Final Offseason Mock (5.0)

[CatalystNX]

Here's my final mock offseason:

PHASE 1: ROSTER MAINTENANCE

RE-SIGNINGS:

DT Dwan Edwards (1 year)

FB/TE Richie Brockel (1 year)

 

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS:
OLB Thomas Davis (4 years)
TE Greg Olsen (4 years)
CB Josh Norman (5 years)

NOTES: It's been reported that we're trying to bring Dwan back and that makes sense. Brockel is a versatile player and provides solid depth and would be cheap so I see no reason not to bring him back, at least for camp. The contract extensions are necessary both to keep key players around (both Olsen and Davis have deals that expire after this season) but also lower their cap numbers for this season. Josh Norman deserves a new deal and we might as well sign him now before he has another great year and costs a bunch more next offseason.

PHASE 2: FREE AGENCY

Stevie Johnson, WR, 49ers (2 years)
Granted, this assumes he will eventually be released by the 49ers. There have been rumors for a while and they do want him to take a pay cut so we'll see. However, he's by far my top option for us if he becomes available given we can't afford Cobb, Maclin, or Torrey Smith. He'd be a perfect veteran addition to the WR corp. and would take away defense's ability to key on Kelvin Benjamin in the passing game.

 

Marcus Gilchrist, S, Chargers (3 years)

This could be a sneaky good signing. Gilchrist was a high draft pick who has flashed major potential at times, but has never quite put it all together. Still, he still has good upside and if nothing else would be some depth in the secondary. He can also play both corner and safety, though I prefer him at safety personally.


Brandon Tate, WR/KR, Bengals (2 years)
We need a punt returner and assuming Ted Ginn opts to sign elsewhere (which seems likely at this point) we'll need to look elsewhere. Tate isn't quite as good as Ginn, but he's got more upside and would immediately be a big upgrade over Bersin. Another option would be Jacoby Jones, but I think Tate fits the profile of what Gettleman looks for in free agency.


Michael Oher, OT, Titans (1 year)

It seems this is already in motion and while I have mixed feelings about Oher, you can't deny he has potential to be a short-term stop gap option at tackle - if he can rebound after several awful seasons. Perhaps reuniting him with his old OL coach from Baltimore will help him turn around his career. He should also come relatively cheap. It's not ideal, but it's realistic.

NOTES: I'd really like to sign a true starting left tackle, but the truth is there isn't likely to be anyone available who fits the bill. Michael Roos retired, King Dunlap re-signed with the Chargers, and Bryan Bulaga looks likely to re-sign with Green Bay, would cost too much, and is more of a right tackle anyway. Doug Free is an option, but it seems likely he'll command more money than what we'll likely pay for a 31 year old who is a better fit at right tackle. For this reason, I passed on a big name tackle in free agency.

As I said, Stevie Johnson hasn't been cut yet, but it looks likely that he will be at some point. He's just what we need (that we ca afford at least) and would give time for our young WR's to develop, including any rookies we bring in. With Oher we're obviously hoping the reunion with his former OL coach will help him return to his early career form. Brandon Tate addresses our need for a return specialist.

PHASE 3: 2015 NFL DRAFT

1st: La'El Collins, OT, LSU
By no means is it assured that Collins will be available at 25th overall. However, every year we see teams reach for need while better players drop and there are several other tackle prospects who the tackle-needy teams could take ahead of Collins, who many feel is better suited at guard. IMO, he can play tackle - left tackle - in the NFL. Not saying he'll be a day-1 stud, but he'll sure as hell be an upgrade over Byron Bell in the short-term and in the long run I think the answer we're looking for.


2nd: Philip Dorsett, WR, Miami
We're all aware of our need for more speed at WR. Well, Dorsett would certainly address that. I don't know that he'd be ready day 1 to start, but he wouldn't need to in this scenario as we've signed Stevie Johnson to start alongside Kelvin Benjamin. Long-term, the combo of Benjamin and Dorsett could be deadly.


3rd: Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
I really, really like Preston Smith. I'm afraid he'd be gone by the late 3rd, but as we know strange things happen on draft day and he's currently projected as a 2nd-3rd round prospect. He's got prototypical size for the position and we all know Gettleman loves his defensive linemen.


4th: Jordan Richards, SS, Stanford
Roman Harper is not the long-term answer to anything, but Jordan Richards could be. We let him sit and learn and play special teams early-on and he could be another rookie that comes in late in the season and gives us a boost in the secondary the way Tre Boston did. Long-term I like the possibilities presented by a Boston/Richards safety tandem.


