MHS831

I don't want to give the appearance that I and the Nostrah Dumbass of this board because I miss a lot when trying to analyze talent, but I was all over Coker before the draft. I wanted the Panthers to take him on day 3. When he did not get drafted, I started banging the drum for him. Apparently, they agreed. (All Hail, MHS!! All Hail). I also thought we should have drafted a DT (Marcel Dareus) over Cam Newton and give Clausen another year to develop. (Boo, MHS!!!, Boo to you!!!) All that to humble myself. Coker is not blazing fast, but he runs good routes and has perhaps the best hands in the NFL. I am tired of drops. He is of high character---a guy you can support--unlike some of these other WR divas in the NFL. Lock him up long term-I am guessing a deal in the $10m range (after yesterday) would not be out of the question. He had around 400 yards this season, so let's keep yesterday as a good game and not a coming-out. We need a consistent deep threat, imo, an explosive WR with good hands. Imagine that. XL? Maybe its back to road kill and Dolla Bill. Maybe this league was not meant for you. Nothing wrong with giving it a shot, making some bank, and returning to your home. Morgan? Your worst move so far. Learn from these "one hit wonders."

I agree. I think LB and Edge are the top priorities, with WR and S behind. I also think we might add a DT. I can't decide on Smith-Wade as the nickel, but a FS that can play some big nickel would be nice. In the grand scheme of things, our needs list has not been this short in a while. Some will insist that you add QB to this list, but realistically, that ain't happening so I will not mention it, but I think this is going to be a great draft to find talent at QB later--players once regarded as first rounders have fallen, for whatever reason. Beck, Allar, Mateer, Nussmeier, Klubnik, and my sleepers, Sawyer Robertson and Luke Altmyer (Altmyer especially). Get some young depth and insurance. The red rocket is a coach and Bryce's BFF. He can do that as the #3.

We simply need a pass rush and some LBs who can stuff the run and drop into the middle as needed in coverage. A lot of what we do is based on our personnel--having nearly $70m in dead cap (2024) takes time to restock. I mean, our defense was worst in NFL history last year. This year, we were in most games. I am not making excuses for him, but I am saying it could be too soon to tell here. I think we need a DLman or two as well. We tend to be extremists on this board. Natural reaction to losing for 7 seasons (or was it 8?). Personally, I would love to see more 4-3. Considering the salaries, i would trade Horn for draft capital and cut Robinson (big cap, limited returns). It is unlikely that we cut Horn, but I could call a penalty on him every play.

I agree. I was impressed with his fire.

Almost had it.

I think there is a S named Tao Johnson that has that resume--been eyeballing him for a week or two.

My statement did not endorse him--he should have had a field day, but he sucks. I share my feelings about XL in other posts (would not shed a tear if they cut him at halftime) and our attempt to develop him has hurt our team this year--not a fan. Same page, bro

yeah, they took TMac away and let Coker beat them, and he did. XL should have had a field day. We just are not there yet--but I think we will be solid next year if we have another good offseason

Yeah, I am afraid developing XL hurt this team. Coker is the real deal. Lock him up long term. Lock up Mays. We might look TE now if we think Coker is #2. In my view, based on this game alone, I proclaim (needs assessment--not going QB as a priority at this time--they will give Bryce the 5th year and we will see from there. 1. Edge. (the second round seems to be where the value is going to be) 2. ILB Probably our first round pick. 3. WR A stud to go with Coker and TMac. 4. TE IFree agent? Not elated about the draft at TE) 5. FS Ransom needs to focus on special teams and baclup SS (Moehrig) and we need a better FS) 6. OL depth (A developmental OT is on my mind) 7. OL depth ( Center--not sure where we draft one--maybe as early as round 3.) Shocking statements: 1. Cut XL, Scott, and Robinson (cap move) 2. Trade Horn (this is questionable, but hear me out--cap move-this depends on the return, but I do not see the value at his current deal. We got lucky with Coker and Jackson--allowing us to get rid of high-priced liabilities--yes, I think Horn --at his salary-- is a liability) 3. Do not re-sign Dowdle (RBs start declining at his age--you already have a high-priced RB on a second contract) I like the foundation. We are close and know how to get better.

Proud of them. That is all

They thought they could take TMac away and they did a good job. Did not know how good Coker is. M Jax is our best CB--trade Horn, imo.

OK, the draft. We need edge help and a LB that can play the middle. So how did we lose? A dropped punt. A dropped interception, A dropped pass.

If we cut Scott and XL during a timeout, I would not shed a tear.

SO happy for Chuba. He has been a real pro.

At ease, soldier.

We are winning in the fourth quarter.

win or lose, I am proud of them.

when he gets a good pre snap read and plants his foot and lets it loose, he is great. When he starts shopping from the pocket, he is a box of chocolates.

We have had Coker all season--yet they put XL out there--he is (as I have said before) my favorite player. talked to his dad on FB several times during free agency--great family. Big Panther fans

we have not talked much about gipson much but he has been fairly decent....Mike Jackson is our best CB.

I dunno. XL leads the league in passes defended.

throw it up deep-not away on 4th down Bryce

we have nothing to lose--there is something to say about a home crowd and a team playing with its back to the wall. I feel funny. Weird, huh?

Exactly. They sell stupid.

We had so much dead cap-- When Dan Morgan was promoted to general manager and president of football operations for the Carolina Panthers in January 2024, the team was facing a substantial $69.3 million in dead cap space for the 2024 NFL season--that is like taking the annual salaries for three or four elite players and throwing them away. Most teams only have about 6-8 elite players (Hunt, Moton, Horn, Brown, Lewis, Ekwonu, Young for now) and these are the players that win games. Imagine being able to rip 3 players off any opponent's roster before playing them--that is how handicapping this is. Morgan had the challenge of keeping the core together, protecting Young, and filling other positions through the draft and not free agency. Our WR room is young, our TEs are generic, our LBs (yikes), our edge people are discount low-budget and rookies--We lucked out with Mike Jackson--but his drafts have been solid--yes, he drafted XL, but that was because it was a desperate move--but he also signed Coker. Yes, he drafted Brooks--but he also signed Dowdle. Aside from those draft picks, our rookies and sophomores are making a difference. TMac, Coker, Horn Jr (WR), Evans, Sanders, Wallace, Jackson (DT), Scourton, Tremaine, Princely, Smith-Wade, and Ransom have made a difference. When you consider that only 50% of first rounders work out--he is 1-2. About a third of second rounders work out--he is 1-2 (at this time). But when you consider that about 30% of all draft picks make a roster, Morgan's rate is incredibly high.