MHS831

Here is another question: If you drafted Hunter, where would you play him?

Good thread idea, 45. I get why you added McMillan, but I think I would keep my list to 2--Carter and Graham. I might add Will Johnson if we don't land a free agent CB who is starting caliber--

These numbers do not measure a player's prime. Do these numbers include OL pulled up from the practice squad for a game or two then cut? Do they include players who might have been injured or cut for reasons other than they were past their primes? The average career for an NFL lineman is 3.63 years, and that is because there is a lot of turnover--regardless of a player's prime. In fact, if only 55% of Offensive linemen drafted in the first round succeed, then the failure rates of most offensive linemen drafted and undrafted would be much lower, cause them to skew the average age of the OL. This suggests that most players' retirement from the NFL is not based on their prime, but other factors. They are cut, released, injured--and that is based on their level of play compared to others, not their levels of play within their personal skill range--something that peaks during your prime. In this case, I was talking about Moton, an elite offensive tackle, one that avoided the factors that shorten careers unrelated to their primes. I identify Moton as the team's best offensive lineman on an impressive OL--that distinguishes the type of player being referenced, so I did not provide a lot of qualifiers--as you didn't with your stats. In this article below, one that evaluates established Offensive tackles, it states the following, which supports my comment: "Most elite offensive tackles start to decline at roughly the age of 32 if they haven’t already." So to say that Moton was at the end of his prime was not a reach or careless speculation. If a player has the skill to be competitive and they can avoid injuries, their career expectancy is much higher than an average of all offensive lineman on a fluid roster. https://www.milehighreport.com/2017/2/27/14724674/age-wall-for-offensive-tackles-nfl

I honestly thought about that--however, his kickoff with the score tied in Super Bowl 38 that gave Tom Brady the ball on the 40 yard line with about 2 minutes to go kept me from it.

Tom is a very smart person. He knew the answer. I once said to him "Ron Rivera is undefeated as a coach when his job is on the line." He asked me if he could use that line. Later, I asked him why he did not use it. He said, "Gerry (my name), you know we can't rock the boat around here." I was there during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings and that controversy about Anita Hill was going on. A colleague there, Angela Wright, was called to testify on Hill's behalf--they had worked together in the past and she witnessed it. Now remember, the CO building has a Pulitzer prize under glass at the entrance for their investigative journalism concerning the PTL scandal, but she talked to me just after (days after) being on every news channel in the world--getting off her plane. I was at a table (the sports department worked nights 4 pm-1 am, and her department worked 8am to 5pm--so we barely spent any time together. She came up to me and said, "That was scary. I have been told (by the CO management?) not to say a word about it." She then asked me to meet her later when she felt comfortable talking. I barely knew her, but we chatted a few times and it never came up again. That brings me to the Jerry Richardson "Pie Chart" presser in January (I think) of 2011. Darin Gantt had written an article about the possible NFL strike, and Richardson was on that committee. During the rare presser, he snapped at Gantt a few times and seemed to flirt with Morgan Fogerty. After that conference, Gantt was reassigned to something like Volleyball at Winthrop. Maybe Tom was aware of something he could not talk about--but you were within your rights to question him about it.

Before I read others' responses, The site is so full of ads I quit going. He is a former scout, I believe, but he is getting obsolete. Sometimes, I think he ranks players for shock value, and his write ups are summaries of stats for the most part. It is a different perspective, and sometimes, he hits the nail on the head when everyone else misses.

I do not recall that story. I used to know Tom.

