MHS831

He might be playing DT for us this week.

Too many options at this point--I like the depth of second-tier QBs in this draft--even after a few have announced that they are returning. Howard, Rourke, Dart, Beck--all could benefit from sitting for a year or two before being tossed into the fire. Beck, for example, lost his confidence and it got to him--Howard has shown he can play well on a big stage, Rourke took Indiana to the promise land on a torn ACL--and Dart is supposedly a good leader and his biggest problem is he tries to do too much. I agree that it would be helpful to have a veteran in Bryce's ear, but Rush is not competition. Bryce did not pick it up until he thought Andy was going to take his job. Rush has never been the permanent starter on any team--he is a drifter who wants to make $350k a game holding a Surface tablet. While this draft is not full of starting QBs, it has depth in the area of developmental QBs. That is where I cast my line. Cheaper too. Need an experienced adult near Bryce? That is called a coach.

If you want to lose the locker room, let the players feel that you are trying to lose to replace them. You are exactly right-- Losing games makes it tougher to lure free agents, so the losses hurt you in that area, helps you in the draft--but that is the GM viewpoint only. Losing is like a cold, dark rain cloud that covers the practice field all week long. It is in the backs of everyone's mind. It is like going to work every day thinking you could be fired or demoted or that your closest teammates and friend are temporary. Losing is cancer. Losing today keeps that rain cloud over you all off season. A win, however, gives you more hope and encouragement. It is easy to make it about numbers--winning is a culture. Today we will see the Giants, Patriots, Titans, and Panthers (etc.) fighting for their jobs. I think the Panthers are going to win and will draft ninth overall.

I am starting to think that we will move on from Evero---just a hunch--but there is some feeling that everyone was given a vote of confidence for this season--we shall see. I can argue in Evero's defense as well as argue for his termination.

This represents an informed and logical look at Horn. He is a good to very good CB, but this makes him elite--I do not see it. When he is matched or outmatched, he is very grabby and gets penalties. He is not a bad CB and teams have thrown away from him a lot, but they also throw to their #1 WR when he is on the Panthers' #2 CB....This recognition will be taken to the negotiating table for his contract and he will demand elite money when he is often injured, often penalized, and often covering the second/third WRs. I am not celebrating this because it costs the team money. I don't care about trophies and ribbons for players who are already making more in one week than most do all year playing a game. The Panthers are no better if he is all-pro or not. I will add that some of this is not Horn's fault; perhaps he is being misused and Evero is not getting the most out of him. He had a heck of a year in run support, fwiw. As I said on his draft day, and I was born in Columbia while my father was playing for the Gamecocks so I am actually biased for Horn, I would have picked Surtain over him.

Jets/Panthers strength of schedule tied at .498 again.

Have you heard he might change his mind? He is not yet 21, so I can see staying in, but his stock may never be higher--he has 2 days....Sanders seems to be a "boom or bust" candidate, but something about his SEEMS entitled...

Going back and reading this stuff from last April--Yikes!!!! Our comments did not age well.

You want a true sleeper? I can tell you when the light came on. His first six games in 2024, he had 1 sack. His last seven games? 8.5 sacks. 3 FF. 6'3" 255. Johnny Walker Jr. Missouri

The draft is deep at DT, in my view. I think we get one, but not day 1--maybe round 3--understand that I am never right--but I hope and pray a QB could be in play and we could trade back. I see it this way on this day: Needs 1. Wide Receiver: This is not to say we should draft a WR with the first round. It is to say that I think it is our biggest need. Depending on what we do with Clowney and Wonnum, I will say WR is the biggest need right now. 2. Defensive Tackle/End (2): WIth one exception, I would clean out the DT room (here i mean Defensive Ends and DTs--the front 3), holding onto A. Robinson for rotational depth, whose contract is reasonable. I would look for a DT (Nose) and a better DE to play opposite Brown--one that can get after the QB more. 3. Edge: We have to keep Clowney for another season at age 32, but he is not worth $14m at this point, so this could change to a post june 1 cut after the draft, saving the Panthers $8m of his $14m salary--giving this draft pick more value. Wonnum at 27 is probably worth the salary he will earn in 2025 ($8m), but making him a post June 1 cut leaves only $900K in dead cap. It is difficult to guess what the Panthers will do until you know what they are going to do with the former Gamecock edge tandem. 4. Linebacker: Shaq is probably done, folks. He has a small frame and his body is probably telling him to quit. Jewell is hard to gauge because the DT/DEs in front of him were so bad. Wallace was decent for a third round rookie, but he is a depth/ST player. 5. Tight End: This offense / QB needs a stud TE on the roster. Tremble and Sanders are great depth, and using 2 TEs can create mismatches in the run game as well as the passing game. 6, Center: I think Mays got better as the year progressed, and they will probably go with him in 2025. However, if he does not continue to improve, this is a need.