5th: Justin Coleman, CB, Tennessee
We hit on Bene' Benwikere in the 5th last year; hopefully we can do it again. Justin Coleman played very well for the Vols last year as their nickel corner, a position that is very important in the Panthers defensive scheme. If he works out we'd have a really solid young CB group to build on/develop with Josh Norman, Bene, and Coleman.


5th (COMP): Chaz Green, OT, Florida
Late in the draft you want to find players with potential to exceed expectations and Chaz Green has some upside in that respect. He'd provide immediate competition for Mike Remmers at right tackle.


6th: John Crockett, RB, North Dakota State
While I don't think it's a lock we take a RB, I do think it's very likely. NDSU's John Crockett might be a small school runner, but he's a player I really like. We have met with him according to reports and he's be a good get late in the draft if still available.
 

6th (COMP): Terry Williams, DT, East Carolina
Gettleman loves his DL and we could do a lot worse than taking a late round flyer on a home-grown talent like Terry Williams. He flashed dominance at times this past season at ECU, but had academic issues and could stand to improve his conditioning, but Williams has the potential to be a potent run-stuffing tackle in the NFL.

 

6th (COMP): Aundrey Walker, OG, USC
I really like our young starting tandem at guard of Norwell and Turner, but I don't trust our depth one bit. Amini Silatolu has been a bust and Chris Scott is a stop-gap at best. It wouldn't hurt to add some interior OL depth late in the draft and USC's Aundrey Walker fits the bill in this scenario.

 

7th: Dyshawn Davis, OLB, Syracuse
We need some depth at OLB and Davis has some speed and athleticism that should, if nothing else, help us on special teams.

PHASE 4: THE 53 MAN ROSTER/DEPTH CHART
QB: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson
RB: Jonathan Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker, John Crockett
FB: Mike Tolbert
WR1: Kelvin Benjamin
WR2: Stevie Johnson
WR3: Philip Dorsett, Philly Brown/Brandon Tate
TE: Greg Olsen/Richie Brockel, Brandon Williams
LT: La'el Collins, Michael Oher
LG: Andrew Norwell, Amini Silatolu
OC: Ryan Kalil, Brian Folkerts
RG: Trai Turner, Aundrey Walker
RT: Mike Remmers, Chaz Green

DE: Charles Johnson, Mario Addison, Wes Horton
DT: Star Lotulelei, Dwan Edwards, Terry Williams
DT: Kawann Short, Colin Cole
RE: Kony Ealy, Preston Smith/Frank Alexander
OLB: Thomas Davis, Dyshawn Davis
MLB: Luke Kuechly, Ben Jacobs
OLB: Adarius Glanton/A.J. Klein
CB1: Josh Norman
CB2: Bene' Benwikere
NB: Justin Coleman
CB: Marcus Gilchrist/Melvin White
FS: Tre Boston, Marcus Gilchrist/Colin Jones
SS: Roman Harper, Jordan Richards

K: Graham Gano
P: Brad Nortman
LS: J.J. Jansen
KR/PR: Brandon Tate

FINAL NOTES: Looking over the final roster, you'll notice Nate Chandler was cut because, well, he's pretty terrible. With the additions at WR, Jerricho Cotchery is also a camp cut. The only real competition for a starting job is between Adarius Glanton and A.J. Klein at OLB.

[London Loves Luke]

Nice final roster but your draft is really quite optimistic. I'd be ecstatic with Collins/Dorsett/Smith, But we may be in just as good a position with Clemings, Odighizua and Lockett.

 

Also not sure we have enough cap (even if we extend Davis + Olsen) to take Johnson, Tate and the others. I don't see why we'd need Tate though if we take Dorsett in the draft so I'd rather we used Tate's money to look at Free over Oher to start at LT and bring some more experience to the line. 

[The Lone Panther]

You really think we get three comp picks? 

[gettlemanjack]

not huge fan of the free agency but like the draft

[Moorgan]

That's a lot of good work there. I don't know how likely any of it is (seriously I have no idea) but the final product is a team I'd be excited about.

[SOJA]

might be the worst free agency in history

 

 

lol found the guy that started watching the panthers this year

[SOJA]

i really like it OP

[Double Trouble]

I like it. Walker is pretty bad though lol when SC's starting LT went out for the year, he still was unable to crack the starting lineup. Lost the job to a freshman.  and keep in mind SC started 3 freshman on the oline...