TD alt

I mean, I generally agree with your point about improving the QB, but where I seem to differ is the suggestion that adding playmakers, first round or not, doesn't improve the team. At some point, you have to say that if we drop a real QB in there, much like the Rams did Stafford, then we're going places. The supporting cast is just as important as the QB at the end of the day. We aren't entrenched yet, we're still building and developing. We don't have the luxury to skip over a receiver who is the BPA at this point (and I'm not even saying that a receiver will be the BPA).

I disagree. Bringing a receiver in here that's actually a legitimate, consistent playmaker, a threat to to take it to the house on any given play, including returning if he has that skill set, from one perspective is exactly what we need. Being that first rounders increase the likelihood of actually realizing what it is we're desiring then I don't have any problem with it. Half-stepping won't diversify the room, or turn Coker into more than he really is which is a good-sized possession guy.

But we don't have a top 15 WR room. You're the only one that I've seen say this this entire offseason. The professional analysts certainly aren't saying it.

Oh, now we are "top half?" Keep moving the goal posts. No we aren't. We don't have a surefire WR2, nor do we have a TE that we can count on to consistently make big plays. Our receiving corps is somewhat bland to be honest. It does not have enough juice. Add another playmaker, then we'll likely be top half. Our receiving corps ranked somewhere between 20 and 25 in the league depending upon who you look at. No one has us in the top half based upon last season.

I think we all agree that Bryce is not great (at least he hasn't been in three seasons). That being said, he's not going to elevate as much as he's going to collaborate. He's going to do his part, and that's about as much as we can expect. All that being said, even great QBs who can put the team on their shoulders and will it to victory, so to speak, are likely not going to be legitimate championship contenders with a group that's obviously substandard against teams with obviously better players. Of course coaching, grit and sheer luck can play a part, but great play and great conclusions are generally the results of great players, especially when it comes to January and February.

That can be said of any position.

You deal with what you have to deal with. You don't draft a receiver because you're scared you might have to pay them years down the road. At worst, you get something for them if you decide that you can't pay them. Some "problems" are nice to have. Unless Coker develops big time, he's not going to command top dollar. Sure, he might have to be paid, but it will likely be reasonable, and if it's not then you move on: you trade him, replace him and/or get your comp pick. We are going to draft a receiver. We may not do it day one, but it's going to happen. I'm hoping that regardless of the round, the receiver ends up great, and I don't give a rat's ass whether T-mac meets expectations quickly, or Coker exceeds expectations. It's not likely, but they can all be great together, and to try and limit any of them, literally or in our own minds, because we know that the bill may increase and is coming due is a fool's errand in my mind. Just deal with your riches.

You keep trying to make this about Bryce Bryce Bryce Bryce, and in the most important respects, it's about the team. Bryce is part of the team. You can say it however many times you want, but we're not in better shape than most teams in the NFL as far as our receivers, but even if I concede that (which I'm not), we certainly aren't in line with the teams that threaten championship every year.

That is so not true. Our receiving corps is wanting, and everybody seems to know it but you. Coker has proven to be good, not great. He's not fast or uber quick. And as you already have heard, the best ability is availability. The problem is that you don't want to use a first round pick on it because of your own rather arbitrary notions.

Not true. I mean, come on dude. You went to "above average" to "solid." The teams that I mentioned have at least three solid options. Let's not waste time going through the motions. But, maybe someone will see it as fun. Njigba, Shaheed, Kupp (maybe even Barner and/or Arroyo). I didn't even lost everyone. The Jags, Minny, Detroit. I could probably go on. Our WR corps is just not up to snuff. Just admit it.

More than a few teams have three above average WRs, especially when you include TEs, starting with the Seahawks. The Bears just traded Moore, but they still have plus options and will likely reload. Green Bay has several above average receivers. Hell, Cincinnati and Dallas have two WR1s. Philly, Houston, Denver, etc.

