MHS831

If they think Moton is on a bad wheel, RT would become our biggest need. I smell a little smoke there--stay tuned. If so, we could trade back a few spots and draft a top OT--Ohio State's Josh Simmons was injured most of the season, but he is a tremendous athlete and has a background at RT. I just do not know about the knee--I sense that he will be fine, but I have heard so many stories of big men going "bone on bone" living on cortisone shots until it is over. From the available list and our needs, I think you have to draft DL, but if Will Johnson is there and you can't trade back, Horn and Johnson would be a stud CB tandem. Better take a 10-year lockdown CB than reach for a Green or Pearce, in my opinion. That could change after combine. I think we will trade back and I think it will be to a team looking for an OT with few other needs. There are so many teams that need OTs this year. The Rams, Ravens, Chiefs, etc. come to mind. Few Needs, must have OTs.

And in the long run, that could be the best thing for now...Coker and XL can step up. AT gets an understudy who can split time. A new TE and a mid round might be the smart play.

Stewart is the kind of player someone falls in love with. He can play edge and get after the qb and he is big enough to move inside on third down. I would interview him. Interesting take on Penn State. I have a problem taking a TE in the first round.

No, and I get that. I am just saying that there are rumblings and rumors. If I were a GM that needed a QB, I am not sure I would invest a top 5 overall pick on him. I 'd rather have an OT and Will Howard, for example. Not participating is common, but I would not be surprised to see him fall like Aaron Rodgers. He is not a home run.

I did not realize they had buyer's remorse a few weeks after giving him $90m guaranteed -- how does anyone in the building keep their job after that. It sounds like the owner got involved--but he should have been involved before signing Cousins. Man, that was bad.

Yeah, but how does that happen? It blew me away--each step of the process.

I know and I agree with you 100% from a perspective, but what does he have to lose? Sanders, most not his fault, is complicated, and there are concerns about his focus and attitude. (see below for an article about that). First, just talk talent. Many believe this is a weak QB class and Sanders is coming off a "less than amazing" year. Some say there is no QB with a first round grade. I also think, in my heart of hearts, that there are a few QBs in this draft with skills that will be on display. Howard, Ewers, Dart, for example. If they throw well and Sanders is standing on the side wearing a hoodie and wiping his forehead with a towel with a gold embroidered dollar sigh, they might opt to take the OT, for example, and grab one of these "next tier" QBs in round 2. If you have an early first round pick, you do not get better drafting a second round talent in the top 3 of the draft. If he were Cam Newton, I could see sitting out-oh wait, Cam participated. I just do not think a QB who is probably going to be over drafted coming off a poor season should be resting on his laurels. I know there is a business side, but as a competitor, I say put it out there. Not participating comes off (from that perspective) that you are hiding something or worse--you think it is beneath you. Personally, I don't think Ward should sit out either, but I understand the business side for Ward more than Sanders. Sanders is a very risky pick, in my opinion, in the top 5. While this time of year is about the magnifying of problems that are no big deal--Sanders comes off as if he is entitled to a degree. "CBS Sports' latest mock draft predicts him falling to No. 21, with Miami's Cam Ward emerging as the potential top pick. Complicating matters are reports that some NFL teams have questions about Sanders' focus. According to NFL Rookie Watch, teams are wary of his off-field pursuits, including his interest in music and branding, which could impact his draft stock. "Some NFL teams are reportedly 'concerned' that Sanders isn't solely focused on football, but rather his rap career and creating a personality out of himself," the report stated. Despite the speculation, Sanders remains confident in his abilities. After ESPN's Field Yates projected him to be selected sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders quickly dismissed the prediction, saying, "That's cap bruh, I ain't going sixth." This is why I thought he should show scouts that he is serious about football. Cam Ward does not have a famous dad coach etc. and a lot of teams may worry that he puts himself above the team--that is a legit concern, and why you might hesitate to give a QB with second round talent an early first round commitment.

I figured he wouldn't but he is coming in following a good year. Sanders had 10 picks and the 20th QBR--I would have wanted to show scouts that is a fluke. Ward had 7 picks but his QBR was rated second. I am thinking from the perspective of the agent--I think Sanders is smooth when there is not rush so I would have had him participate.

Milton Williams (Eagles) DT free agent Panthers rumored to be targeting the 25 year old DL in free agency

I was not clear, but the locker room and front office problems could arise from this--on paper I see it. Having $70m at the QB spot with Penix being your QB is a stinger that takes away the benefit of having a QB on that rookie deal. I look at that 4 years as an opportunity to get your affairs in order...

I think that is a good thing. I see him as overrated. Going out on a limb. I think there is a free agent who has been overshadowed a bit and could be ready to break out without breaking the bank. Not that Alpha X #1 WR, but one that could benefit in our system. Had 3 seasons of about 400-500 yards in Arizona and was on IR with the Falcons in 2024. Rondale Moore. A former second rounder who could be very cheap. He is 25. Some have told me that he is done--I think he is worth giving a shot.

I don't know why this bothers me, but I saw where Sanders is not working out at the Combine. He does not have a first-round grade, and his season was below expectations. I would participate.

I think he would add to Evero's system as well. I forget what famous coach said, "You don't force players into your system, you develop a system that maximizes the success of your players." I am looking forward to the combine--it seems things start rolling afterwards.

I think he is being looked at primarily as an edge, but I would use him like you suggest. His rating as a defensive player is very high, but if you take only the plays where he was an edge rusher, there are several who are better. Shaq (remember he was at Washington and they were on the quarter system when we drafted him, so he missed a lot of the OTAs) We went to the OTA (used to go to 1 per year) that was his first day in Panther gear. I am 6'1" but was listed as 6'2" as a player, so I get the nudging. However, he came up to my kids to sign their mini helmets and he was probably maybe 6 feet tall and weighed about 210-15. He looked like a DB. His frame is not thick; I am guessing it was tough to keep his weight at 225. Wear and tear. When the panthers have been successful, they have had a slobber knocker in the middle. We don't have that player now.

