FA center that would immediately upgrade our line...

[TheSpecialJuan]

5 hours ago, WarPanthers89 said:

Ryan Kalil was very solid in his last season and played a large role in our O line run game success.

“This offensive line was dominant in the run game: The Panthers were first in the NFL in rushing yards per attempt and fourth in total rushing yards — and that’s a stat that stands up to scrutiny. Christian McCaffrey was excellent in his first season as the Panthers’ lead back, but a team doesn’t average 5.1 yards per carry without great offensive line play.”

We all know how important center is for an offensive line and Larson in my opinion will be a downgrade from Kalil. I say we must go after Matt Paradis if he comes available. This can be our one big FA signing and allow us to focus on the defense in the draft. The guy is 29 years old and can perform at a high level for at least 5 years. He is one of the best in the league right now. 

▪ “Matt Paradis, Denver Broncos: If Carolina doesn’t want to commit to Larsen at center, Paradis has been one of the NFL’s best over the past three seasons. It’s possible Denver decides not to bring him back — he broke his leg in Week 9.”

 

What do you think? What moves would you make realistically with our limited cap if you were Gm Hurndog? 

 

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article224266025.html

Terrible idea, I hate it. 

[Seoul_Panther]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

This is one of the best C drafts in years.

Who do you like? I know Biadasz has returned to Wisconsin for another year. He was top rated C by PFF. I’ve seen Elton Jenkins, Eric McCoy and Bradbury talked about from the 3rd but I’m not sure I would take anyone higher than that.

[Eazy-E]

I rather Van Roten at LG than Larsen at center so I am all for spending to upgrade the center position. I don't think the market is going to be all that great for Williams so I think we have a good chance to re-sign him.

Unfortunately with Ron and Hurney staying, Matt Kalil is probably still being viewed as our starting left tackle so none of this really matters.

[JARROD]

I like it.

Then I’m  for drafting a Left Tackle first. 

Having a good Center is really important, maybe the most underrated position. 

 

[Khyber53]

One starting quality center in the whole league potentially available as a free agent and he broke his leg a few weeks back. And Denver may drop a big paycheck to keep him.

Let that sink in. There are basically NO good free agent centers out there.

Draft one in the first round or... well... you thought our line protection has been shaky in the past.

[jfra78]

Id rather draft a center and have him here a long time.  For some reason i like my centers home grown

[RumHam]

There's too many holes on this team and in all honesty, the one thing we can shore up to control the game is our offensive line and that should be the focus. fug the defense. yeah take a pass rusher at 1, but i want this guy from denver. The colts got their poo together mainly on the Oline and things worked out really good obviously. 

[WarPanthers89]

10 hours ago, Cdw said:

I doubt we would be able to get him too cheap, he's been one of the better centers in the league so he is probably going to be looking for a payday.  Not sure how much the injury will reduce his price.  So the question is, is it worth giving a nearly 30 yr old guy comming off an injury 8 mil or so a year?  If he comes back and plays at the same level, yeah.  If we were to do it Id still like us to take a Center with one of our day 2 picks, insurance and you could probably have the pick play guard.

If he plays at the level he has been I wouldn’t have any problems with 8 mill a year. Cutting Kalil post June 1 would free up 7 this year alone. 

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, stbugs said:

Like Billy Price, last year’s #1 C taken at 21? PFF grade of 49 and sailed the snap that ended Dalton’s season. Ragnow taken at pick 20 played G and had a 62 rating. To put those ratings in perspective Clark has a 60 rating.

1st round OL are far from guaranteed. We need to draft OL, no doubt about it but picking 16 means you aren’t getting a Ronnie Stanley or Quinton Nelson. Maybe every once in a blue moon you get a Zack Martín but you are just as likely to get a Kolton Miller. 16 is a ridiculous reach for a center and if you get a Price, Cam’s hurt and you still can’t pressure the QB. 

All 1st round picks are a gamble, some more so than others, and some sure things end up being busts. If there's a first or second round talent at Center available when our pick comes up, we'd better take it. 

Unless you honestly think Larsen can do the job at Kalil the Greater's level. Maybe he can. It would be nice. 

[Seoul_Panther]

6 hours ago, stbugs said:

Nope. I like interior OL in 2nd or 3rd.

