Monday Morning GM

[MHS831]

Dear Scholars of the off season,

I have developed my initial take on the off season.  Jeremy is  right, we have a lot of holes to fill.  I do not see the window  closing, however, but Marty will have to do more than give $$$ to  coaches  that support his ideology.  Instead, he needs to make some tough decisions and release some veterans who are performing below average.  Obviously, these are my thoughts, derived from watching TV like everyone else.  But I see the Panthers about 5 good players away from being very good in 2018.  I am sure that some of you have different ideas, and some of these might piss some of you off. Just some talking points.  I am starting to get pissed that Hurney is our GM.

Priority:  Sign Norwell long term, Peppers for 1 season, Star long term  if possible.

Veteran Releases: Stewart, Anderson, Dickson, Johnson

Veteran Releases after 2018: Kalil, Kalil, Munnerlyn, Coleman, Adams

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

QUARTERBACK: Cam is entering his prime and has 2 years left on his deal.  Who knows what will happen, but Garrett outplayed Anderson in the preseason and maybe we can find a gem in free agency to compete with Gilbert. Anderson is getting paid about $100,000 per game to simulate jump shots on the sideline and suck when we need him to play. Cut: Derek Anderson-his style does not fit the offense, he will be 35.  SAVINGS: $1m or so.

• ·         Cam Newton

• ·         Garrett Gilbert

• ·         Sign Free agent QB

RUNNING BACK: Jonathan Stewart is not getting better or younger, but at $6m per season for a RB who has probably hit the wall, it is time to move on.  Payne and Whittaker can equal his production and play special teams. We need a true #1 RB, and the draft has a pretty decent selection.  Stewart will be 32 and his numbers were not good this year.  Savings:  Around $6m.

• ·         Christian McCaffrey

• ·         Cameron Artis-Payne

• ·         Fozzy Whitaker

• ·         DRAFT A RB

WIDE RECIEVER: While most fans are expressing gloom and doom about the WRs, all we need is a true #1.  Samuel is raw and will play in 2018, and I am guessing Byrd and Clay will be back and better.  Bersin has been fairly clutch and productive when he is in the game.  Finally, I expect CMC to play more of a role in the slot.  Verdict?  Draft a WR early and let Shepard go.

• ·         Devin Funchess

• ·         Curtis Samuel

• ·         Damiere Byrd

• ·         DRAFT A WR Round 1 or 2

• ·         Kaelin Clay

OFFENSIVE LINE:  First of all, the focus should be on finding replacements for the Kalils.  Ryan is aging and has been slowed by injuries. His contract is ridiculous and it will be tough to extend.  Matt has simply not worked out.  While I am not certain that Moton is the answer on the left side—or Williams---I think one or both could do better. Regardless, we need to groom a LT and C for 2019.  Cut: Silatolu.  Want to hear a wild thought?  Draft a legit LT to groom for a year behind Matt Kalil, move Moton to RG, Turner to C (He has some experience at C).  Best OL in the NFL, including Dallas.

• ·         C: Ryan Kalil 

• ·         C/G: Tyler Larsen

• ·         C/G: Greg Van Roten

• ·         G: Trai Turner

• ·         G: Andrew Norwell (resign at approximately $10m per)

• ·         T/G Tyler Moton

• ·         T Daryl Williams

• ·         T Matt Kalil (2018 to be last season)

• ·         Draft a T

TIGHT END Olsen is getting old and has lost a step, I would say.  Depending on our plans to you use Armah, the kind of player we need could change—I am suggesting a late-round TE, like CJ Conrad from KY.  Dickson’s contract expires this season (I think) and he will be 32.  Not bad depth, but we need to use depth to develop talent, not extend mediocre careers.  Manhertz is not inspiring.

• ·         Greg Olsen

• ·         Scott Simonson

• ·      Bucky Hodges
• ·         sign a free agent TE

CORNERBACK  Most websites have us in need of CBs—we need safeties behind them.  Worley is OK and had a good year compared to 2016; Bradberry had high expectations, and was good, just not great yet.  They will be fine.  Throw in the fact that Seymour was only 24, we have the nucleus.  Capt. Has a year and we have Corn behind him.  We are OK at CB, in my opinion, and if they get strong safety support, they will improve.  Let’s just age.  We still have Cole Luke and Zach Sanchez on the roster as well.

• ·         Daryl Worley

• ·         James Bradberry

• ·         Captain Munnerlyn (contract has escape clause after 2018—use it)

• ·         Corn Elder

• ·         Kevon Seymour

• ·         Cole Luke

SAFETY  The most neglected part of this team. Because our Safeties  suck, we asked too much of our CBs.  Coleman has been bad, but he has always been inconsistent.  Adams is old and played slightly below average, which is expected.  Jones is a special teamer. We need a FS and a SS.

