MHS831

I will be posting my mock one week from today. Your welcome.

Lotta attention is being given to OTs. I think there is more to learn about Moton.

Personally i want to know how my first rounder is going to impact the game. Forget position. Is he a top 10 talent in any role? I see both sides--but we need to know what we are getting and exactly what he can give us in the pass rush game. Maybe we'll all love him--great character--but the risk is high for the reason you state in my view. if we take him i hope you are right. I'll eat crow with a smile.

I have no idea, but that was my opinion a few weeks ago--now i have theorized myself into being alt-draft common sense.

Bech or Noel---I think they also like Trapilo (OT) from BC. I hope they grab a T, personally, but with BC, they may not feel a sense of urgency

Morgan has been advertising a trade on Ebay and Marketplace on FB. That tells me they are not sold on Walker. I think you are right--Emmanwori is their target, but after Morgan's rookie year as a GM and XL blabbing what he was told (I would assume that this is one of the reasons you never tell a prospect you will draft him) I am assuming that embarrassed Morgan to some degree--and it may have hurt his credibility. Remember, he has to negotiate with players, agents, and GMs--so I am guessing that this year, he will be keeping it close to the vest. I do not understand the Panthers skipping a pro day and then drafting a player when it was right down I 85. It don't smell none to good. I think it makes more sense that they have discounted both players. About the Walker rumor--they have looked at him twice, I believe. Fuel for the fire. His dad coached at Catawba as an assistant, Coastal Carolina, and got the head coach job at Catawba--a local boy, and the Panthers have a history of drafting local players recently (Ickey, Horn, for example). If one or two people get on that train, it is often repeated and whipped into a rumor. I think they could draft a WR (Golden is my guess). To me, the empty safety spot is glaring--we did not sign blackmon and he remains unsigned. Curious. Morgan's comments about the WR room being good--curious. And then there is Moton and his knee. I have heard that we could draft an OT (if BPA) and possibly trade Moton--that was on a Panther podcast. Did something happen in that development that caused the Panthers to change directions, skipping the UGA pro day? Hmmmm. I will say this: I think the Panthers really like Princely. They would use the draft capital from trading back for the S to move up for the Edge in round 2. We shall see. But Chris SImms pissed me off when he bashed Walker, but his points were valid--not his assessment. His comment about overrated was to get clicks.

that is pretty much it...I can't remember where I heard the combine story....Remember the Panthers did not attend the UGA pro day. I found this, and one of the authors was Ryan Fowler (Dated April 18). NFL Teams Mykel Williams Met With Ahead of NFL Draft Atlanta Falcons Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers New York Jets Dallas Cowboys New England Patriots Arizona Cardinals San Francisco 49ers

I think we talked to him at the combine---not 100%

It is complicated, but genius. First, you trade all your picks for 2025. We aren't hoisting the Lombardi this year anyway. Fill the remaining needs with UDFAs. With about 3-4 first rounders and 3-4 second rounders in 2026, you draft the top 3-4 QBs in the 2026 Draft in round 1. Between the first round and day 2, you trade the quarterbacks to desperate teams who need a qb at above market value because you cornered the market--on day 2 you have about 8 second rounders, 5 third rounders, and a few 2027 draft picks--including a first rounder or two. Load your roster with second and third rounders. trade your fourth - seventh rounders for future draft picks. In 2027, you have 2-3 first rounders. Take the BPA. Hoist the Lombardi.

But he is his mother's dependent.

Not to worry, Huddle. I just sent Morgan an email, telling him who to pick. We are going to be OK.

A sack is not the best measure of an edge anyway--tackles (holding the edge) and pressures--moving the qb off his mark. Some edges don't have DTs that collapse the pocket and others are doubled. Some go against strong OTs. If you look at the stats, many get all their sacks in about 5 of 12 games. If your team is ahead, the offense is playing from behind and passing more--there is little to read. I have seen some players get sacks when the initial pressure forced the qb to them. If the QB is right handed and he rolls away from you because you play RDE, sacks are harder. If the secondary sucks the qb throws it faster. It just depends on conditions more than it should, in my opinion. ..So if we are measuring using a play that, if it occurs once per game you are in the pro bowl, we may be missing some important stuff. I could argue both sides, but there are just so many variables in this case that occurs so rarely, it should not be the the supreme measure of excellence for edge players, imo.

T-minus four and counting....till meltdown.

I honestly believe the best teams have the best front office--GM. Forget the coach, forget the owner (unless he meddles or is the GM), forget the schedule or injury history.

keaton is a former Catamount. The list I saw had only 2--Sanker and Emmanwori. But I do recall hearing about Bowman. The theory that we are looking for specific hybrid safeties is upheld by this. Keaton fits the "type" who can play zone or deep and in the box. "He's a physical player with a high motor and a nose for the football. He has a good understanding of zone coverage and can play in the box as a force defender. Keaton is a leader and has earned a single-digit jersey number at Temple, a tradition reserved for team leaders." At WCU, he averaged 6.5 tackles per game, leading the team before transferring. Sanker has special teams abilities and a high football IQ. He can cover TEs and RBs and keeps the play in front. He would be a nice fit as a depth player. I did not know they met with Bowman at the SR bowl. He is more of a free safety who struggles in tackling/run support, but that is not to say he is not versatile within his capabilities. Stark is a SS who is a brutal hitter, but I don't see his hybrid qualities--they met with him at the Combine when everyone was in the building, but that was nearly 2 months ago and I don't think there has been contact since. Emmanwori is who they would love to have in my opinion. NFL Draft Buzz: "His ability to play in the box, handle man coverage responsibilities, and deliver bone-crushing hits makes him an ideal fit for defenses that ask their safeties to wear multiple hats." So it seems they are looking for a type. The Keaton pick is intriguing to me because he is a sleeper who would clearly be there in round 5 or later. They seem attracted to his characteristics, and he is a thumper who can play deep. To me, the fact that they want 2 hybrid safeties of a certain type is rather obvious. Maybe I am forcing a round peg into a square hole, but I love trying to see what skillsets teams value to guess draft picks.

