Here's Our 2017 Carolina Panthers...

[Jimmy]

1 hour ago, WOW!! said:

Bet Fournette not making it to our pick??

I swear I don't know what you're talking about seriously. 

[KillerKat]

5 hours ago, Shocker said:

So you guys are saying we are keeping 2 FBs?  WTF?

Armah still has a bit learning to do, but Young has the experience. Armah will also be a beast on special teams and can also come in at TE on 2 TE sets if we want more blocking.

[KillerKat]

And I'm really debating between Horton and Boulware atm. Might just let it play out on it's own. However, Boulware would be so awesome on ST I believe.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Where is the new kicker?

[Chardee MacDennis]

So, from what I can tell post- draft, this roster is in need of the following next year:

Tight End- not sure what's available in the draft, but with the evolution of the offense to more speed players, will tight end play as big a role going forward, or will we be able to get away with a lesser prospect at that position?

OLB- TDs replacement must be on this roster next year.

Safety- will DG simply continue the trend of signing journeyman veterans for this position? One thing about it that's good is you need savvy vets who can communicate on the back end. Youth at safety isn't always the best way to go. I expect DG will simply find another 30+ year old vet to replace Adams.

OG- can we afford both plus Star?

WR- potentially if Benji and Funch don't step up.

Center- gotta replace Kalil eventually too.

DE- still need another young blood here.

So 7 roster spots in need of being upgraded/replaced in my opinion heading into free agency and the draft.

That's really not all bad.

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Ace_Aladdin]

1 hour ago, Chardee MacDennis said:

Tight End- not sure what's available in the draft, but with the evolution of the offense to more speed players, will tight end play as big a role going forward, or will we be able to get away with a lesser prospect at that position?

In order for the draft picks to be utilized 100% correctly ,  Panthers are gonna have to run the ball successfully consitently. That will require some form of 2 TE set, this is the base of offense that allows eveyother formation & perssonel to work.

Patriots are good example of a team Panthers are molding towards, but CAM has the arm strength to go more vertical.

 

[KB_fan]

Here's my attempt to create a roster projection & depth chart.... see what you think of it.

UDFAs not included at the moment.  This is the 87 players currently on the roster following the draft.

• Dark blue = pretty strong locks
• Light blue = should make 53, in my opinion
• Red = question marks / bubble
• Green box = new additions projected to make the 53.

 

A few comments. 

OFFENSE:

1. QB:  Joe Webb's role as a swiss army knife / ST ace is jeopardized by drafting guys like CMc & Samuel.  But, given Cam's shoulder surgery, we may choose to keep a 3rd QB on the roster again...

2. RB:  Coaches love Fozzy, but I think his roster security is threatened by drafting McCaffrey.  CAP seems a better back up for J Stew's power run game.  This will be a decision / cut that goes down to the wire, I project.  Could go either way, but right now I give CAP the edge.

3.  FB:  Give Darrel Young the edge based on experience.  Ron & DG acknowledge Armah is a "project".  Rockhead has that injury question re: his back....

4. TE:  You know, looking at the offense as a whole, I'm less upset we didn't draft a TE.  We're already adding a LOT of new moving pieces at RB, WR (several), FB, OT (2).  So, keeping TE's boring but stable is not necessarily a bad thing!

5.  WR: totally wide-open competition.  WOW.  Let the games begin!

6. OT:  So much hinges on Oher's status.  Ideally I'd prefer Kalil & Oher to battle for LT, and Williams & Moton to battle for RT with the losers being backup on the respective sides.  But we're not paying either Kalil or Oher a mega-salary to be a backup!   I guess if Oher is healthy enough to start at RT and doesn't make a hash of things, that leaves us with Williams & Moton as backups at Tackle & Guard.  In event of injury to Kalil (presumed starting LT), perhaps Oher slides over and Williams or Moton starts at RT.   This is still a bit of a shaky position.  Maybe we keep looking for a cheap veteran free agent that gets cut?

7.  OG.  Pretty well set.  Only question is how many backups we keep.  Scott or Amini could be expendable depending on what happens with guys like Larsen & Moton.

8. C: really the only question is whether Larsen or Gradkowski wins the backup spot.  Right now my bet is on Larsen.

 

DEFENSE:

1.  DE:  Think we're pretty well set.  We'll have to see if Delaire has improved at all, but right now I'd give the edge to our new rookie. Daeshon Hall.  I think we'll keep Horton.  He's been solid depth for us.

2. DT:  Barring something totally unexpected, the most boring position in terms of roster competition.  Looks totally set.  Kyle Love should make it.  Like Horton, he's been solid depth for us.

3. LB:  I confess I'm a little unclear which LBs play at which position when you get to the depth behind TD, Luke & Shaq.  I'm basing the positions here for guys like Norris, Cash & Jacobs based on a depth chart someone posted on Reddit.  There should be real competition among Cash, Jacobs & Norris in terms of who makes the 53.  I've given the edge to Jacobs (experience), and Cash.  But I'm far from sure about this.  UDFA Ben Boulware could be in the mix too.  Remember LBs often play big roles on Special Teams, and last year we kept 7 LBs on the roster for most / all of the season.

4. Safety:  I know many of us hoped we'd draft another safety as depth and someone to develop behind Mike Adams.  So, there's still a chance we could add a free agent here... But for now, a roster with Adams, Coleman, Marlowe & Boston (with Jones on ST) is not the end of the world.  A lot will depend on how Marlowe & Boston play as to whether we look to add anyone.

