How the Panthers spend: Defensive tackles

[TheRumGone]

No thanks to drafting a DT early next year. My heart is set on Jalen Ramsey. I prefer we assemble a top tier LB and DB core. We've already got Star and Short. If Kony works too, then great.

Could you imagine Ramsey at FS, Boston at SS, Benwikere on the outside with Norman, and Thompson, Kuechly and Davis roaming free? 

firstly boston is a FS not a SS secondly how are keek, davis, thompson going to roam free if the talent isn't there on the dline?

and i'm gonna say keep Star.

[SetfreexX]

Like a poster mentioned we'd have a substantial amount of room as Johnson's CAP hit will not be 20 million next year, there's also still 12 million in dead money on this season's books, and we're still sitting on 14 million in CAP space. I know we're used to CAP hell/restrictions under the previous regime but it seems we are preparing our CAP to bring back our core young players. Now I'm no CAP/Draft expert, but I'd guess we'd do as follows:

1)Extend Luke, and Norman by next off-season 

2)Extend KK in 2017 (iirc last year of 4yr rookie deal signed in 2013)

3)Exercise 5th year option on Star for the 2018 season, and work on extension

I think Gettleman has expressed his desire to retain core pieces and I think all the players above fall into that category. Draft quality players, sign less expensive veterans and over-looked talent at UDFA to fill out the roster. 

 

[TheRumGone]

Those who watched Boston at UNC know he's a SS. He's average at best in coverage. His game is geared towards being a box defender at this level. Ramsey is potentially a Earl Thomas type of safety. If he's there for us, we gotta draft him.

Star and Short aren't going anywhere. 

then why does the coaching staff have him penciled in at FS?. I'm down with a potential Earl Thomas type of player no doubt.

It's not just about Star and Short though. Our line's success depends heavily on rotation to keep the hogs fresh. Cole and Dwan are about done. We might even see some of that deterioration in their play this upcoming season. IDK. We gotta keep this line fresh with young talent in order to see our ridiculously talented LB core shine to the best of their abilities.

Remember what happened when Star sucked during that stretch? Keek got washed out and badly by OG's

[Captain Morgan]

No thanks to drafting a DT early next year. My heart is set on Jalen Ramsey. I prefer we assemble a top tier LB and DB core. We've already got Star and Short. If Kony works too, then great.

Could you imagine Ramsey at FS, Boston at SS, Benwikere on the outside with Norman, and Thompson, Kuechly and Davis roaming free? 

 

"Big men win you football games."

                         --Dave Gettlemen

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

Each year we load up IMO with some damn good talent.  The BPA theory is working.  I think it will depend on who we draft.  If we draft a 1st round DT someone is leaving.   I haven't decided if KK is good because he has Star demanding all the attention or is just that good.  I'll let the experts decide that.  You always have to look to replace your aging veterans but as long as you keep adding to the mix fresh young TOP talent those decisions get easier.

 

[Toker Smurf]

We'll have the 5th year option for Star, meaning he's here through 2017.

[TheRumGone]

Perhaps the same reason why we had Mitchell at FS in 2013. We've got no depth at the position. Boston played great during that stretch but we shouldn't get complacent. We need a true centerfielder. Ron has been looking for his Weddle for a while now.

Love filled in quite nicely in our playoff game against Seattle. I think he'll eventually replace Cole. Edwards' spot is another story but pass rushing DTs are hard to find. Unless we suck this season, the odds of us getting one are slim (similar to us landing a decent LT).

Me, personally, I think getting a top notch safety would benefit us over a rotational UT. I haven't liked ANY of the safeties in the past three drafts. Ramsey, however, is the guy I covet for our defense. I truly believe he's our missing link. He's always around the ball, he's a great tackler, he can cover WRs, TEs, and RB, etc.

fair enough. Although I don't think Love is an answer.

[PhillyB]

christ people, we just drafted two defensive tackles.

in 2013.

it's only 2015. we are not drafting more defensive tackles next year, not high-round ones, not to replace star and kk. i don't understand how the which-one-of-them-is-sure-to-go?! clucking has spread so memetically around here in the past couple of months.

[imminent rogaine]

I've got no worries about Gman's ability to go out and find a few more Colin Coles out there to come in and contribute. That gives him flexibility in handling the Star/KK issue if things don't work out the way we want.

[Panther53521]

Star has a 5th year option ... KK does not. So I say KK sticking around depends on the numbers that they give Luke.

[O-Ther]

christ people, we just drafted two defensive tackles.

in 2013.

it's only 2015. we are not drafting more defensive tackles next year, not high-round ones, not to replace star and kk. i don't understand how the which-one-of-them-is-sure-to-go?! clucking has spread so memetically around here in the past couple of months.

^^^^ this

I think the Huddle has a knee-jerk reaction to the salary cap every year. They're having difficulty accepting the future we're heading into where penny-pinching won't be necessary and we'll be able to afford to keep our players.

CJ and Kalil's salaries are set to drop by roughly $5 million and $2 million respectively next year, then CJ's expires and Kalil's becomes very cut-able the year after, precisely when KK becomes a free agent and our 5th year option  on Star kicks in.

Gettleman has this balanced out beautifully.

[Captain Morgan]

Perhaps the same reason why we had Mitchell at FS in 2013. We've got no depth at the position. Boston played great during that stretch but we shouldn't get complacent. We need a true centerfielder. Ron has been looking for his Weddle for a while now.

Love filled in quite nicely in our playoff game against Seattle. I think he'll eventually replace Cole. Edwards' spot is another story but pass rushing DTs are hard to find. Unless we suck this season, the odds of us getting one are slim (similar to us landing a decent LT).

Me, personally, I think getting a top notch safety would benefit us over a rotational UT. I haven't liked ANY of the safeties in the past three drafts. Ramsey, however, is the guy I covet for our defense. I truly believe he's our missing link. He's always around the ball, he's a great tackler, he can cover WRs, TEs, and RB, etc.

No disputing that, but it doesn't hurt to have a prolific DB who can relieve pressure every now and then when our pass rush isn't a factor.

 

hey I'm just saying what Getty likes.  But our first round pick this year proves it doesn't have to be a big man.  I really hope Shaq is the right guy, and if we take an elite safety in the first round next year, I'm cool with that.  I'm all in with Getty.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

We don't have Hurney anymore passing out massive contracts to mediocre players and constantly pushing cap hits into the future screwing our cap over more and more each season. DG has set us up great for the future, clearing ~50 million in cap space next season and 70+ per year after that.

The short sighted low IQ posters kept bitching about the "bargain basement" signings but the benefit to not screwing your cap space is that you can keep the players you want to keep. So long as these guys don't go crazy and hold out for absurd money we should be able to keep both of them no problem.

[bigskypanthersguy]

christ people, we just drafted two defensive tackles.

in 2013.

it's only 2015. we are not drafting more defensive tackles next year, not high-round ones, not to replace star and kk. i don't understand how the which-one-of-them-is-sure-to-go?! clucking has spread so memetically around here in the past couple of months.

I've been wanting a couple backups in later rounds, along with someone to groom to take over for Kalil, but agreed.  No reason it has to be higher round guys when likely it's not going to be a possibility.  That, and the last time we drafted for need at DT before Star and Kawann we got McClain and Fua.  Do you guys really want to relive that?