Unfortunately, Ice, there are some blueprints of hybrid LB/edge players who were busts too--Everette Brown is one, but he was forced into a 4-3 DE role here. I would say that the 3-4 defense has a lot of wiggle room for hybrids at the OLB/Edge position--I am just not seeing Walker as an elite player at any one role. Coverage? Rushing the passer from the 9? And at his size... If we take him, I hope that I am wrong because there are some personalities I really would love to be on this roster. Jihaad Campell is one. Bech is another.

But Luvu was a bargain free agent. Would you draft him, knowing what you know now, at #8 overall?

The question, once you agree how he might be used, (the same dilemma applies to Hunter with the CB/WR critics) is he a top 10 pick at the role you drafted him to play? Is Jalon Walker a top 10 edge? LB? For example, if Hunter was the third best CB and the third best WR, would you draft him in the top 10? He goes #2 or 3 because he is the best WR and the Best CB in the draft. No risk. Walker? He is not the second best edge in the draft. Risky. Love the kid--hope it works out wherever he goes.

I have no idea what is going to happen. Walker scares me--although he is not the most overrated player in the draft, I do not see him at his size as an every down edge either. Mykel? I need to more about his role at UGA, but I am starting to like him over Walker--if I had to choose. Emmanwori (S) might just help the team more than any defender on the board. I think Morgan's comments about WR were either scary or just a smokescreen: I think we do feel good about our receiver room. We're looking forward to seeing them compete and just get better and better. That's not to say that we're not gonna invest in a receiver at some point during the draft. So we're just gonna draft really good football players and if it's a wideout, then so be it. ---Dan Morgan, GM 2024--?? First of all, there are teams with 2 WRs better than our best. How can they compete if they have no competition? I dunno. What is the plan at S? They only met with Emmanwori. I think they are going with 2 hybrid safeties, and his function here is more important than his value to the league. They talked to Blackmon and he did not sign. They have 2 depth players-and nothing else. Do not be surprised if Emmanwori is the pick. TMac, Golden or Emmanwori would not shock me.

With the new DL, we should be better at edge by simple addition. What player would have the biggest impact on the Panthers? I still see the plan to trade back and take Emmanwori if we can find a trade partner. Why, you ask? S is a huge need and they have really only looked at 1 visits/meetings. We will try to trade up for Princely in the second. A WR in the third (Bech or Noel).

Back to the thread topic: Jalon Walker. I am not a Simms fan, but I get what he is saying. I am starting to see the signs that he could be dropping. Mocks having him going in the second round. Walker is a risky pick--and my view is this: If he becomes a pure edge as some have said, it seems to me that role would be as a situational pass rusher. I want to like him-I love his character, but Simms says what I have been thinking and cannot dismiss. I think he exaggerates unnecessarily, but there is reason for caution. Quite simply stated, "Jalon Walker is not a top 10 player as an edge." The roster just seems to be right for the addition of a safety. Only 1 of the two S positions has been adequately addressed, and I am guessing there is something they want to do with them that might require similar skill sets, which limits who we can sign or draft there. I think there are 2 in this draft who can do what I think they want--and that is, hybrid, interchangeable safeties who can play center field or in the box. I am just guessing, but that seems consistent with their attention to certain players. Sanker, for example, would be solid depth on a team that values specific types at S, showing an ability to play deep and tenacious in run support (and a good special team ace). There is no indication that I have seen that Carolina is interested in Malaki Starks--a run-support specialist who has issues in coverage. It just seems that Evero wants hybrids--hybrid DL, hybrid LBs, Hybrid safeties. Not sure if they have peaked at Barron, but that would make sense.

I wonder if Dan would take a 2026 first, second and third for the first this year, however. All hypotheticals, but I imagine he is considering how he might respond now--he could even be arranging some tentative, conditional deals now. It is finally Draft week. Happy Easter

They say a 2026 first has the same value as a 2025 second--so it is not unreasonable--

Here is a side question: Would you trade back for a 2026 first rounder? For example, Let's say Atlanta wants to move up to 8. (forget the conference rivalry crap--just an example). They have pick 15, 46, and then a fourth and seventh. The need a line of credit. We could trade with them, move back to 15, and take their 2026 first rounder. It would not help this year, obviously. Me? I would do it. having 2 firsts in the 2026 draft with about 7 first round qbs means if Bryce fails, the Panthers would have the pick of the litter.

I am going to trust them. I see why they might have drafted XL (I did not want him) but he had 1 season of production and we all knew he was raw. Brooks was in rehab---in my view, first year GMs do not need to roll the dice like that---take the sure bets in round 1-gamble later.