5.  Cahnah:  As of now, looks like we'd still start Bradberry & Worley outside.  We haven't brought in any real competition for them.  I'd like to see Dave bring in another outside corner to push Worley and just help make sure these guys excel (and also for DEPTH.  Teddy Williams & Lou Young are not really solid backup corners!)  We're still not in great shape if Bradberry or Worley get hurt, though maybe Munnerlyn can slide outside?  Looks like we should be solid in the slot with Captain & now Corn.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

1.  Kicker.  I'd give Gano about a 60% shot of beating out Butker for the spot... Butker saves us a lot of money...

2. Punter:  Andy Lee is a weapon.  Not something you can say about a lot of punters.  Gotta assume if he comes back fully healthy that he makes the team.  But his Cap hit is LARGE and Palardy wasn't awful last year...

[Saca312]

Jesus, just imagine Cam and CMC on the field at the same time.

[Ivan The Awesome]

7 hours ago, bull123 said:

We need gano  to win the job and do better....kicker drafted to put some pressure on him

I understand. I just feel like the Rookie would out perform him. He hasn't had any competition at all. 

[Ivan The Awesome]

5 hours ago, KB_fan said:

Here's my attempt to create a roster projection & depth chart.... see what you think of it.

UDFAs not included at the moment.  This is the 87 players currently on the roster following the draft.

• Dark blue = pretty strong locks
• Light blue = should make 53, in my opinion
• Red = question marks / bubble
• Green box = new additions projected to make the 53.

 

A few comments. 

OFFENSE:

1. QB:  Joe Webb's role as a swiss army knife / ST ace is jeopardized by drafting guys like CMc & Samuel.  But, given Cam's shoulder surgery, we may choose to keep a 3rd QB on the roster again...

2. RB:  Coaches love Fozzy, but I think his roster security is threatened by drafting McCaffrey.  CAP seems a better back up for J Stew's power run game.  This will be a decision / cut that goes down to the wire, I project.  Could go either way, but right now I give CAP the edge.

3.  FB:  Give Darrel Young the edge based on experience.  Ron & DG acknowledge Armah is a "project".  Rockhead has that injury question re: his back....

4. TE:  You know, looking at the offense as a whole, I'm less upset we didn't draft a TE.  We're already adding a LOT of new moving pieces at RB, WR (several), FB, OT (2).  So, keeping TE's boring but stable is not necessarily a bad thing!

5.  WR: totally wide-open competition.  WOW.  Let the games begin!

6. OT:  So much hinges on Oher's status.  Ideally I'd prefer Kalil & Oher to battle for LT, and Williams & Moton to battle for RT with the losers being backup on the respective sides.  But we're not paying either Kalil or Oher a mega-salary to be a backup!   I guess if Oher is healthy enough to start at RT and doesn't make a hash of things, that leaves us with Williams & Moton as backups at Tackle & Guard.  In event of injury to Kalil (presumed starting LT), perhaps Oher slides over and Williams or Moton starts at RT.   This is still a bit of a shaky position.  Maybe we keep looking for a cheap veteran free agent that gets cut?

7.  OG.  Pretty well set.  Only question is how many backups we keep.  Scott or Amini could be expendable depending on what happens with guys like Larsen & Moton.

8. C: really the only question is whether Larsen or Gradkowski wins the backup spot.  Right now my bet is on Larsen.

 

DEFENSE:

1.  DE:  Think we're pretty well set.  We'll have to see if Delaire has improved at all, but right now I'd give the edge to our new rookie. Daeshon Hall.  I think we'll keep Horton.  He's been solid depth for us.

2. DT:  Barring something totally unexpected, the most boring position in terms of roster competition.  Looks totally set.  Kyle Love should make it.  Like Horton, he's been solid depth for us.

3. LB:  I confess I'm a little unclear which LBs play at which position when you get to the depth behind TD, Luke & Shaq.  I'm basing the positions here for guys like Norris, Cash & Jacobs based on a depth chart someone posted on Reddit.  There should be real competition among Cash, Jacobs & Norris in terms of who makes the 53.  I've given the edge to Jacobs (experience), and Cash.  But I'm far from sure about this.  UDFA Ben Boulware could be in the mix too.  Remember LBs often play big roles on Special Teams, and last year we kept 7 LBs on the roster for most / all of the season.

4. Safety:  I know many of us hoped we'd draft another safety as depth and someone to develop behind Mike Adams.  So, there's still a chance we could add a free agent here... But for now, a roster with Adams, Coleman, Marlowe & Boston (with Jones on ST) is not the end of the world.  A lot will depend on how Marlowe & Boston play as to whether we look to add anyone.

5.  Cahnah:  As of now, looks like we'd still start Bradberry & Worley outside.  We haven't brought in any real competition for them.  I'd like to see Dave bring in another outside corner to push Worley and just help make sure these guys excel (and also for DEPTH.  Teddy Williams & Lou Young are not really solid backup corners!)  We're still not in great shape if Bradberry or Worley get hurt, though maybe Munnerlyn can slide outside?  Looks like we should be solid in the slot with Captain & now Corn.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

1.  Kicker.  I'd give Gano about a 60% shot of beating out Butker for the spot... Butker saves us a lot of money...

2. Punter:  Andy Lee is a weapon.  Not something you can say about a lot of punters.  Gotta assume if he comes back fully healthy that he makes the team.  But his Cap hit is LARGE and Palardy wasn't awful last year...

 

 

This deserves it's own thread. lol

[KB_fan]

19 minutes ago, Ivan The Awesome said:

This deserves it's own thread. lol

Thanks.  I actually probably WILL do a roster analysis thread once UDFAs are officially announced tomorrow.

I've been doing some comparison between what our roster looked like on May 1 last year and May 1 this year.... so stay tuned.