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Pro Football Spot's FA prospects for Panthers & some of my own thoughts

top dawg

By top dawg,
in Carolina Panthers

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top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

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Man, if we could shop at Tiffany's this year for a free agent receiver, I would like to make a play for randall Cobb. And, personally, I would love to make a play for jeremy Maclin even more because I think that he is the better value (if not the better receiver after all is said and done).  But I am refraining from fooling myself.  It is just more realistic and responsible for us to shop at Walmart, and, as Anthony Rizzuti of PFS remarked, we still may be relegated to the Dollar Store if other teams just offer more to guys who will even command more than we'd like to pay.

 

So, here (and here) are Rizzuti's prospects for us.  I believe that they are reasonable and realistic, and I would suggest that reasonable Panthers fans start thinking along these lines lest they basically hurt their own feelings (and before they post a bunch of outrageous posts about how G-man is an idiot for not getting this or that guy).

 

Now I am not a football scout, FO executive, coach or analyst, so take my thoughts as just that: thoughts. There are fans and others who get into breaking down video much more than I ever will (as I assume about this Rizzuto guy, so read what he has to say), and I am admittedly more enamored with the so-called skill positions.  But I do watch a fair amount of football, so, at the very least, I don't feel as though I am talking out the side of my neck.

 

 

The Mid-tier Prospects

 

Torrey Smith

I like Smith and definitely think that he would feel the need for taking the tops off of defenses.  I just question his ability to produce in those short and mid-level routes, even though that may be admittedly selling him short.  Can he take double teams away from Kelvin Benjamin with consistency?

 

Michael Crabtree 

Crabtree should be appreciably cheaper than Smith just based upon production.  He hasn't lit the world on fire, but there is undeniable talent there, and I personally believe that he would probably be better at running the complete route tree better than Smith, but he doesn't have the professional pedigree or probably the confidence that Smith has.  Sometimes I think that he has been spoiled by Richard Sherman getting into his head, but I could be totally wrong.

 

Cecil Shorts

The Kid can play when he is not nursing some injury. I honestly know a little less about him than some of the others, but I think that I know enough to tell you that you will never mistake him for anything more than a WR2 (like you may some of these other guys). Personally, his injury history would make him untouchable for me.

 

Jordan Cameron

Cameron could provide another mismatch at TE die to his size and purported athleticism and hands, but like Shorts, he does have a marked injury history during his relatively short career.  I am on the fence about him due to injuries, but he would---at least in theory---be an upgrade over any TE that we have not named Olsen.  If he would sign for the right price and stay on the field, then he could turn out to be one of the better values in FA.  I would say that he'd be perfect for two-TE sets because the opposition would most certainly have to pick their poison, but then I don't know if Shula would even use him correctly.

 

King Dunlap

Man, would I love to get Dunlap.  There is that Chargers tie there between him and Ron Rivera, but that's probably a little overstated, as he was on offense.  Plus, I don't even know that we could lure him away being that he may be the Chargers' top priority (meaning that they will pay more), so he may be an effective top-tier free agent for us.  This LT is probably a pipe dream.

 

Bryan Bulaga

I don't see the packers letting this guy get away, but he would be a nice addition to the line.

 

Doug Free

An experienced O-lineman.  He would probably come here and start.  I know that the Cowboys don't want to let Free go, but that cap situation might lead to Free becoming free for us to make a real play.  I wonder if he can play LT.

 

 

The Bargain Bin

 

Hakeem Nicks

Charlotte's own!  I know that a lot of Panthers fans appear to be out of love with Nicks, if they ever believed in him at all, but Nicks did show some flashes of his former play making ability towards the end of last season with the Colts, and this with a markedly smaller snap count than some starting receivers who put up marginal numbers.  G-man just might check him out again, and Nicks should be even more of a value than he was last year.  If the price is right, to me it's not an awful idea. 

 

Dwayne Harris

From some of the times that I have seen this guy, he would provide a little electricity to our return game and special teams in general. Moreover,I could be overestimating him a little bit, but I am thinking that he could be for us what Harry Douglass is for the Falcons.

