Overall thoughts after watching rookie camp

[CPF4LIFE]

So we just gonna let Daryl williams walk after finally finding a solid tackle after wllxthis sesrching? Smh, signing matt kalil has to be one of the worst FA in the last 10 years. Thing is we will be right back in the same situation with moton as we will get only 2 solid years out of him if he doesn't play this season then its time to pay him or let him go. 

[Mr. Scot]

39 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

After the Ian Thomas pick, I went into WTF mode.  I know that he probably was not impressive during the no-contact, eyeball test, but Haynes was a real head scratcher.  I still think there is something there we do not understand.  I doubt they are looking for anything from him this year, but Peppers is gone next year.

Speaking of Ian Thomas, he is wearing my high school/college number, one that is rather cursed on this team.  Let's hope he can make it so I can finally buy an 80 jersey.

I think Marty feels that he can find value by converting players from one position to another, but that does not work well for him at the top of the draft.  If I am not mistaken, Godfrey may have been his most successful project, switching from CB to S.  I think Sherrod Martin did as well.  Then you have players like Armanti Edwards, the poster child for stupid draft trades.  In my opinion, Gaulden is a smart person (based on his interviews) and that intelligence will be best utilized facing the line of scrimmage where he can call coverages and read plays.

Honestly, I think calling Godfrey and Martin "successful" is a bit of a reach.

Godfrey certainly had "highlight reel" plays, but inbetween those occasional highlights he was very inconsistent.

[ncfan]

49 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Honestly, I think calling Godfrey and Martin "successful" is a bit of a reach.

Godfrey certainly had "highlight reel" plays, but inbetween those occasional highlights he was very inconsistent.

This

And Martin wasnt that good, about the same player as Tre Boston 

[Mr. Scot]

32 minutes ago, ncfan said:

This

And Martin wasnt that good, about the same player as Tre Boston 

Martin kind of reminds me of Ryan Delaire.  The first game where he saw action he had two picks and everyone was expecting him to be great. But then that guy never showed up again.

[tiger7_88]

4 hours ago, Jeremy Igo said:

DJ Moore looks like a NFL wide receiver. I can't say that he will light up the league, but he should be a significant contributor on the WR corps. Not sure if he is a week 1 starter, but 20 reps in week 1 is definitely possible.

With Ron Rivera as his head coach, you're really really putting yourself out on a limb here. 

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Safety Gaulden is a project. Big learning curve ahead of him. If he is starting this year either he is the fastest learner in the NFL or the Panthers are very, very bad off at Safety.

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Tight End Ian Thomas was pretty darn impressive.

This kid has as much potential as any player the Panthers drafted this year IMO.

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The rest of the guys? I can't say with any confidence they will have a jersey in September. As the old cliche' goes, its gonna be special teams, special teams, special teams for them.

Wait... I was assured that our 40-lb underweight pass-rush specialist 4-3 DE was going to revolutionize the league at his position.  Are you saying that that might not be true?

[TheSpecialJuan]

4 hours ago, SOJA said:

love the writeup and article zod

Here's my way too early prediction for this season. 

• Starting WRs day one: Funchess + Smith + Wright (if samuel is 100% then pencil him in here). 
  • This will obviously upset a lot of people. I can already see the rage. But Rivera and maybe importantly Norv will want to start the season with veterans they can depend on. However, I highly suspect that by seasons end (assuming full health) Our starters will be Funchess + Samuel + Moore. Moore will, as you said, get some reps and by about week 4 I'm certain we will be clamoring for him to start over Wright in the slot role. 
• Starting LG for the season: Taylor Moton. 
  • I think the Amini news is smoke and mirrors. Moton will get his chance at G, but the Panthers will at some point realize that he is better suited for RT where he will move when we lose Daryl Williams to FA next offseason. Expect us to draft a G and/or C very high next year. Probably round 1. 
• starting day 1 S alongside Adams: Searcy. Starting safety by the end of the year: Tre Boston or another veteran. 
  • I don't have anything against Searcy. He's a great special teams and depth player. But he isn't a quality safety. With a bunch of young CBs. Safety will have to be a dependable position for us this year. Marty will cave at some point and sign a veteran. 
• Starting CBs Day 1: Bradberry, Cockrell, Captain. Starting CBs by end of year: Bradberry, Cockrell, Jackson/Gaulden.
  • The writing is already on the wall for Gaulden that the Panthers might panic and move him to NB. Marty is notorious for drafting players and converting their position and has a very mixed success rate at best. I hope we give Gaulden all the time he needs because I think he could be great in the S/NB hybrid role that the Honey Badger has performed so well at. Jackson can already be an effective NB for us. 
• Long snapper: JJ fuging Jansen 
  • Just wanted to give my boy a shout out. 

Impressive 

[ItsPantone278]

I'm gonna be the guy that believes Gaulden is going to be a guy who sticks for this team.  I don't know about early season, but I expect this guy to have a role in some capacity and getting a jersey on game days following the bye.  I'm going to be that guy who post that every time people say either they didn't like the pick or he's a project or he has a step learning curve.

[heel31ok]

5 hours ago, SOJA said:

My prediction assumes that Moton will be a good RT. 

I'd rather keep Moton on his rookie deal at RT, and use the money we would spend on Daryl Williams to find an actual LT. 

Moton will be a great LG and we keep Williams at RT 

[Moo Daeng]

This is monumental day in jumping to conclusions based on amateur opinions.

It's rookie mini camp.

[SCO96]

25 minutes ago, heel31ok said:

Moton will be a great LG and we keep Williams at RT 

That to me would be the most logical thing to do going into the season if Moton can do the job. If he pans out you could keep him there and have him under a rookie contract for the next two seasons.

That would allow you to keep Williams at RT as he heads into FA. He's probably gonna get a big deal if he plays like he did last year. Since Ryan is retiring in the off-season that's gonna free up some money on the O-Line to retain him.

If M.Kalil doesn't show any improvement from last year then it's time to consider moving on and finding a replacement for 2019. The dead cap hit would hurt, but with the money saved from his potential release (and Thomas Davis' announced retirement) the team should have money to sign a couple of quality starters for the 2019 season thru free agency or find some via the draft. Adding some solid performers to go along with Moton, Turner, and Williams would give us a formidable line.

[TheSpecialJuan]

[steven8989]

So you're saying we drafted Moore in first round and he doesn't look like he can start? Wow this might be a long season.

[Saca312]

5 minutes ago, steven8989 said:

So you're saying we drafted Moore in first round and he doesn't look like he can start? Wow this might be a long season.

someone teach him how football works.

[davos]

The lack of enthusiasm for the draft class is interesting. Moore seems like a guy that does everything right without any extra jazz.  Ian Thomas was a very smart pick—We had a night to think it over and nailed it.

Also..I get the Byrd crush but Samuel is the fastest guy on the team. Not just that but he holds the 3rd spot for the fastest combine 40 clocked in in the last 8 years.