Some notes from my source

[uscgamecocks]

2 minutes ago, Nails said:

Like hell it has.  The only player in Southeastern Conference history to have double digit sacks in 3 straight years is still in the wheelhouse.  Barnett or Fournette at 8.

#89 was a 3rd rounder, Tyler Lockett was a 3rd rounder, Tyreek Hill was a 5th rounder, etc.  No one is saying we don't need playmakers, but at 8 it should be the freak show (Fournette) or best pass rusher in the draft (Barnett).

We've disagreed on Barnett for some time, which is great, because this is an art not a science.

I'd be more okay with Barnett at #8 than Fournette.  If we want a DE that early, I still think Charles Harris is a better pro prospect than Barnett.  But that's entirely based on athletic testing, which is where I go for DE prospects, not tape.  Hard to argue with Barnett's production and tape.

Have you read this piece?  If not, you'd enjoy it:

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/5/15073514/derek-barnett-scouting-report-2017-nfl-draft

[uscgamecocks]

2 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's  time for this fan base (and this organization) to wake up and realize that Stew isn't a young injury prone RB brimming with potential anymore. Now, he's an aging over the hill injury prone RB and it's time to move on.

Then why did we just extend him?

Not trying to be a smartass - I'd be legitimately confused by that strategy if we draft Fournette.

I don't want to draft LF, that's clear - but if we do, I think you have to clear the decks and let him work.

I still think Stew's got juice left in the tank - when healthy of course, not going to even try to argue that he isn't injury prone.

 

[uscgamecocks]

5 minutes ago, Nails said:

No doubt in my mind Fournette should and would get more total carries than 28 in 2017.

If we draft him at 8, he'd better.

But let's not pretend like we have a great track record with our first round picks getting playing time.  Not sure I trust Ron in that regard.

Shaq Thompson is still criminally underutilized.  Vernon Butler didn't get much PT even after he came back from his ankle injury.

To be fair, neither of those guys were picked at #8.

[Chardee MacDennis]

If Barnett is a target and not the pick at 8, how likely do people think it is that the Panthers use 40 and other picks to get back into the 1st should Barnett start falling?

As much as i want to see the offense truly evolve and bring in CMc for the versatility, Fournette at 8 and Barnett in the late 1st is tremendous value and one hell of a haul for this draft.

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[tiger7_88]

10 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's  time for this fan base (and this organization) to wake up and realize that Stew isn't a young injury prone RB brimming with potential anymore. Now, he's an aging over the hill injury prone RB and it's time to move on.

So you think ol' "love my veterans" Ron is going to start Fournette over Stewie?

[Toomers]

6 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's  time for this fan base (and this organization) to wake up and realize that Stew isn't a young injury prone RB brimming with potential anymore. Now, he's an aging over the hill injury prone RB and it's time to move on.

 Amen! Stewart should have no more effect on the choice of a pick as would Mike Adams at S or Julius/CJ on a DE. This is JS last year as a Panther. No way we take a 5.2M cap hit for him next year. And a reduction in workload, while being a mentor for a year is a huge benefit to everyone. 

[tiger7_88]

7 minutes ago, uscgamecocks said:

Then why did we just extend him?

Not trying to be a smartass - I'd be legitimately confused by that strategy if we draft Fournette.

I don't want to draft LF, that's clear - but if we do, I think you have to clear the decks and let him work.

I still think Stew's got juice left in the tank - when healthy of course, not going to even try to argue that he isn't injury prone.

 

As to Stewie's sub-4.0 ypc in 2016, if injuries on the OL are part of the excuse for Cam's performance last year (and they legitimately are), then the same applies to Stew.

[LinvilleGorge]

6 minutes ago, uscgamecocks said:

Then why did we just extend him?

Not trying to be a smartass - I'd be legitimately confused by that strategy if we draft Fournette.

I don't want to draft LF, that's clear - but if we do, I think you have to clear the decks and let him work.

I still think Stew's got juice left in the tank - when healthy of course, not going to even try to argue that he isn't injury prone.

 

To lower his cap hit this year. We can cut him next year with only $1.5M in dead cap space from the deal. 

[Nails]

1 minute ago, Chardee MacDennis said:

If Barnett is a target and not the pick at 8, how likely do people think it is that the Panthers use 40 and other picks to get back into the 1st should Barnett start falling?

As much as i want to see the offense truly evolve and bring in CMc for the versatility, Fournette at 8 and Barnett in the late 1st is tremendous value and one hell of a haul for this draft.

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app
 

I would sincerely give up the entire draft for those two players.  I just don't think it's gonna happen for many reasons.

[uscgamecocks]

3 minutes ago, Chardee MacDennis said:

If Barnett is a target and not the pick at 8, how likely do people think it is that the Panthers use 40 and other picks to get back into the 1st should Barnett start falling?

As much as i want to see the offense truly evolve and bring in CMc for the versatility, Fournette at 8 and Barnett in the late 1st is tremendous value and one hell of a haul for this draft.

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app
 

I'd love Barnett late first / early second, but I don't think he falls that far.

Despite athletic limitations, it seems a lot of teams really like him.  I've read that the Bengals are in love with him at #9.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, tiger7_88 said:

As to Stewie's sub-4.0 ypc in 2016, if injuries on the OL are part of the excuse for Cam's performance last year (and they legitimately are), then the same applies to Stew.

He barely broke the 4.0 mark in 2015 when Cam won the MVP and we had the Moscow prolific offense in the NFL. He's just washed up.

[Toomers]

2 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

So you think ol' "love my veterans" Ron is going to start Fournette over Stewie?

 Is there anyone in the draft we should take? At all? First, it's Shula so any offensive player is a waste. Now Rivera, so that encompasses the entire team. You would think that we have been picking top 10 every year with as bad as you make the entire staff sound.

[uscgamecocks]

3 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

To lower his cap hit this year. We can cut him next year with only $1.5M in dead cap space from the deal. 

Right - my assumption may prove wrong, but I assumed when the deal was signed that Stewart would play it out through '18, given that we save only ~$3.75mm by cutting him in '18.  

Even with his health issues, a $5.25mm cap hit for a starting RB of Stewart's caliber seems like a bargain in '18 unless he materially regresses in 2017 (which is possible).

But to your point - if we draft Fournette, very possible we just cut him.

[uscgamecocks]

2 minutes ago, Toomers said:

 Is there anyone in the draft we should take? At all? First, it's Shula so any offensive player is a waste. Now Rivera, so that encompasses the entire team. You would think that we have been picking top 10 every year with as bad as you make the entire staff sound.

I think there are plenty of great prospects we can take at #8 that would be 100% worthy of the pick.

I just don't think Fournette is one of them.  And I think many of the justifications I see posted on this forum are wrong.

But the one I can't argue with is that our offense is built around the run game and it falls apart when Stewart is injured.

I'd like to evolve away from our current scheme - which is so dependent on Stewart and his health.  Draft speed, athleticism, and route running across the board for the offense and open up the quick passing game / make our offense less predictable.  But I think the Panthers are more likely to just pick Fournette and think the problem is solved.