Waldo makes a good point about Atlanta, but I wonder if they did not create a self-inflicted wound. Signing Cousins to a four-year deal in March, 2024 at $180m ($90m guaranteed) means that the Falcons, if you include Penix Jr, will have nearly $70m in cap space at QB in 2025. I am not confident either QB is good enough to win the South, NFC, or Super Bowl, so it is as if they did this to themselves. By drafting a QB in the first behind your $100m veteran, you created a situation that would force a move if Cousins faltered, instead of letting him play through it. If Cousins struggles and you don't put Penix in, then the fans question the decision to draft a 24-year old QB who can't take over at the end of his rookie season. However, drafting a first round QB a few weeks after signing an established QB to a long contract with nearly $100m guaranteed is in itself a head scratcher because Cousins sighed a deal that indicates a trust in his ability. So it was not only financially questionable, it was emotionally questionable. It cast doubt not only on Cousins, but on the entire front office.

I would love to have some great center too, but Mays is not hurting us and his pass blocking is good. I am not sure of the finances, but Corbett should return if it saves us $$ and does not kick the can down the road. If I am the OC, I would start Mays over Corbett until Corbett earns it. If I were a team looking for help at guard entering the draft, I would make an offer for Zavala. He played very well this past season--too well to be sitting on the bench. Watch the Lions, Vikings, or Eagles. BC will shop his services and he will get some attention in free agency, but in my view, he is a backup swing T--time they spent making him a guard may have been do to his arm length, but his feet say, "I am a tackle." I don't expect him to return. Mays will be back and I pray Jackson will. In free agency, I don't see how Morgan avoids signing at least 1 safety. I am very curious to see what we do at WR. Imo, Higgins would be a mistake. I could have 1000 yards if I played with Burrow and across from Chase.

For the past several years, the Panthers were not boxed in due to QB (imagine if we signed Watkins), but we had the dead cap which had the same impact.

Reminds me of another Marshall player with some "Character issues" who dropped in the draft several years ago. Heck, I was a turd when I was 20--whatever it was, I might have him beat. (Inference here is that I am no longer a turd--something I can prove because it is on my resume)

When I hear "dawg," I think nasty, high motor, over achiever, frothing at the mouth, etc. I do not think of a guy who has all the tools yet disappears for long stretches should be a top 10 pick. Some players have always had better tools and athleticism and have not had to work hard to be the best in middle school, high school, college, etc. Williams comes across like that kinda guy. Give me Skattelbo and Jack Bech and Jeffrey Bassa and Darius Alexander--mid round dawgs who will stick on a roster.

I don't know either, but I can say that I heard something a few weeks ago (No details were provided) about a "character issue" and I have not heard anything about it since. I also think, after the combine, Shemar Stewart will be a top 10-15 pick.

I do believe that Stewart is going to turn heads at the combine. In my mind, he is sitting there around 20-25 right now. I would not be mad.

I went for broke. If I am right, I will start my own "mic drop" thread, and if I am wrong, which is pretty likely, I will call the person who brings it up petty and sad. Its a win win.

Not sure they made the whole thing up or that Incognito would have a chance in hell suing Martin--when Incognito leaves evidence like this: ""Hey, wassup, you half-niggxr piece of sh*t. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. I'll sh*t in your fukking mouth. I'm going to slap your fukking mouth, I'm going to slap your real mother across the face [laughter]. Fukk you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you." I get the locker room hazing--it is rough at times. In college, I had to sing in front of the entire team, get Seniors milk in the cafeteria or training table, carry helmets to practice--but it was all 37 freshman, not just me. Eventually, I retaliated (toward the end of the season). I wrote and sang song about the Seniors that mocked them--I put salt in their milks, etc. But by then, we had bonded. There was a 6-8, 328 lb player who used to grab me after practice and squeeze me (hard to breath after practice). After our final practice, he threw me into the cold lake beside the practice field. It was never malicious in my mind. I encouraged it. HOWEVER, If I heard an upperclassman address one of my freshmen teammates like this, I would have taken some action on his behalf. It crosses several lines. I mean, at no time in any situation is it OK to call someone a racial slur, threaten him with physical abuse/assault, threaten his mother with physical violence, and then communicate a death threat. Humor? Sarcasm? No--this was part of a pattern. If I were Martin, I would not want to stay there after this alone, but if I already wanted an out, Cognito provided it. My point is not to state who did what and what was made up or not--this alone is criminal. You seem to imply that Incognito was falsely accused. Hard to defend that argument when they have evidence like this. This alone will prevent Incognito from suing anyone. Do you think a jury or judge would hear this and consider Incognito a victim? Nope. I get the impression that Martin did not love football and wanted out, and his heart was not in it. This became his golden ticket. Did Incognito increase his motivation for wanting out? Yes. there is an 11-year old Hispanic girl who was recently bullied at school. They called her immigrant and told her that she would be deported because her family is full of rapists and murderers. She committed suicide--at 11. Do you think the politicians will accept any responsibility? This is what THEY were saying. Do you think the teachers who may have witnessed this and dismissed it as trivial or "kids being kids". Will the bullies take responsibility? When you bully, what happens next is on you, and if it backfires, you can't sue.

Hard to say before free agency. 2 needs at DE/DT; 1 or 2 at Edge

Shemar Stewart will blow everyone away with his size, agility, speed, etc and be the talk of the combine. This will throw him into the top 10. The Panthers will draft him.