In college, (grad school) I worked at the Observer on weekends. I got to know Sorenson, Ron Greene, Rick Bonnell, David Poole, etc. very well. I worked with Bonnell the most (he was great) and he was all over stories. In fact, I talked to a drunk Jim Valvano once (Rick had me calling him to get a story while he covered a Hornets game) when it was rumored that Valvano was going to coach the Nets. As I was talking to Valvano (he had a crowd of people with him--I could barely hear him), Bonnell walked in from the game and I waved him over. 10 minutes later, it was on ESPN that "according to Rick Bonnell and the Charlotte Observer, Jim Valvano will be the Coach of the NBA's Nets..." Rick called me the next day to tell me what happened. "We had to retract that story. Valvano was drunk and said that to get some laughs in front of his guests in his hotel room." The Nets had reported that Valvano and the Nets had struck a "deal in principal," but Valvano's attorney had not confirmed it , so Rick called Valvano directly (don't know how he got the hotel room #). Valvano told Rick he was going be the next Nets coach (at the time, he was an ESPN analyst). Rick said, "He called today. He said he doesn't remember it at all." Funny, to me. Rick was not that amused. I was just proud to be a part of it.

If you have a list of 8-10 RBs, one will drop to day 3-

If we had reporters covering this team who were worth their weight in salt, we'd know. This is an lingering injury from 2021 that he re-aggravated week 9--He claimed to need surgery on December 12. David Newton and Joe Person should be all over this until they have a response--which should take one phone call

I realize that Skattlebo (sp?) might be a college novelty, but I saw a "dawg" who can catch out of the backfield, block, and I think he even threw a pass. I think he would be more than depth and become a fan favorite--I think his toughness would be contagious. I also have not researched the backs, so I could be way off. I would not be mad to see him taken on day 2.

Brooks is reminding me of Marcus Lattimore.

Good point--I think this draft is great for us at this time--At the top of the draft, the DT (DEs/NTs in 3-4) are loaded. The Edges are deep. We need to double dip there--hoping to move back so we can add three players to that pool. In free agency, if I were Morgan, I would focus on DBs and ILB--fix the back end of the defense. If he signed a S, CB, ILB, and TE, it would be cost effective. In the draft, DE, Edge, and WR should be the priorities. After that, OL Depth, QB depth, DB depth, RB depth. My Free agent Targets: TE: Juwan Johnson, Saints. 29, had over 500 yards with Saints. S: Julian Blackmon, Colts. He will be one of the top free agents--gonna cost us, but not like an edge or WR. ILB: Tyrel Dodson, Dolphins. 80 tackles on just 854 snaps--under 27 years of age. CB: Mike Jackson, Carolina. He is 28 and had 3 picks and was on the field at all times. 68 PFF score. NT: best available for Evero's system.

Khalil Mack is the best case scenario. I see your point--the combine should help

The most consistent Panther in team history. Full Stop.

that would be cool. I want to get a Hoover Jersey--I dont want to spend $30 (weal NFL jewsees friend) or $200 for a jersey everyone else has--Make it a conversation piece. Not a "one and done" vet either. Nice call.

it can happen to anybody.

I like him better.

My record of predicting successful NFL QBs is so bad, I can say this: At the SR Bowl, they really got impressed with his timing when throwing to WRs covered by CBs with their back to the QB (Man coverage). back shoulder, dropping in the bucket, etc. He was really reading the defense-this from an article about the Jets being "intrigued" by the young QB--some say he will creep into the back of the first round--Jets need an OT and they could take one at #7, then trade up a bit to get Dart in round 2 late 1.

Well stated--and it is not really Cam's fault. Go back to middle school--the coach probably just put Cam at QB and told him to run with it. In high school, he was praised and put on a pedestal. At the age of about 16, when everyone tells you how great you are, when you can do no wrong, when success comes naturally to you--it is difficult to develop emotional quotient. Football is not just a small part of what you do, it is all of who you are. There are few healthy relationships, even in the family. Remember when his dad was negotiating for illegal payments from SEC schools? Nobody tells you the truth, and everyone likes you for what you are and not who you are. You are the best athlete in the room, on the field, in the league--no matter where you go. And suddenly, you are injured and the band stops playing. People push you aside for the next flavor of the month. Your life, as you have always known it, is over and you can't control it any longer. All athletes go through this to some degree, but without a support system, it is difficult to maintain. Who does Cam choose to father his children? How does he start dressing? Cam is struggling to reinvent himself in a world in which he might be the "loser." Maybe that explains his confusion and bitterness. Inside, Cam is a good person and I don't think he is fake, based on watching him practice. He is just unique, and that makes some aspects of his life different. And he has to be narcissistic and lack empathy---most top athletes are and they have to eliminate empathy to compete. He is transitioning. I am not defending him--just trying to understand it in a way that does not attack something we all created.

