap operation could have had 2 firsts in 2022, 5 in the top-60 in 2023, AND 2 firsts this year EASILY if they played their cards right, never traded DJ Moore, and would probably be looking for a QB in the this draft.

It's a FUN WR class. You get a bit of everything in it. The UVA kid in the mock is interesting but I'm unsure about an exclusive slot at 33. He only lined up wide for 6.4% of his snaps. Also one of the oldest WRs in the class. Still, could be pretty damn good. Great burst. Troy Franklin - stud. Jamari Thrash - stud. Some more fun ones: Javon Baker down at UCF - dawg mentality, big play threat, he's a good one. Ladd McConkey - Technician that can do it all. St. Brown meets Lav Coles. A bit of Cobb in there too. The WAS kids in Polk & McMillan - Big McMillan fan but tricky eval bc Penix usually launched it up to him open downfield. He clears the line and gets great separation. Jha'quan Jackson outta Tulane is a fave of mine - was Tyjae Spears best bud and he has a lot to like. Good mentality, part of a really successful team for a few seasons as the primary WR that beat Caleb in last year's crazy Cotton bowl. Some hype at the Senior Bowl. Deep Sleeper: Hayden Hatten

I said elsewhere, both him and Thrash outta Louisville impressed.

No sweat. I’m more alluding to the fact that the best option already passed us by haha

I don’t like these options.

Brugler who typically has a good pulse on the scouting community has reported buzz around Corley as high as a Day 2 pick. Factor in the senior bowl work he put in, I highly doubt he's a 5th rounder. Great prospect.

Luckily, I can see that aligning this year with guys like Troy Franklin, Adonai Mitchell, & McConkey being right around the 33rd pick value wise. Guys like Latu or Darius Robinson on Defense would be legit. Jordan Morgan, Powers-Johnson, or Suamatai on the OL as well. I'd be very interested to see how scouts stack those types & the WRs up against each other grade wise.

My 2 cents on the matter - We have to find a way to invest in capable weapons that can make game-breaking plays. We just don't have it. This team doesn't have the ability to score at will. So, I think you need to prioritize it. BUT - For pick 33, you can't force it. If you have a RB/WR/TE graded the same as, let's say a DB, DL or OL, you go with that offensive skill guy. Take a weighted approach when it comes to drafting. If there's a guy in your mid-1st block available at EDGE or OL for example, no doubt take him over WR6-7. But if they're teetering around the same grade, you lean offensive skill position. And in FA, you basically see if you can be the winning bid for Michael Pittman or Hollywood Brown. Mike Evans doesn't fit our window at the spot he's at career wise and I don't see Higgins happening. That's the notable market aside trade targets. No to Gabe Davis and the rest of the FA class and we don't need to overpay another RB.