This is one of the reasons why: https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/28/bengals-need-to-consider-moving-billy-price-to-rg/

Pick 21 last year and a very high rated C. Price was easily higher rated than any C this year and he struggled in a huge way. His PFF grade was atrocious. C is not an easy position just like T. G is way easier in the NFL. I’d rather get proven vets like Williams if healthy or Paradis and go OL 2nd or later. I don’t see and tackle or center that is good enough to risk pick 16. 2nd-3rd round G/C is usually a good risk/reward ratio. 

  Price was a really interesting one. At Ohio, he played 2 years as a G where he was highly rated by PFF. Then he played one year as a C where he was rated average. People said here is a great OL who can play both positions. Bengals picked him and made him starting center. Weirdly the same year, Ragnow an awesome C who we were talking about last year got drafted by Detroit. What did they do? Started him at G. He also had an underwhelming year for his draft position. 

 So a good player can be misused and made to look bad.

 Personally I’m not seeing a lot of great C’s this year. There are also a few teams who are looking to upgrade the position and it may be overdrafted. I would hate to see the Panthers overpay when they have an adequate solution in Larsen already on the roster.

[Khyber53]

4 hours ago, stbugs said:

Larsen in 2016/2017 when Kalil was out a lot was almost as good as Kalil. That said, we need to upgrade at least one of Van Roten or Larsen. I think we can get away with 1 of them. Why take a 2nd round player at 16? There’s no Quinton Nelson or Zack Martin. Let’s just get that out of the way. There are going to be really good interior guys so use 47 and you’ll have an upgrade and maybe even a young Kalil who was pick 59. Honestly, pick 16 is a crapshoot because we really have no clue who may be available. There are a bunch of DL who I’d like to be there, but there is 0 guarantee that they will. Thompson the S from Alabama looked terrible. He may drop like Harrison or Eddie Jackson to the 3rd/4th and at that point I’d draft him. There’s one CB who might be good enough but if he tests we’ll he's a top 10 guy. I don’t like the OTs. Was Jonah Williams of Bama that much better than Mitch Hyatt of Clemson? Williams May go first round and Hyatt may go in the 5th. I’d rather take a shot at developing Hyatt.

Why take a second round guy at 16? Simple. We aren't the only team in need of a center immediately. If we get cute and try to finesse it, we'll miss our chance.

[Cdw]

6 hours ago, WarPanthers89 said:

If he plays at the level he has been I wouldn’t have any problems with 8 mill a year. Cutting Kalil post June 1 would free up 7 this year alone. 

Given what Tepper said in his little interview about the Oline and also how to approach FA, I think M Kalil may be as good as gone (thankfully) and Paradis could definitely be the kind of target we go after.  If he's recoverd then I'm all for it.

[Woodie]

I love Van Roten and Larsen...as backups.  As starters over the course of a season, I think they are liabilities.  So, IMO, we definitely need an upgrade.

I haven't studied Centers from other teams, so can't speak intelligently on any that will be FA's.  With that said, if this guy or another legitimate starting Center could be had, I would be all for it.  We do have needs, but I think if we use FA and the draft wisely and in concert with each other, we could fix most of our issues and become a viable SB contender again.

If we can sign a Center and re-sign Williams (assuming he'll be 100% healthy), that would allow us to have 4/5ths of our OL set (with Moton moved to LT, which is likely to happen regardless).  So, we could use the draft to fill LG, find another pass rushing DE (even if we bring one in as a FA), and hopefully a FS.  And if we can re-sign Reid as well, I believe we will be in good shape.  Then, we just need to focus on depth.

[Woodie]

1 hour ago, Cdw said:

Given what Tepper said in his little interview about the Oline and also how to approach FA, I think M Kalil may be as good as gone (thankfully) and Paradis could definitely be the kind of target we go after.  If he's recoverd then I'm all for it.

I don't think there's any question he's gone.  No matter how you slice it, we save significant cap space by designating him a post June 1st cut...even though it will leave us with a lot of dead money. 

And no matter what you think of him as a player, we can't count on him to stay healthy.  And there's no way we'll invest that much money again in a guy that can't be counted on to even be available.   I expect we'll cut him and use the savings to find his replacement...maybe it opens some cash for Williams and maybe even a Center.