WhoKnows

There’s no comparison. There are a bunch of HOF WRs on the “small” size. Young is on the small side of even the smaller QBs. I don’t know if he will have an issue or not, just that Smith’s size is so not relevant and might be the perfect example of apples to oranges.

Dear football gods, please let the Panthers pick the right one. We already were 1 pick from Herbert and you teased us with only 7 truly healthy seasons of Cam, so give us a fuging break for once. It would be nice to look back with my youngest (born here, big fan) in a decade and go hot damn we pulled the Manning over the Leaf.

I’m glad we extended him but Bozeman is way overrated in here. He’s not a top C, he’s an average center, which is good because it’s not a hole. Outside the top 5 OLs there’s at least one sub 40 hole (except Pats). It’s nice, assuming health will not be an issue, to have average to above average at every spot.

I really hope not. At Thielin’s current age, Proehl had one season with 561 yards and no other above 500 yard years in the other 6 years. I am hoping for a lot more production than that here from what I expect to be our WR1.

Also, they don’t have to pay Chase for 3 more years with the 5th year option and 2 more for Burrow. Yes, I know they’ll extend them earlier but they aren’t close to worrying about it with low cap $$$s earlier in contracts. Honestly, probably have 5 years with 0 worry.

Why would Cincinnati trade him? They are a SB contender. That would be a very dumb move and it’s not happening.

Dear lord, those stats are like the ridiculous numbers the Teddy fan boys put up there. Luck put up great stats with Wayne, Hilton and Allen/Fleener at TE. We don’t have that or even close to that and you think Young/Stroud as rookies will better that? I feel like this fan base is setting themselves up for a lot of disappointment this year expecting us to be real contenders year 1 of a rookie QB and a new staff.

That’s why I don’t want us to ignore the TE prospects for the second tier of WRs in a class where the top tier is well below recent years. Cheaper FA WRs could be better placeholders to maybe use our 2024 2nd or 2025 1st on a better, true WR1.

We have limited picks the next few years and a rookie QB who doesn’t have to win the SB this year or next. We aren’t Mahomes’ KC that was in the playoffs before he started or Burrow’s Bengals that didn’t have to trade up. It’s likely going to take us more than 2 or 3 years to get to a SB. We have to draft extra value with every pick. No more wasting picks on long snappers. You take the day 2 ranked G instead. If it’s the best TE class in years and guys in the 2nd are 1sts in other years, take advantage so that you earn back your trade value in the draft.

I can honestly say that A) I don’t recall Ian Thomas standing out the entire year and B) I would bet decent money that if released we could probably re-sign him after the draft. Also, philosophically, I disagree with your draft approach. We are not competing for a SB this year. Simple as that. Hurst is a middle of the road TE. He’s got a bigger name than his results and he’s going to be 30 before the season starts and he’s on his 4th team. At this point Hurst has 1700 total yards. Olsen at this point had already been to the pro bowl and had over 5000 yards. He’s not going to be a stud, he just plugs a hole filled by possibly the worst TE1 in the league. If we pass over a potential stud TE in this best TE class in many years for a middling WR in a not so good WR class then we are doing a disservice to our QB.* We traded away a lot to get our rookie QB. I’m fine with Hurst and Sanders, but I hope we aren’t drafting to try and fill open spots or find our DJ if the draft isn’t deep at those spots. It shouldn’t be about winning this year if it costs us way more cap than it should (FA WRs are terrible) or if we don’t go true BPA. I’m patient if the rookie flashes, we all will be. We picked a great year to need a TE, wouldn’t be good if we waste it on keeping Thomas. * Not saying don’t draft a WR this year if a good one drops, just don’t reach for a WR. DJ was the first WR taken and he dropped to 20 or 21 because it was a bad class. Maybe that happens this year and one of the top tier WRs fall.

Exactly, nice that he took a pay cut for 2 years but we’d save way more just releasing a guy who adds very little. Also, I’d rather have the TE3 spot go to a rookie in this really deep and strong TE class. Watch us pass over a stud TE at 39 now and reach for a WR that isn’t as good.

Is it? We save $2M but now he’s likely finishing the contract out as a TE2 splitting time with Tremble. His 2023 salary was $3.2M already so we would have save that and his 2024 salary if we released him. That would have also opened a spot for a rookie TE. Hurst, Tremble and rookie seems like a much better deal and more savings. Why er don’t just rip the bandaid off sometimes, I don’t know. He’s not a good blocker and he barely catches anything and now he’s not TE1.

Hahahahahaha! Completely missed that because of Burns!

No kidding and Smith already played 5 years before the 90s even started. Comparing the sizes of guys drafted 34 years apart? All you have to do is be a Panthers fan and watched games to think Burns makes zero sense as a 3-4 DE. Have his run stops are using his speed to come around unblocked to make the tackle from behind. Hey guys, let’s line him up so he has to go through the tackle and guard first.

SMH. Bruce Smith was drafted 38 years ago. The size of NFL players is drastically different and Smith was bigger. Go ahead and put Burns at 3-4 DE and see how he does.

In what world is Burns a 3-4 DE?

Makes me sad when I read that. We gave Donte a big contract and spent a high 3rd on CJ. We’ll know soon on CJ as I think his 5th year option will not be cheap and I think you have to declare the 5th year option this offseason (year 4). They changed it with Sam where it’s now guaranteed, period, as soon as you declare it.

Let’s hope. Tired of being let down for 5 years. Been a complete suck fest after realizing our “guy” was done in by injury.

You might want to read it again. Skill positions are the guys around the QB. CMC and DJ>>>>>>>>Foreman and Hurst I said the rookie QB is the only way we improve. I hope the rookie we pick does make that much of an improvement.

Yes, it would. His base salary is $3.2M this year. His roster bonus is guaranteed so we pay that regardless. Depending on if you 6/1 him, that money could go across this year and next but the total cap savings is that salary this year. If you keep him on the team this year, that base salary paid comes out of the cap. Releasing him means it never hits the cap regardless of what type of release due to rollover. I’m assuming no way we keep him in 2024 as well.

Skill position-wise, we aren’t close to where we started last year. CMC and DJ are gone and we have Hurst. Rookie QB is the only way we improve on that because there are no FAs available to get us better than CMC and DJ at the skill positions. I’m hopeful the rookie is a stud, we need to catch a break.

Not quite yet IMHO. We are definitely a step down without DJ so let’s see. End of the day, pick #1 is all that matter TBH. If the rookie has it, we’ll be fine. If he doesn’t then we are who we’ve been lately.

He also has the best TE in the game. Hurst <<<<<<<<< Kelce and Mahomes is a bit beyond whoever we pick right now. Also, Reich has never done what Reid did.

Not to be a Debbie Downer but there’s some truth. Dalton, Hurst and Thielin and even Jamal Williams don’t make us close to a scary offense. None of them can be the guy who can still do a lot when the D focuses on them. No matter which FA WRs we sign, there’s no one who can go against the #1 CB or be the doubled guy and perform well. DJ wasn’t elite but no FA is close to him.

Love the optimism but we still need a lot more weapons.