The salary cap causes GMs to make tough decisions and the RB position is at the bottom of the Supply and Demand list. However, if you are choosing in the fifth round and the player you are picking has a 3% chance of becoming a contributing player, and there is a RB sitting there who can come in for 10 snaps a game and get you 40 yards--you take the RB. You might argue, "We have nothing at Center!!!" but a fifth round center is not solving that problem. And you have to consider your needs on special teams. So there are a lot of variables that go into the decision.

Chuba deserved it, imo. Heck of a blocker--something that probably gets ignored.

They do because he gets no credit when the QB does not throw his direction because he is feared. I like both our CBs and hope we keep Jackson.

You consider all variables to identify the central problem--and if the coach is the central problem, you have no choice. Not to say that he is the ONLY problem. but if he is PART of the problem, you let him go. What a difference a year makes--last year we were worried that he might get a head coaching gig.

that was my first thought. I also think there are times when the coach uses the media to speak to the team or the ownership or the coaches and not the public. You have to ask, "Was the coach asked a direct question and did not want to answer it in a manner that would cause controversy? Was the statement voluntary, and if so, why would he make a comment that is otherwise something that is assumed? Context matters.\

Folks should remember that Rhule's wife picked Chuba in the fourth round---two rounds before Rhule picked the long snapper.

definitely a way of approaching it--If you think "I can get a second round value with a fourth round pick" it is hard to beat that argument--and that is the case.

His PFF score (and OL is pretty easy to grade) is over 70 and going up. He will get more expensive if you wait. How many remember the time between Gross and Ekwonu's 2024? I do. Leave the friggin OL alone--sign Ickey. I am even happy with the progress Mays made. Here is something you need to learn about LT if you do not already know: The difference between LT and RT is shrinking based on more shotgun and 11 personnel. Some of the best pass rusher in the NFL are playing edge on the defensive left side--over the Right Tackle. JJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, and Nick Bosa, for example, are most effective attacking the QB's right side. They like the ability to see and swipe the ball while engaged in a block, something not done on the blind side. Ekwonu PFF scores (if you want to bash PFF, find a better measure and present it): overall--70.6; pass protection 64.7; run blocking 80.8 (this does suggest he'd be a stud guard, but he is a tackle and a good one, fwiw) Moton PFF scores: Overall 75.0; pass protection 78.6; run blocking 64.0. Not a lot of difference-- Ekwonu is a considerably better Run blocker (+16.8) Moton is the better pass blocker (+13.9). Pay the man.

If the draft is this loaded, there will be an UDFA available--we have so many needs--a rental could be an UDFA or a 1-year contract signing. But I see a lot of talent and value at RB this year. Lotta ways to approach the problem--not one answer, and if anyone comes across as there is, he is full of shite.

I like to reply before reading other posts, so excuse me if this is repetitive. He is young and his stock is going up. He has a 70+ Pff rating, and I would agree with that. His technique has improved. All OTs get beat once in a while, but he was being targeted more by DCs last year--that tells me something about him. I lock him down for a fifth year. What does not make sense? Draft him, develop him, and if he is not performing at an elite level, let him walk. We are not a farm team. He is coachable and has responded to coaching. Coach him up. Most OL peak around 30. No brainer.

Not an easy call, either way. Good post.

Dave was loyal to Bryce-when everyone wanted him gone. I expected him to be loyal to Evero--and I expect Tepper to learn from it. Frankly, it would be wrong to fire him after only drafting a LB and some day 3 players, losing Burns, Shaq, Brown, Gross Matos, D. Jackson, Chinn, Luvu-- Yikes. No--the old way would be to fire Evero. The Canales way will be to thank him for doing the job he did.

Looking like (but who knows) Rodgers is going to move on, based on a few internet rumors. One of which (take with grain of salt) is a trade with Dallas.

I think we have dropped him more than scouts have based on his injury history---Ewers had a Manning looking over his shoulder and he kept his job and made Texas a possible national champion--not sure he can do more than that. Raiders, Giants, Browns (I would wager), Titans, Jets (probably--Rodgers is a turd), and maybe even the Saints (expected to be over cap by $60m--cutting Carr saves them $40m, or so). I imagine there will be trades if teams like New England and Jax are in the top 5. Gotta think about the veterans who are going to be shopped--Rodgers, Cousins, etc. but I do not see a strong market for vets who were paid to revive a program and lost. Someone might go after Fields and I can see a team taking a flyer on Lance (doubt it), but there really aren't going to be many names in free agency. And you have to consider salary--what does Fields cost you? $10-12 million? Ewers at pick #10, for example, might cost you $5m- so yeah, I could see a team spending a first rounder on a player like Ewers--(after today's game, Milroe's stock is dropping). I would draft him. I am guessing the Giants, Raiders, and Browns are in best position to grab a QB with the Raiders on the outside looking in. Lot could change after Sunday--

How does Jansen not win that special teams MVP? Anyone who watched our OL play would have voted for them before Bryce--I would vote for the Guards and Moton before Bryce. No worries--fluff.