Need Positions to watch now for 2019

[MHS831]

Sometimes I get bored when topics remain the same on here, and although I have no financial benefit or recognition is often not in the form of an award or simple thank you, I do this as a philanthropic gesture to strangers with a common interest.  Without further ado--

Looking at veteran contracts and ages, it is reasonable to assume that the Panthers will have some very big shoes to fill in 2019.  With that in mind, it is interesting to see who might be developing this season behind these vets and monitor their progress during the season.   I am not looking past the 2018 season, but keeping an eye on the future as the season progresses.

Here are the expected needs:

• OLB Thomas Davis  (Announced retirement at end of season--we have 12 regular season games left with TD.  Some will argue that Thompson is next man up, but if that is the case, who replaces Thompson?  I don't see our day 3 LBs becoming more than practice squad or special teamers--maybe one steps up, but I don't see a lot on the farm right now. I am not sure how deep the draft is at OLB, but I imagine we could go there early)
• SS Mike Adams (Gaulden- the Panthers will be watching him closely and I like the player.  Keep an eye on Cox too--he has potential and could compete this year for a job.  I think we are better at S than people realize, but we can always improve.)
• DE Julius Peppers (Retiring at end of season.  We may have a lot of DEs, but Addison at 32 in 2019, unproven Hall and Haynes, and limited Horton are not very scary.  Regardless of the development of Hall and Haynes, I see DE in the first round next season.  Obada and Cox Jr. have a shot, but we will need an elite DE)
• NT Kevin Love (Love will be 33 in November, 2019 and his contract expires at the end of the season.  We will need a NT to rotate with Poe. I suppose we could watch Norton, if NT is what he is to be, but he was a bit underwhelming in college with a flash or two.  Fortunately, NTs are not hard to find in free agency and can be fairly cheap.
• C Ryan Kalil (In our offense, a cerebral center is important.  I will be watching to see who is being developed as a backup C, but also as a future center.  I think there was more to bringing in a bunch of young interior linemen than throwing numbers at the wall to see if we can find a LG--I think they are looking for Kalil's 2019 replacement.  Kyle Bosch has some potential as a C--and I wonder about trying Dorian Johnson there.  Of course, Larsen, 28 in 2019, is the top option.  Hearn and Mahon are other to consider.  Is the answer on the roster? 
• OT Matt Kalil or depth behind (if Moton goes to G, we are thin at T.  I know, if Kalil or Williams went down, Moton would be moved out like we used to do with Wharton.  However, that creates backups at 2 positions, not 1.  Kalil is going to play well this season or he will not be back. We will need a T for depth, regardless--maybe a starter.)

 

Based on the novice assessment at this time, I rank the 2019 needs accordingly:

1. DE-until Hall and the others step up, this is a priority.  Even if they do, this is a priority.

2. OLB-Losing Davis is going to be bigger than we think--sure, he is slipping physically, but his leadership and instincts are elite.

3. C- Who knows what we have on the roster, but Ryan Kalil is a smart player, which is why we play better when he is in--even when his play suffers.  

4. DT/NT- We really have nothing behind Love, and we need 4 DTs who can play at a high level.

5. OT- This need could be LG if Kalil sucks and Moton moves outside-which is a mistake in my opinion. Moton is a better G than T. Either way, we need depth or a starting LT unless Kalil's career turns around in 2018.

6. SS- I hope we can develop Gaulden and find a better player than Searcy, who will be around 31 in 2019.

 

Note: I did not include CB because I expect Jackson, Bradberry, Seymour (a man CB, not a zone CB), Cockrell, and Elder to develop in 2018.  Capt. will be gone, but we will have 2-3 players who can improve that spot.

 

[Captain Morgan]

here is all our free agents for next year.

word is we're working on Daryl right now...

 

the Funchess contract will be interesting.

 

Also both CAP and Anderson are free agents...we'll need a big back if neither are resigned.

 

 

 

PLAYER (20)	POS.	AGE	FROM	TO	2018 AAV	STATUS	MARKET VALUE
Ryan Kalil	C	33	CAR	TBD	$8,375,000	UFA	-
Thomas Davis	OLB	35	CAR	TBD	$6,750,000	UFA	-
Julius Peppers	DE	38	CAR	TBD	$5,000,000	UFA	-
Mike Adams	SS	37	CAR	TBD	$2,100,000	UFA	-
C.J. Anderson	RB	27	CAR	TBD	$1,750,000	UFA	-
Devin Funchess	WR	24	CAR	TBD	$1,380,222	UFA	-
Wes Horton	DE	28	CAR	TBD	$1,350,000	UFA	-
Fozzy Whittaker	RB	29	CAR	TBD	$1,250,000	UFA	-
Colin Jones	FS	30	CAR	TBD	$1,200,000	UFA	-
Kyle Love	DT	31	CAR	TBD	$1,130,000	UFA	-
LaDarius Gunter	CB	26	CAR	TBD	$1,000,000	UFA	-
Jeremiah Sirles	G	26	CAR	TBD	$880,000	UFA	-
Amini Silatolu	G	29	CAR	TBD	$880,000	UFA	-
Ben Jacobs	ILB	30	CAR	TBD	$857,500	UFA	-
Kenjon Barner	RB	29	CAR	TBD	$790,000	UFA	-
Daryl Williams	RT	25	CAR	TBD	$709,280	UFA	Market Value
Taylor Heinicke	QB	25	CAR	TBD	$660,000	UFA	-
Zach Moore	DE	27	CAR	TBD	$660,000	UFA	-
David Mayo	OLB	24	CAR	TBD	$611,564	UFA	-
Cameron Artis-Payne

 

 

 

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/2019/carolina-panthers/

[Captain Morgan]

it's hard to imagine our team without TD, Ryan and Pep, but the bright side is, we'll open up 20 million in cap room after this year.

