MHS831

I think we'd be better off addressing WR in free agency and then looking WR next year. I also think we have 3 WRs who need time to develop to see what we have (TMJ, Shenault, and Smith--maybe even the two from the PS_)

Some of the older Huddlers are in diapers. Show some respect!

No, unless he plays like Cam or L. Jackson--and he does not. In fact, the team gets the mature player on a rookie deal, which could be an advantage.

I think that was a reveal. It is because Jackson and Henderson cannot play it? I think they plan on playing Chinn / Big nickel a lot, and they plan to draft a CB to play nickel. I would not be surprised to see a CB taken at 39--or an edge rusher-- He also mentioned (correct me if I am wrong) that he was going to play Luvu at OLB and ILB? That suggests (to me) that they need an edge rusher--or they will draft an ILB and leave Luvu outside. Having trouble processing what this is going to look like--maybe because 2 pieces or so are missing

Hooker could turn out to be the best value--I do think he will emerge to be better than one or more of the top 4 QBs--AR or Levis-maybe.

Exactly-when I opened this thread, I was expecting some radical take. As players, I do not see Young and Stroud on different levels. I see the same level, different tools

Have not read thread yet or watched video--hope this does not mean they are done in free agency (for now).

Miles Bridges is on here--Hornet returning this month--from Michigan State--maybe they know each other as well--

If TMJ steps up like I hope he does, this WR group could be good. To me, this team could be special if a few players take huge leaps---TMJ, Barno, Smith, to name 3.

Signing Chard means that we are not necessarily tied to drafting a WR in round 2. That opens up my mocking--yes, its true. I am a mocker.

Chark is not ideal, but he has to be the #1 target right now.

At least he is not a ginger.

I have just seen young players who are underutilized totally break out when the opportunity presents itself. With Robbie/Robby/Chosen and DJ suddenly gone, opportunity is now. Most are thinking that Marshall is a near bust and Shenault is a French swiss army knife, and I think that is not the case. We shall see.

Disclaimer: The following contains speculation supported with statistical analyses to make some general comments that should demonstrate how the Panthers' front office has already provided our new QB some options. The numbers are practical guesstimates, based on a player's past performance and ability to remain healthy. Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR) Terrace Marshall will be turning 23 in June. He played in 13 games in 2022, and was targeted 47 times, gaining 490 yards on 28 receptions. In games where he was targeted over 3 times (4 games) he averaged 61.5 yards per game. Putting that into perspective, it would equate to 1045 yards if he was consistently targeted more than 3 times per game over a 17-game season. So whatever the reason he did not get more looks—poor route running or poor QB play-- averaging over 10 yards per target is impressive. As the 22-year old enters year three in the NFL, expect an increase in productivity and maturity. His mechanics should be better, and this new coaching staff will become evident in his development. Do not sell TMJ short; as the #2 WR, I see a year where he is targeted 5-7 times per game, something that should boost his targets from under 50 to over 100. While it is doubtful that he maintains a 10-yard-per-target average, it is reasonable to expect a 700-800 yard season out of Marshall simply by increasing his targets to 6 per game. If so, that increases his productivity by 200-300 yards. Laviska Shenault (WR) Most Huddlers would agree that Shenault was not used well last season with the Panthers. He was not asked to run the route tree as much as he was used as a wrinkle or gimmick. Looking at the 16 games he played in Jacksonville (as they struggled to find an offense there) he was targeted 100 times and finished the season with 619 yards. With a poor OL and a QB trying to figure things out, when targeted about 6 times per game, he was able to average close to 40 yards per game. With a better OL and better QB play (hopefully), Shenault should be able to return to 2021 form. In 2022, Carolina targeted Shenault under three times per game and finished with 272 yards—half as often as he was targeted in Jacksonville, and Shenault caught 27/32---an impressive number. A reasonable projection would be to increase the targets to Shenault to 50-60 and get Shenault to a total of 500 yards for the season, increasing Shenault's productivity by about 200-250 yards. Hayden Hurst (TE) In 2022 with the Bengals, Hayden played 13 games and was targeted just over 5 times per game for an average of 32 yards per game. Here in Carolina in 2022, for the last 4 seasons, Ian Thomas was targeted fewer that twice per game, and in each of the last 4 seasons, Thomas has been under 200 yards receiving. So if Hurst continues his current level of productivity, we double the yardage from the starting TE and we add a target in the red zone. Expect Hurst to be targeted around 5 times per game and have about 500-600 yards in Carolina this season, considering the lack of a true, alpha WR. This would increase productivity from the starting TE around 300-400 yards. Miles Sanders (RB) Forget the fact that Sanders has averaged 927 yards per season rushing the ball since being drafted 4 years ago, this is about his receiving capabilities. He was probably underutilized as a pass catcher in Philly since Hurts took over as QB, which is why I think he will become an all-pro in Carolina. In 2019, the Eagles targeted Sanders 63 times for 509 yards in 16 games. In 2021 and 2022, the Eagles targeted Sanders only 34 and 26 times (in 17 games) respectively, signifying the changes that coincided with Jalen Hurts becoming the QB. His receiving numbers became rather pedestrian. In 2022, D’Onta Foreman had 9 targets for 26 yards, and Chubba Hubbard had 17 targets for 117 yards. Expect Sanders use as a receiver to escalate to somewhere in the area of 50 targets, meaning that we could expect to more than double our RB receiving numbers to somewhere around 400 yards, improving RB receiving yardage 200-250 yards (this is modest). SUMMARY The suggested targets to each individual comes to 15 targets per game, leaving about 15 targets (the NFL average is about 30 pass attempts per game) for the #1 WR and the #3/4 WR and other players. If these estimates hold up, the increase in productivity--through maturation, better utilization, and upgrades should improve the receiving efficiency by about 1000 yards--the number of yards we lost when we traded DJ Moore. The point being, we do not have to add a 1000-yard WR in free agency to avoid total ruin. We can add a solid pro and a draft pick and we'd be so much improved in the passing game. While I am breathing into brown paper bags when someone says, "Wide Receiver" in my vicinity, we simply need to bring in a solid #1 WR and draft a rookie. If our current talent develops as I think they will (by being used properly and having a better QB), we should be fine.

