Mike Mitchell Speculation

[t96]

It's the one of the slowest parts of the offseason so what the hell...

Talking about Captain in the other thread after reading what Voth said got me thinking about other possible reunions with former Panthers. Peppers is the obvious one as we've been connected to him now and when he signed with GB, but there's another one that could be very possible and would make a lot of sense if it could happen.

Mike Mitchell's contract with Pittsburgh makes it possible they cut ties with him this offseason. This is purely speculation on my part but his cap hit rises from $4M to $8M this year and they can save over $6M by releasing him post June 1st cut this offseason. I haven't followed his Steelers career extensively but it seems he's been pretty solid there. But worth $8M when you can save $6M? Probably not. So seems to me (once again, just speculation on my part, haven't read anything about it from Steelers media or any other sources) that there's a solid chance he's cut if he doesn't take a pay cut or restructure or something.

Why it would make sense to us...? Obviously safety is one of our biggest needs right now, and it's not just a starter along with Kurt. We seriously need depth. We were looking for safety help all last year and couldn't find anybody. Mitchell fit in here very well in '13 and was extremely passionate about being with this team. But the mutual parting of ways after the season really made the most sense for both sides. Mitchell's career was revived by us and he got an opportunity to finally get a big payday when Pittsburgh offered it. Our cap at the time was difficult and DG made the right move not to overpay for a guy like Mitchell at the time. But now it makes perfect sense to bring him back in FA if he is indeed cut.

[therealmjl]

I'd bring him back in a heartbeat. 

However, I think Kurt is the better FS of the two. We are still in need of an in the box type SS.

[Growl]

if we spend the offseason reassembling old parts after we just nuked an entire year of the NFL calendar for the sole purpose of getting "fresh faces" in the secondary I will commit arsony on something panther related.

[t96]

Just now, Growl said:

if we spend the off lseason reassembling old parts after we just nuked an entire year of the NFL calendar for the sole purpose of getting "fresh faces" in the secondary I will commit arsony on something panther related.

We built a foundation in the oustide corner spots last year. Adding old faces to help bolster the rest of the group is hardly a bad thing.

[Saca312]

Arguably he's good, but we got Kurt Coleman as a primary starter at FS, and I don't think Mitchell will translate well as a SS.

If he wants to be depth, then he comes here. Otherwise, don't see it as a likely claim, especially if he won't be starting. Kurt Coleman had recently got himself a raise as well, and I doubt we'll want to pay him that much just for depth.

Cyprien is more likely at this point due to position. And he's likely the most wanted SS in the market.

[t96]

2 minutes ago, mjligon said:

I'd bring him back in a heartbeat. 

However, I think Kurt is the better FS of the two. We are still in need of an in the box type SS.

I agree with your second part but I think Mitchell could play as a strong safety in the box in our system. Coleman may be able to as well if he's playing next to Mitchell instead of Tre. Mike's definitely better than Tre. And if Adams falls to 8 then we've got him and Kurt starting and Mitchell as our 3rd? Think about that group compared to last year's... Massive massive upgrade all the way through.

[RoaringRiot]

I would take a pass on him. Seems like his only good year was with us. 

[Growl]

Just now, thomas96 said:

We built a foundation in the oustide corner spots last year. Adding old faces to help bolster the rest of the group is hardly a bad thing.

If we invest in a 30 year old box safety when faced with the deepest free agent and rookie Safety class ever I will still burn something down

[top dawg]

1 minute ago, Growl said:

if we spend the offseason reassembling old parts after we just nuked an entire year of the NFL calendar for the sole purpose of getting "fresh faces" in the secondary I will commit arsony on something panther related.

Nuking the veteran experience from the secondary was arguably our first or second biggest problem. I'll be thankful to get some old heads back there. A balance seems like a good way to go. That being said, there are some other vets I'd be interested in before Williams.

[therealmjl]

2 minutes ago, Growl said:

If we invest in a 30 year old box safety when faced with the deepest free agent and rookie Safety class ever I will still burn something down

Yeah. My argument for bringing him in is assuming we take Adams at #8.

Those two would be a major upgrade to our safety positions.

[t96]

2 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Nuking the veteran experience from the secondary was arguably our first or second biggest problem. I'll be thankful to get some old heads back there. A balance seems like a good way to go. That being said, there are some other vets I'd be interested in before Williams.

I agree. I have a hard time seeing both Captain and Mitchell brought back, assuming Mitchell is cut, but it's interesting to think about and actually makes a lot of sense. I definitely see us grabbing a SS in the draft, whether it's Adams early or someone else like Obi later but I guarantee we're looking a lot at the safety position in FA, for free and strong. I don't love this safety FA class outside of Swearinger and Cyprien who I think will be out of our price range, so that's why I like the idea of Mitchell, but the draft class is excellent.

[t96]

6 minutes ago, Growl said:

If we invest in a 30 year old box safety when faced with the deepest free agent and rookie Safety class ever I will still burn something down

It wouldn't be that much of an investment, and of course it wouldn't affect whether we draft a safety or not, which I think we will. Do you not like the idea of Coleman, Adams or Obi and Mitchell as our top 3 safeties?

[KSpan]

19 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

I agree with your second part but I think Mitchell could play as a strong safety in the box in our system. Coleman may be able to as well if he's playing next to Mitchell instead of Tre. Mike's definitely better than Tre. And if Adams falls to 8 then we've got him and Kurt starting and Mitchell as our 3rd? Think about that group compared to last year's... Massive massive upgrade all the way through.

Mitchell is a terrible tackler and not all that great in coverage either. Given our current roster and who else is available through FA and the draft he makes no sense in Carolina.

[Mvp2014]

I would welcome MIke back but it seems like everytime I see him he's getting burned by someone.  Maybe just coincidence