 

Kenny Britt

Another guy with an injury history (like several of these guys), but he basically played the entire year, and has shown flashes of being a big impact player.  Of course there was a diva-esque and work ethic question about Britt, particularly before this season, but Britt stayed out of trouble.  This tall, athletic receiver is still somewhat intriguing, and he should be relatively cheap as ,like Nicks and some of these others, he didn't exactly light the world on fire last season.

 

Denarius Moore

As some of you Huddlers know, I have been beating the Denarius Moore drum for the last couple of seasons.  I must admit that the kid hasn't exactly lived up to his potential (not unlike several of these guys), but I don't think that anyone can argue that Moore has shown the talent of being an electric play maker.  As late as this year---vs. Richard Sherman and company, in a preseason game, but still against Seattle's best nevertheless---Moore has flashed.  Unfortunately, he has had a problem with drops, and Dennis Allen questioned the kid's work ethic.  Well, if there is anyone in the NFL that can pull the best out of Moore, then Ricky Proehl can.  Moreover, Moore has the speed that we need, and he can return and play special teams.  In my mind, Moore is an extremely intriguing prospect.  For the money that we would likely have to pay him versus the upside that he presents, for such little risk, he may turn out as the best value the Panthers could hope for in FA.

 

Ed Dickson

Actually Dickson looked like what we thought we were getting for a couple of games late in the season (after Shula apparently flipped a switch).

 

Jacquizz Rodgers

I don't know why we'd pay for Quizz when we likely have a markedly better deal in Fozzy.  Sure Quizz is more accomplished, but he has had more opportunities, and has arguably been used more effectively within the framework of his offense.  I have seen the same type of play with Fozzy, and I have no reason to believe that he (or maybe someone else) can't be just as good as our offensive philosophy comes together.

 

Byon Bell

I am not a fan, but some people seem to think that he'd be a good backup.

 

Derek Newton

I know absolutely nothing about this guy, so I'd just as soon pass and invest in a UDFA.  Perhaps experience counts for something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

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Derek Newton was the 19th best tackle per PFF (6th best right tackle) with a -6.4 pass grade and a +13.4 run grade.

 

Thanks for the info.  That pass grade kinda worries me, but I wonder if G-man would consider him an upgrade enough to invest.  If the money is right, I suppose. It's not like we are in a position to fail to kick the tires of affordable quality depth.

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Carolina Cajun Mentor

Carolina Cajun

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Also, a name to add to this list will be Anthony Collins.  We showed interest in him last offseason and he is almost assuredly going to be cut by the Bucs.  After his atrocious play with the bucs last year, he will definitely will not be getting the money he got last offseason meaning he will be in play in our price range.  I wouldn't rule him out as an option, at his worst he's still an improvement over Bell, and he has the upside to be a very good LT.

 

As for Receivers I know Shorts isn't the sexy name, but I think he's a legit #2 who can compliment KB in a huge way.  They both do different things, but Shorts has been a good receiver when healthy on a bad Jags team with atrocious QB play, I'd like to see what he can do with a Legit QB throwing to him.

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TheRumGone Grand Master

TheRumGone

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Also, a name to add to this list will be Anthony Collins. We showed interest in him last offseason and he is almost assuredly going to be cut by the Bucs. After his atrocious play with the bucs last year, he will definitely will not be getting the money he got last offseason meaning he will be in play in our price range. I wouldn't rule him out as an option, at his worst he's still an improvement over Bell, and he has the upside to be a very good LT.

As for Receivers I know Shorts isn't the sexy name, but I think he's a legit #2 who can compliment KB in a huge way. They both do different things, but Shorts has been a good receiver when healthy on a bad Jags team with atrocious QB play, I'd like to see what he can do with a Legit QB throwing to him.

I'm not sure they would cutt Collins with 15 mill gauranteed. I could be wrong though

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Zaximus Veteran

Zaximus

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I know a lot of people are down on Torrey Smith, but I think he'd be perfect on the other side and keep defenses honest.

 

Kenny Britt is a guy I'd take a chance on, he has abilities and finally looked to have his head on straight last year.

 

Nicks could be a now-cheaper chance here too.

 

I'd love to sign Torrey and also draft a WR, even potentially a first rounder depending on BPA that can hopefully return kicks as well.

 

 

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