• ·         Kurt Coleman (has contract option after 2018; get his replacement now.  Has not been great this year)

• ·         Mike Adams (2018 will be his final season.  Has not been bad but he should be depth only)

• ·         Colin Jones (Panthers need to pick up his option for 2018—was good this season considering all he was asked to do).

• ·         Draft or sign  a free agent  SS

• ·         Draft or sign a free agent  FS

LINEBACKER Undoubtedly, the Panthers are strong at LB, but with Luke’s concussion issues and TD’s aging knees and a contract that expires after 2018, we need depth.  Shaq is good at what he does, but Mayo has struggled on defense and the others are basically special teamers.  3 LB contracts expire after 2018 (Thompson who has a fifth year option, Davis, and Norris).  I think this is a good place to sign a free agent.  It will be an early draft pick next year.

• ·         Luke Kuechly

• ·         Thomas Davis

• ·         Shaq Thompson

• ·         David Mayo

• ·         Jared Norris

• ·         Ben Jacobs

DEFENSIVE TACKLES:   If the decision is between Norwell or Star, Norwell wins.  Star has not been as good as we hoped, but he has been decent to good. If the money is there, sign him, but not if it costs us safeties and WRs.   He will want a lot of money ($9-10m estimated).  However, with the run defense, we are probably not going to let him walk.  By releasing Stew and using the money we saved by sending KB to Buffalo, we should be able to sign both Norwell and Star. 

• ·         Kawann Short

•       Star Lotulelei

• ·         Vernon Butler

• ·         Kyle Love (Panthers to exercise option for 2018; age 31)

• ·         Draft a DT late (or earlier if Star cannot be re-signed)

DEFENSIVE END  Since DE’s take time to develop, we need to draft one and hope Peppers has one more season in him.  CJ is done.  Horton showed some promise as a rotational player this season and probably earned a contract extension.  Addison is probably best as a rotational DE, as is Peppers.  Hall is weak and raw and we cannot count on him yet.  We need him to have a strong offseason.  Still, a DE is needed if we are to continue playing our brand of defense.  We need a first round DE at that—a game changer.

• ·         Julius Peppers (Try to sign him for 1 more season at same deal—SITUATIONAL PASS RUSHER

• ·         Mario Addison

• ·         Wes Horton (Horton is signed through 2018, but he is playing better—I would extend with the CJ money)

• ·         Daeshon Hall

• ·         Draft a DE by round 2

SUMMARY: The Panthers have a lot of contracts that expire after the 2018 season, so it is reasonable to suggest that they must start the rebuilding process now.  We are old and unskilled at both S spots, we have a weak LT, and our center is aging.  It is time Cam had some weapons, not slow, tall WRs or practice squad standouts.  Our DE situation is suddenly scary and we must address it now as a priority.  We need to release Stewie, CJ, Dickson, and use the money (along with what we saved by trading Benjamin) to re-sign Norwell and Star.  The bright side?  If this goes well, the secondary will be young and upgraded.  The DL, with the exception of Peppers and Addison, will also be young.  I am not happy about the LB situation (Davis getting old, Kuechly’s glass skull, Thompson’s inconsistency) but it is probably going to have to suffice for another year.  We will need a solid LB or two soon.  At WR we are also young, with Funchess and Co. sorely in need of a real game-changing stud—the priority of the offseason.  But I see potential in Byrd, Clay, and Samuel.  Finally, the backfield needs a workhorse, and Stewart will be 32; Most RBs peak at 27 and production drops dramatically at 30.  We saw that.  Will Hurney cut one of his favorite draft picks?  Probable extension coming.  However, cutting Stewart makes Norwell and Star possible.  Dickson and Manhertz?  Dickson was OK, but he sucks in the big games.  Too expensive for what he offers.  I do not see this as the window closing until  it closes  on Cam—and that could be sooner rather than later.  He has taken a beating and he has few weapons. But we need to upgrade with youth where we are old.  I think we are about to do that.

[*FreeFua*]

WIDE RECIEVER: While most fans are expressing gloom and doom about the WRs, all we need is a true #1.  Samuel is raw and will play in 2018, and I am guessing Byrd and Clay will be back and better.  Bersin has been fairly clutch and productive when he is in the game.  Finally, I expect CMC to play more of a role in the slot.  Verdict?  Draft a WR early and let Shepard go.

 

• ·         Devin Funchess

   

• ·         Curtis Samuel

   

• ·         Damiere Byrd

   

• ·         DRAFT A WR Round 1 or 2

   

• ·         Kaelin Clay

——————————————————————

This is exactly the type of thinking that will have us right back in this same spot next offseason for the 8th time in Cam’s career

[MHS831]

4 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

WIDE RECIEVER: While most fans are expressing gloom and doom about the WRs, all we need is a true #1.  Samuel is raw and will play in 2018, and I am guessing Byrd and Clay will be back and better.  Bersin has been fairly clutch and productive when he is in the game.  Finally, I expect CMC to play more of a role in the slot.  Verdict?  Draft a WR early and let Shepard go.

