raleigh-panther

He had quite the interview on Cam Newton’s podcast Cam was kind to him Why, I don’t know smith has issues…then again, who doesn’t…

You are welcome I was glad to find a simple picture of all of them let’s hope for the best …a different player caller might change things for the better too

just touch image and it will expand

Yep and the ability to move away from a couple,of those large contracts with younger, cheaper players my issue,with Yosh…..do it before free agency

Coming back from an Achilles..,welll,.,,no telling when he will be ready

I have since Ickey went down

agree with you Maybe. The Panthers don’t value Center position in this offense only position they aren’t paying for on that line is Center hard to figure with a little fella at qb regardless, probably will draft one in rd 3 to 5

It is also the smart move as Tackles in general, and LTs in particular, cost a lot of money So, knowing a qb contract may be incoming, if he is there, take him he can also play RT…and Moton isn’t getting any younger, and can cut Moton after this year and save substantial money so bring back Yosh and draft a LT and find another backup during FA it was what ,playoff teams do

Mike Kaye from the Observer also projected this Round 1, No. 19 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia it makes sense The most expensive position after qb is typically LT …a promising rookie, replacing a severely injured LT waiting on a lot of money for the second contract, plus an aging RT who has missed a bit of time, sure helps a lot …particularly when the little fella’s decision is coming if the wagon is going to be hitched to one of the historically small QBs, that line best be as good as possible

Just interesting to see how people around the team and administration feel vs those in the national media not as close to the team draft, such a crap shoot ickey situation is huge to me got to,have a decent, reliable left tackle plus one or two swing Ts, it is a long year.

from joe person In round two, we had Morgan making a trade with Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider, Morgan’s former boss in Seattle. The Panthers moved back from 51 to 56 (which Seattle had traded up for), while getting the Seahawks’ third-round pick (96) and giving up one of their fifths (158). The deal left Carolina with four selections in the top 100. Round 1, No. 19 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Something about mock season always leads us back to the SEC. After taking Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor in this spot last month, we brushed up on our math and figured out that, while talented, Mesidor will be pushing 30 when it’s time for his second contract. That doesn’t seem like a Morgan move, despite having also starred at The U. Freeling, who turns 22 the first week of training camp, was viewed initially by some teams as a late-first-round prospect. But his stock has risen as scouts have gotten more of a look at the 6-7, 315-pounder with 33¾-inch arms. Freeling showed off his athleticism in Indianapolis, running a 40 in 4.93 seconds with a 1.72-second, 10-yard split. Freeling started only one full season at Georgia and is still developing. The Panthers could also sign a veteran such as Yosh Nijman to replace injured Ikem Ekwonu and help Freeling get ready to take over. The question is whether Freeling will be available at 19. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has him going to the Miami Dolphins at 11 in his two-round mock that dropped Wednesday. But at least one NFC talent personnel executive thinks Freeling could fall to the Panthers. In round two, we had Morgan making a trade with Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider, Morgan’s former boss in Seattle. The Panthers moved back from 51 to 56 (which Seattle had traded up for), while getting the Seahawks’ third-round pick (96) and giving up one of their fifths (158). The deal left Carolina with four selections in the top 100. Round 2, No. 56 (from SEA) Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech As mentioned above, don’t be surprised if the Panthers open their wallets next week for Devin Lloyd, Kaden Elliss or one of the other top free-agent linebackers. It’s a position that needs to be addressed with a big swing, if not more. And the second round feels like the sweet spot for playmaking, off-ball linebackers. In our initial mock, we went with Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., a 6-3, 238-pounder with big upside as a blitzer. But while Hill’s coverage skills are still a work in progress, Rodriguez will arrive in the NFL as a three-down ‘backer who had four interceptions last year for the Red Raiders. The 6-1, 231-pound Rodriguez finished his career with 19 forced turnovers, so he knows how to be disruptive around the ball. Brugler, who also has Rodriguez going to Carolina in the second round, noted that Texas Tech coaches called him the “quarterback of the defense.” That sounds like a former Panthers linebacker who will be receiving a gold jacket this summer. Round 3, No. 83 Jake Slaughter, C, Florida The Panthers haven’t taken an offensive lineman in two drafts with Morgan as GM. But he could draft two this year, depending on how Cade Mays’ free agency plays out and what the Panthers’ plan is to replace Mays if he signs elsewhere. Along with Auburn’s Connor Lew, Slaughter is considered one of the top centers in the draft. And the 6-5, 303-pounder appears poised to be a plug-and-play guy from Day 1, having started more than 30 games over five seasons in Gainesville. Slaughter is 83rd in Brugler’s rankings, so this was really the perfect spot for him. Slaughter graduated last spring with a degree in agricultural education and communication and was on the SEC’s academic honor roll his final four seasons. Just as importantly, Slaughter is said to have a high football IQ, critical at the center position. Round 3, No. 96 (from SEA) Keyron Crawford, edge, Auburn This could be one of those classic cases of a team (or mock drafter) scouting one player from a Power 4 team and developing a draft crush on one of his teammates. Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk has been mocked to the Panthers by a couple of draft analysts, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6-6, 276-pound Faulk has impressive length and a high ceiling. But Crawford had more production than Faulk last season, finishing with more tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and passes defended than his more publicized teammate. Not bad for someone who didn’t start playing football until his senior year at his Memphis high school. True, the 6-4, 253-pound Crawford is a bit undersized. But his explosive first step, effort at all three levels and upside make him an excellent value pick late on the second day of the draft. Round 4, No. 119 Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri The Panthers’ defense was improved last season, thanks in part to the return of defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2023. Brown finished with a career-high five sacks, tying Nic Scourton for the team lead. Still, the Panthers could use a pass-rushing interior lineman, especially with the team expected to trade or release A’Shawn Robinson in a cost-cutting move. Enter McClellan, the Florida transfer whose six sacks last season were more than his total from the previous three seasons combined. The 6-4, 313-pound McClellan looks the part with his 34-inch arms and 11-inch hands, among the largest of any player in the draft. Brugler believes McClelland has the strength to handle the point of attack and push the pocket as a rusher, calling him “an underrated player who will be part of a rotation for a long time.” Round 5, No. 162 Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky Before digging in on Law, it’s worth mentioning that the Panthers drafting a receiver in the first round for the third year in a row isn’t out of the question, depending on how their board shakes out. Is it likely? Probably not, but worth keeping in mind. The Panthers would like to diversify their receiving room with a speedy, shifty athlete who can make plays after the catch and in the run game. They took a flyer on one in the sixth round last year in former Colorado wideout Jimmy Horn, who had a couple of splash plays as a rookie. Maybe Morgan and Dave Canales try it again with another Day-3 receiver. If so, the 5-11, 203-pound Law is worth a look. He transferred to Kentucky in 2025 after three years at Alabama and led the Wildcats in receptions (53) and receiving yards (540), a good chunk of which came on yards after the catch on bubble screens and other quick-hitting throws. Law doesn’t have blinding speed (he ran a 4.45-second 40 in Indy), but he has good hands and can break tackles in space. Plus, he returned kicks at Alabama and Kentucky, averaging 23 yards over the past three seasons. Round 6, No. 200 T.J. Hall, cornerback, Iowa With Mike Jackson in the final year of his contract and nearing his 30s, it’s not too early to start thinking about a succession plan. Teams typically don’t find starting corners late in the third day. And even those who do develop often take time. Jackson, a fifth-round pick in 2019, didn’t become a starter until 2022 in Seattle, his fourth team in three years. All of which to say that realistic expectations are needed for anyone who would have appeared in this space, including Hall, who at least has the size (6-1, 189) the Panthers look for in their corners. Hall only had two interceptions for the Hawkeyes and isn’t a burner. But he led Iowa with 10 pass breakups last season and was a willing tackler, with a team-high eight tackles in their bowl win over Vanderbilt.