I didn't say anything about "winning free agency." I said that we haven't been neglecting the defense, and we haven't been. Sure, we've acquired what looks like some solid if not good players in Lloyd, Phillips, Jackson, Moehrig, and even Robinson. Nick Scott was not exactly dog crap. Moreover, it shouldn't be easy mental gymnastics to conveniently skip over adding Scourton, Umanmielen, Wallace, Ransom, Smith-Wade, Cam Jackson and a good UDFA in Corey Thornton. Every one of these guys is developing. Hopefully two to four of them will be starters, but the others should provide decent depth and rotational pieces if nothing else. So to.me, it sounds ridiculous to say we've neglected or are neglecting the defense simply because we haven't drafted a player in the first round. You may not like it, but offensive positions that we've needed have been their BPA in the first, but that's the way the cards fell, but plenty of resources have been put into the defense.

He isn't neglecting the defense. How much money have we spent on free agents during his tenure? We've drafted a few days two people as well (not to mention day 3) since he's taken the helm. To say he's neglected the defense makes little sense.

Are you Mormon?

That was simply a rumor. He was never tempted. https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/taylor-moton-retirement/

I mean, there are some solid receivers in the draft, but not necessarily elite ones from a historical standpoint. Concepcion was productive though: 919 receiving (61 catches), 456 returning (2 TDs), and 75 rushing (10 carries). The dozen TDs total was solid as well. Projection, chemistry and scheme fit in evaluation comes into play maybe a little more this offseason.

No, I don't think Hubbard is going anywhere, just talking to my fellow dawg.

To be fair Etienne didn't get a whole lot of opportunities. The miniscule body of work (20 carries), however, did produce 94 yards and a 4.7 average. I guess we can conclude that he's decent depth. Could be running on the bubble though as special teams was a little sketchy.

Old man If is dead and stiff. But, to play the game, If Icky returns back up to par and if Walker is extended, and if Moton can play in 16 games and if he is extended, and if we decide to sign one of the four expected free agent tackles, two of which who also grade in in the low 80s just like Moton and another in the mid 70s, then we'll be alright. I mean, all the "ifs" are ultimately born of speculation. 2026 is so far setting up to be better than 2025. People are positive about our chance of winning the division, and that's before they see what we draft later in the month. There's always more than one way to get to where you want to go.

There is like one pro-ready tackle according to most scouts, and even his arm length has been in discussions, as well as Fano's and Proctor's. Fano basically has 32" arms (my goodness!). The optimal arm length is 34 inches. When Rashawn Slater came in, he had short arms, but was technically elite. The closest one to him, who is technically sound is Mauigoa. All the others have work to do. When you add it all up, they may have to move to guard. The only one that I think is a slam dunk to play left tackle is Freeling, though Miller has that possibility but will likely stay on the right. Either way, there is a huge possibility, if not a downright likelihood, that neither would unseat our projected starters during the coming season. Lastly, for all this "potential crisis" talk about tackles, the 2027 class is expected to be strong and deep.

Admittedly I did not. Just going by what I remember in a Panther uniform. I know that we're Panthers fans and appreciate Ginn's stay with us, but If we're being honest, Ginn was a bust. That's why he played for so many teams. And, I still say he wasn't as explosive or twitchy as Concepcion.

I can't see it. Ginn was very smooth, but in no way was he really elusive. He'd just catch it and outrun you with world class speed. He was largely a one-trick pony. No one was going to catch him. Concepcion is elusive and simply more explosive. That release off the line is wicked and he is just a savvier route runner and grittier overall. He didn't win the Paul Hornung award for nothing.

I seriously doubt the Chargers are going to let him go for basically nothing, notwithstanding that he hasn't really lived up to his potential. Honestly, he has just as many if not more questions than when he came into the league. He was overdrafted.

Yep. Not really the point though, which is we're not drafting a Center in the first round under any circumstance. The positional value just isn't there.