[kungfoodude]

I would easily rank OT as our #1 need with DE as a close second. I do not expect to see anything other than Matt Kalil once again be atrocious and if that is the case, we need a path forward at that position.

Don't sleep on OG as a dark horse position of need, as well. Moton is a completely unknown entity(should he indeed win that position) and you have to at least account for the possibility that he just isn't up to the task. I feel the same about safety. We may end up having a serious need there as well, depending on the performances of the guys we have.

[Cyberjag]

DE will be our top need.  It was arguably our top need this year.  I want to believe that Kalil will be ok at LT.  Our second highest need will be at Safety (again), and then will come Center.  

It's going to be a real challenge filling all those needs while picking at the last spot in each round...

[mc52beast]

I think it’s safe to say that with our new owner comes a much bigger pool of players to choose from... 

[1upkiller]

With Tepper in charge, I wouldn’t be surprised if our defense switches to 3-4 defense. 

[DaveThePanther2008]

23 minutes ago, 1upkiller said:

With Tepper in charge, I wouldn’t be surprised if our defense switches to 3-4 defense. 

Not as long as Rivera is running the show.  Tepper isn't going to mess with what works.  

You can't just switch to a 3-4 without going through some serious growing pains.  You have to have specific types of players and the players on this defense are for a 4-3 not a 3-4.

Tepper is the owner not the GM.

[Cyberjag]

12 hours ago, mc52beast said:

I think it’s safe to say that with our new owner comes a much bigger pool of players to choose from... 

There's nothing to suggest that we're suddenly going to start looking at low-character guys to fill out our roster.  I think that as long as the bottom line is putting butts in seats, we're going to continue with what works, and what's worked since day one.  

46 minutes ago, 1upkiller said:

With Tepper in charge, I wouldn’t be surprised if our defense switches to 3-4 defense. 

Owners rarely get involved in decisions like this.

What is it with the idea that Tepper is coming in and making wholesale changes anyway?  As another thread brought up, the Panthers are in the top five in wins over the past five seasons.  We've got what looks like a stacked roster, and franchise players on both sides of the field.  If Tepper came in and decided to blow that up, I would really worry about him.  Fortunately, it looks like he actually knows how to manage success, which in this case is to just let it happen.

[DaveThePanther2008]

24 minutes ago, Cyberjag said:

There's nothing to suggest that we're suddenly going to start looking at low-character guys to fill out our roster.  I think that as long as the bottom line is putting butts in seats, we're going to continue with what works, and what's worked since day one.  

Owners rarely get involved in decisions like this.

What is it with the idea that Tepper is coming in and making wholesale changes anyway?  As another thread brought up, the Panthers are in the top five in wins over the past five seasons.  We've got what looks like a stacked roster, and franchise players on both sides of the field.  If Tepper came in and decided to blow that up, I would really worry about him.  Fortunately, it looks like he actually knows how to manage success, which in this case is to just let it happen.

Key word about Tepper.  Continuity

Whether you like Rivera or not.  We have some decent continuity.  Tepper isn't going to change things because he can.

I get Tepper comes from with a Steeler background.  That doesn't mean we are going to become Pittsburgh South. 

[MHS831]

I struggled with S, but if Gaulden develops as expected, Cox is better than many think--watch him during the preseason.   Maybe he is nothing bt depth, but many huddlers label developmental players before they develop.  I also think SS is a position not too difficult to find in the draft or free agency, so it is less of a priority in that regard.

I think you are going to like Moton at G. We will see.

As for Kalil, you have to be careful about an overreaction.  Most teams do not like their OTs and many first rounders have busted lately.  If he progressed last year, let's see what that means.  Regardless, we need depth there, so there is no harm in bringing in an top T to compete.

Finally, I am skeptical that Thompson can fill Davis' role.  They are different players.  Since we are going to play more nickel,  is Thomas gaining a bit of weight next offseason?

And I did not mention Cam.  There is a QB from Miss St. who has accuracy issues but is big and athletic.  I wold love to see what Norv can do with him.

 

[MHS831]

C: We cold probably get by with Larsen, Van Roten, or one of the many G candidates at C next year.

LB: We could probably get by at LB--even if Mayo leaves.  (The LBs we drafted are versatile, with OLB and ILB capabilities. )

DT:  Love's impact is important.  We need to find another Love.

DE:  Even if we re-sign Horton, we will need an elite DE.

OT: We need someone to challenge at LT

S: Too many question marks and not enough quality production.  Tired of saying "if"

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm fine with going OLB relatively early (like 2nd or 3rd round) but I dont want to spend another 1st round pick on yet another player who will likelybsoend his entire cap friendly rookie contract in a backup role.

[1upkiller]

I’m not saying the owner is gonna come in and flip the script, but if he brings his own people in who knows...