Im listing the two picks above the Panthers apparently, Dane values Proctor a lot more than some 17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama The return of Taylor Decker in 2026 gives the Lions options on draft night, but it doesn’t eliminate offensive line from being the move here. Proctor has the talent to give Detroit immediate depth at both tackle and guard, especially after the release of Graham Glasgow. He’d be a long-term building block. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon With Harrison Smith’s future in question, the Vikings will have safety near the top of their wish list this offseason. Thieneman was expected to test well at the combine. Based on the reactions from teams, he surpassed even those high expectations and solidified himself in the mid-first-round range. (NFL scout: “It’s hard to find anything bad with ‘T-man.’”) 19. Carolina Panthers: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami General Manager Dan Morgan, a member of the Hurricanes’ Ring of Honor, isn’t going to draft a Miami player because of the connections to his alma mater. But it wouldn’t hurt, especially with the Panthers in the market for a charged-up edge rusher.

I would not mind this It is a smart move The Carolina Panthers might catch themselves a hog molly this offseason. Joe Person of The Athletic, in a fresh article from Saturday, offered up his biggest takeaways for the team heading out of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. As part of his notes, he reports that general manager Dan Morgan and his staff are "spending a lot of time" on assessing possible additions to their offensive line—a position group that is likely to be without starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu for at least a portion of the upcoming campaign. Person also suggests a potential draft option. He writes:

from the Athletic…one free agent replacement gone Ravens prepared to make Tyler Linderbaum NFL’s highest-paid center: ‘He is the best’

The question becomes. Can the team do better at Ickey at LT i believe the answer is yes a d sadly the injury moves that along it will be bpa I’m sure but if there is a decent OT at 19, have to do it given how GA looks for them do I want a great Lb or Edge, yes but there is a little fella at qb