I agree--same thing. Deon understands how to promote players and programs, knowing that publicity helps him. After his first year, I think he had 23 (going from memory) portal additions. I think you have to choose a side with Hunter. I would probably draft him, but I am confident he will be gone. You could have him as a starting CB and bring him in on 8-10 pass plays per game, but I would use him as a decoy more often than not. If you started him as a WR, part time duty at CB is a bit more difficult, but not impossible. I think he will be a good player, but his value is part novelty. I am looking for hog mollies with a hand in the dirt--so I am not really taking Hunter that seriously as a potential Panther--and he will be gone.

Experts are projecting him to edge in the NFL--I am not even sure he'd be hybrid here. Playing both in college, his overall PFF rating was 90. When he was positioned as an edge, however, it dropped to 74 or something. Merely as an edge, he is probably a developmental player with a high ceiling. In my experience, being a hybrid player works to your advantage as a player because it is more difficult to game plan against you; a good DC puts you in position to exploit a weakness. Take that away from him, and Evero might, Walker is not as effective. So I am not sold on him. Comparing him to Luvu was for the purpose of illustrating the only example we have of Evero working with a hybrid player--and Chinn, under Evero, became less effective than the year before. I was not comparing positions.

JETS supposedly intrigued by Dart. That is a bit ironic.

That made them release a statement that said they were not moving on from him---

I am in the "overthinking it" stage, but I will share where i am mentally right now, excluding my therapist's most recent diagnosis: Jalon Walker makes me nervous because if his versatility is his most redeeming quality, that versatility may not be as effective in the NFL. I am not sure Evero would use him correctly, but that is not fair to Evero. James Pearce Jr. scares me. He just does not knock me over like Carter and I am not sure he is NFL ready right now. Don't ask me to explain it, but I watched for him in games and did not come away overly impressed. Not sure his is top 10 either. However, I would love to have him on the team, just worried that he might be a great college player but would be figured out in the NFL. I also think we should start drafting first rounders who did not grow up within a 50 mile radius of Charlotte. (this includes Walker). Thank God we are not in need of a starting QB.... Travis Hunter is a great story, but how much of his rankings and celebrity is based on his dual role contribution? While it has been tried at times in the NFL, never really worked. I think he is a good athlete, no doubt, and a good CB--but not worth a top 5 pick when there is a better CB and a better WR in this draft. Having said that, I think Will Johnson would be a great pick if we don't sign Mike Jack back. He is probably a better CB than Travis Hunter. What bothers me? Having 2 injury-prone CBs. I think we should sign Mike Jack,draft DL and edge and pressure the QB--that makes all CBs better. Tyler Warren is a great TE and offensive weapon in many ways, but TE is not a top 5 need on this team. Maybe after free agency I would be interested, but he is no Brock Bowers (picked 12th); very, very few TEs are taken in the top 10. Many don't transition to the NFL that well, and TE is a position that can usually be found later in the draft. Too many needs (right now) to be chasing a TE. T-McMillan might be the best WR in the draft, but he would probably be drafted at the end of the 2024 draft, fourth or fifth overall. I think we need to after 3 studs at DL and edge. We have to be careful because we drafted XL knowing he was raw, and he was not that bad if you compare his stats to rookie WRs. Let Coker and XL grow, and draft a WR later. I would not be mad if we drafted Walker or Johnson--but Jeremy Chinn's usage and Horn's injuries have me hesitant. Having broken this down, I would love Graham, take Walker, Warren, or Johnson, and I just realized that taking an OT might be smarter than I thought. My take would be, Graham or trade back. If I took OT, I would trade Moton to save cap room and to get younger and a player at a need position. It could be a Win-win-win.