 

• ·         Devin Funchess

   

• ·         Curtis Samuel

   

• ·         Damiere Byrd

   

• ·         DRAFT A WR Round 1 or 2

   

• ·         Kaelin Clay

——————————————————————

This is exactly the type of thinking that will have us right back in this same spot next offseason for the 8th time in Cam’s career

You get a #1 WR in the draft, Funchess is a #2, and you have Samuel in the slot.  CMC is also a 4th option.  What the hell are you expecting?  You have only so much money, so many picks.  We have other needs.  There is nothing wrong with developing players--that is what coaches do.  3 of these are first year players. 

[dldove77]

I appreciate the effort on this. There's some things I disagree with, but I don't want to just be one of those guys on a message board who tears apart anything someone says. Our offseason will be very interesting.

[*FreeFua*]

1 minute ago, MHS831 said:

You get a #1 WR in the draft, Funchess is a #2, and you have Samuel in the slot.  CMC is also a 4th option.  What the hell are you expecting?  You have only so much money, so many picks.  We have other needs.  There is nothing wrong with developing players--that is what coaches do.  3 of these are first year players. 

Of course we have other needs but none of those compare to the need at WR, how are you still struggling at comprehending this? 

But fine let’s say we only draft one... so we’re trading up for Calvin Ridley then? Because he’s the only WR in this draft that we can expect to plug in and play from day 1 and do everything we’d need.

”What am I expecting?” Lol, oh I don’t know maybe surrounding Cam with actual weapons. Cam masks so many damn problems on this team could you imagine what he’d be able to make up for with an actual WR? Christ, he had the Saints beat in the dome in the playoffs had Funchess and Clay caught gimme’s. 

You’re acting like this is rocket science when it’s really not. 

[PantherBrew]

Yeah this is pretty good overall. 

 

However, I believe your O-line fixes are pretty crazy.

There is not going to be that much change.  Unless Ryan retires, both Kalil's will be back, and Norwell will probably be resigned.  I would bet we have the exact same starting line next season.  

[TheRumGone]

Having turner play center is laughable. 

[therealmjl]

Move a top tier RG to Center?

No thanks 

[CatMan72]

Not bad overall but like others disagree on the strategy at WR... Cam is in the midst of his prime and we need some FA help at the position while continuing to groom younger guys like Samuel, Byrd and Clay. Funchess is a talented possession receiver, we need to replace Ginn with someone who can stretch the field. 

[zacka77ack]

Ryan Kalil has to go. Appreciate his ability and the effort he has given this team for nearly a decade but he's simply not worth the contract if we want to keep Norwell.

[Shocker]

We need everything.   Even MLB with Kueckly's concussions.  Everything.

[*FreeFua*]

3 minutes ago, CatMan72 said:

Not bad overall but like others disagree on the strategy at WR... Cam is in the midst of his prime and we need some FA help at the position while continuing to groom younger guys like Samuel, Byrd and Clay. Funchess is a talented possession receiver, we need to replace Ginn with someone who can stretch the field. 

I would call the Bucs about DeSean Jackson.

Him and Winston were never able to figure it out. Winston missed DJax so many times.

1 year left on his contract I’m thinking he could be had for a pick. Obviously there’s FA’s out there I like but DJax is exactly the guy Cam needs. Calvin Ridley too

[MHS831]

18 minutes ago, dldove77 said:

I appreciate the effort on this. There's some things I disagree with, but I don't want to just be one of those guys on a message board who tears apart anything someone says. Our offseason will be very interesting.

Yeah, this will change daily, but I tried to be realistic.  Some posters will suggest that any plan that does not include signing the entire all pro roster is deplorable.  We have so many roster spots, so many draft picks, and so many nickels.  People need to consider that before they focus on one position and spend 3 draft picks or $35m in free agency to fix it. 

This is a team sport.  The positions are intertwined. For example, no Star, maybe you have no Kuechly.  Upgrade coleman, maybe you upgrade Bradberry and Worley. 

I just got a complaint about WR because I did not do more than add a #1.  Really?  Samuel, Funchess, Byrd, and a Stud WR is a pretty decent lineup.  Yesterday, Funchess could not lift his left arm (shoulder) and was lined up vs. their best CB.  Our next 2 WRs were on IR.  We get a #1 who can stretch the field and Funchess heals, we get Samuel into the lineup and can move Olsen and CMC out, what more do you need?  Overcompensating is not the way to go.  Develop youth and let your IR players heal.

[SOJA]

WR we have plenty of young talent. Funch + Samuel + Byrd. What we need is a GOOD veteran. I would look to trade for TY Hilton or Desaun as @*FreeFua* suggested. 

Wouldn't mind at all if we went after another Veteran in FA. 

think we're going to have to choose between Star and Norwell. 

My god do we need young talent at safety, defensive end, tight end, and center though