I do think reaching to fill needs has been proven to be an ineffective way of filling the roster.

They will have a month to adjust the cap before signing draft picks--in fact, I think they start signing them around June 1. So about 2 months. I think they do what they have to do now, and then find the $13 m or so in the sofa cushions after free agency. Remember, they also need about $4m in a slush fund to sign free agents when players go to IR. --They will be signing a WR before turning to the draft. We probably all know that. IMO, we need a higher end WR, so Chark, Beckham, Landry, Thielen. Hardman--

I see that. BPA is always the best idea. Remember when we drafted Beason when we had Morgan--I was like, "WTH?" It turned out to be a good pick.

It is hard to overlook the TE talent this year--and I think that is where GMs get into trouble, so I definitely see your point. We have so much dead cap space and other immediate needs--it is hard to look beyond this year. Once we get the WR positions filled, I think the TE position will be increasingly important. So yeah, I see this 100% clearly, but when I look at the entire roster and attempt to comprehend the new defensive needs, I do get stuck in 2023.

If you look at NEEDS, then I say no, they are set at TE. I get the BPA concept and agree with it in some situations, but the Panthers must fill certain positions. They need 2 WRs--one top end (free agency) and another with upside (draft) They need depth at DE--aside from Williams and Brown, they have nothing (YGM is not a good fit) The need ILB Depth--hoping Smith steps up, but Thompson and Chinn (maybe) is pretty thin. They probably need depth at CB (Jackson is good for 8-12 games; Horn gets hurt. Henderson and Taylor? How did Tampa Bay like that last year?) They could probably use some depth at S since there is a chance we go 3 Safeties at times. So I do not see how drafting a TE would help--but you never know.

The Panthers must sign a free agent WR. Then I would think you must draft a WR at 39. I understand why they are slow playing this one---there are a lot of WRs on the board, and nobody is paying oft-injured Chard $10m in this market. The players will soon realize that paying a QB 20% of your cap is costing the teammates, not the owners.

Landry was injured last year and I do not know the details--but we should consider him--he has averaged about 800+ yards per season for a career---nobody is talking about him.

OK--that does not mean that Young's body is more vulnerable. Cam had a different body from Russ (much more impressive and durable looking) and he was injured a lot more. You would have to build the OL and the QB would have some ground rules--but the part of the body that matters most on a QB is that part between the ear holes.