Rank 'Em

[UpstatePanther]

Hey everyone. Just doing a little public opinion research for a project I'm working on. Please vote for the position you think should be the Panthers' top offseason priority through FA and the Draft, and if you would, please give me some reasons why you picked that position. 

This poll will resurface in a future post that I am working on for you ladies and... ahem... gentlemen, so help a brother out!

Personally, i think DE is our greatest need. Arguments can be made for WR, S, CB, and maybe even C. But as much of a stellar season Julius Peppers had last season, we cant bank on it happening again. Charles Johnson never showed up, and Mario Addison is no spring chicken either, even though he put forth a stellar effort too. Despite the great effort, we consistently saw our defensive line fail to get to the quarterback, leaving our struggling back 7 out to dry. Scheme played a huge part in this, and I think Washington will bring back balance to the Force, erp... the defense. I think we will see more traditional concepts: four-man pressure, using Luke Kuechly (best coverage linebacker in the game) as a coverage guy again instead of a regular blitzer, etc. This is where I think the arguments for DB as our greatest need fall apart. With better pressure up front, a better scheme on the back end, and a tough sophomore slump to learn and gain motivation from for our CBs, we could see a resurgence of Thieves Avenue and a vaunted Panthers defense. This doesn't mean I wouldnt spend a first round pick on either S or CB in the draft. I certainly would. But I think the team needs to invest heavily in pressure-men again. 

The other argument people talk about is WR. And I get it. We have alot of unknowns for sure. But I really think our WR corps is more well rounded than we give it credit for. Funchess broke out after we released Benjamin, at least as best he could playing hurt most of the season. The kid is still 23 and has shown signs he could be our next Musin Muhammad, imho. Get him healthy and watch him take off. I firmly believe Curtis Samuel has the potential to be a #2 target behind Funchess once he is healthy and starts to catch on to the game. In the meantime, I'd be perfectly happy with bringing in a vet slot/outside guy to compete for reps in that #2 spot. #3 is Byrd's for the taking, and had he not been hurt (are we noticing a pattern yet?) he probably would have truly broke out last year too. Fill out the #4 and #5 with the guys who prove they want it most, but the point is that our WR corps suffered in 2017 from being without their QB for most of training camp, having lots of bad luck with injuries, and having a crayon-eating offensive coordinator who shall not be named. All of those problems should be fixed going into 2018, and with Norv Turner at the helm, it wouldn't surprise me to see our passing offense take off. And that's without spending big bucks or a high draft pick on a stud WR. As I said with the secondary conversation before, I would be all too happy to spend a draft pick on a WR if one fell in our lap. But should it be our top priority? No I dont think so. 

The only other position I could see being argued is OL. We have yet to replace Jordan Gross after 4 years. Andrew Norwell may be leaving, and Ryan Kalil might be a cap casualty as an attempt to keep Norwell for all we know. Its definitely time for the team to invest in the offensive line, but is it our top priority? Ehhhhhh.... I'll say this. If we somehow lose both Norwell and Kalil, then yes OL is our biggest need and must be addressed for the sake of Cam Newton's life. But if we can find some way to keep one or both, then DE should be a top priority over OL. 

The good news, imo, is that this is a great defensive end offseason. There are alot of young, proven options in Free Agency and deep draft. It should be fairly easy to acquire one or two young talents to bolster our line and learn from Julius Peppers for a year before he hangs up the cleats. 

Perhaps the better way to think of our offseason priorities should be split between biggest FA Priority and biggest Draft Priority....

[Toker Smurf]

I think that is two questions. In FA I want us to target a proven WR. In the draft I would say S & DE, only because I think RB can wait until the third round (or later).  I'd also draft at least two OT's.

[t96]

DE but I don’t think this will be the year that we fix that as it’s a relatively poor draft an FA class. I’m thinking we upgrade WR and secondary significantly this year. Very solid WR group in FA and decent depth there in the draft though it doesn’t have the top elite guys.

[Mr. Scot]

You left off long snapper.

[heel31ok]

Draft...LT,WR,RB

FA...CB,WR

[BrianS]

17 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

You left off long snapper.

Did JJ retire?

[heel31ok]

1 minute ago, BrianS said:

Did JJ retire?

Lol...

[MHS831]

31 minutes ago, UpstatePanther said:

Hey everyone. Just doing a little public opinion research for a project I'm working on. Please vote for the position you think should be the Panthers' top offseason priority through FA and the Draft, and if you would, please give me some reasons why you picked that position. 

This poll will resurface in a future post that I am working on for you ladies and... ahem... gentlemen, so help a brother out!

Thanks for this, UP.   I recommend doing one for free agency (based on available free agents) and then do another entering the draft. 

I have been looking at Free agency, and I see some good value at S and WR--of course, the list I use could change a lot after tagging and signings before free agency. 

[MHS831]

26 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

DE but I don’t think this will be the year that we fix that as it’s a relatively poor draft an FA class. I’m thinking we upgrade WR and secondary significantly this year. Very solid WR group in FA and decent depth there in the draft though it doesn’t have the top elite guys.

Before I read this, I posted S and WR are the best FA areas.  DE in the draft is a bit of crap shoot because it takes 4-3 DEs some time--praying Hall is ready--and I am not seeing a lot in the draft. 

[The Lobo]

34 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

You left off long snapper.

JJ for life 

[t96]

11 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Before I read this, I posted S and WR are the best FA areas.  DE in the draft is a bit of crap shoot because it takes 4-3 DEs some time--praying Hall is ready--and I am not seeing a lot in the draft. 

S is very very good in the draft this year too. And corner is decent in both draft and FA.

[UpstatePanther]

46 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

You left off long snapper.

How could i have been so dense!

 

 

 

lulz.

[UpstatePanther]

53 minutes ago, Cam El said:

I think that is two questions.

46 minutes ago, heel31ok said:

Draft...LT,WR,RB

FA...CB,WR

25 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Thanks for this, UP.   I recommend doing one for free agency (based on available free agents) and then do another entering the draft. 

y'all are right. i'll add another poll to the post. I actually thought of this myself too as i was editing my OP. 

 

 

[Mr. Scot]

51 minutes ago, BrianS said:

Did JJ retire?

No, but my sarcasm is also active.