Panthers Free Agency Re-Cap and grading

[Ricky Spanish]

35 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

The fact that foreman is on a 1 year deal makes me less confident that CMC will be traded. I think the team is gonna keep him unless someone offers a solid package.

 

aa I said before, we are not desperate or in need of selling CMC. Fitt doesn’t seem like the type that would buy high and sell low

Fitt had Foreman in a dynasty league and saw an opportunity to upgrade his value by making him CMC's handcuff.

This is exactly what happened to me. I was thrilled with that move for multiple reasons. 

[KeepPounding5859]

32 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I am not upset about the one year deals. It's far better than our history of signing big, dumb contracts.

Looking around the league, if you are in the market for a franchise QB, you need to have the cap space available to pay up to $40 million per year.  1 year contracts are necessary to accomplish that.

This year I feel we had to lean on free agency more so than others because we have not built up enough depth via the draft and were low on picks.  If we get a rookie QB who can play, or get a cheap veteran like Minshew, we will be able to build strength via free agents while developing our draft picks for one more year.  Hopefully after that we will be able to hand out more 2nd contracts than FA contracts.

[MHS831]

For those of you who claim that we have done nothing at QB.  I agree.  However, we have the #6 overall pick and if we have done nothing by then, we will be drafting a QB. 

84.34% of my concern is on the offensive line.  If we had to go to war tomorrow, I am guessing:
LT Christensen  LG Bozeman  C Elflein  RG Corbett  RT Moton

40-50% better than last year's train wreck, but I would call that OL slightly below average to average.  We still need 1 more piece.

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, MHS831 said:

For those of you who claim that we have done nothing at QB.  I agree.  However, we have the #6 overall pick and if we have done nothing by then, we will be drafting a QB. 

84.34% of my concern is on the offensive line.  If we had to go to war tomorrow, I am guessing:
LT Christensen  LG Bozeman  C Elflein  RG Corbett  RT Moton

40-50% better than last year's train wreck, but I would call that OL slightly below average to average.  We still need 1 more piece.

One of these top shelf OT's at 6 would make that OL transformation potentially quite extreme. 

[KeepPounding5859]

1 minute ago, kungfoodude said:

One of these top shelf OT's at 6 would make that OL transformation potentially quite extreme. 

You put Bozeman at center.  He was nearly elite.  You don't bring a guy in to do what he does 2nd best.  Keep your strengths strong and go from there.  Patty is merily veteran depth at this point, which is just fine.  They will either draft a LG or look at someone else when releases shake out.  I still have a sneaky feeling that we may be looking at a pass rusher at #6 depending on how the board falls.

[Mother Grabber]

1 hour ago, therealmjl said:

Have been pleasantly surprised with the approach to FA. We are sitting pretty for the draft.

That said, we still don’t have a QB so our ceiling is pretty low.

the ceiling is the motherfuggin roof!

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, KeepPounding5859 said:

You put Bozeman at center.  He was nearly elite.  You don't bring a guy in to do what he does 2nd best.  Keep your strengths strong and go from there.  Patty is merily veteran depth at this point, which is just fine.  They will either draft a LG or look at someone else when releases shake out.  I still have a sneaky feeling that we may be looking at a pass rusher at #6 depending on how the board falls.

LT at 6 is the way to go, unless there is a run on OT's. Pass rushers would make me the least upset of the non-LT options. 

Agreed, there is no chance Bozeman isn't our center. Elflein is fuging trash.

[Mother Grabber]

5 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

One of these top shelf OT's at 6 would make that OL transformation potentially quite extreme. 

any top shelf OT will still be a rookie, and likely get pushed around for at least the first half of the season. a 1-2 year vet will bridge the learning gap.

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, Mother Grabber said:

any top shelf OT will still be a rookie, and likely get pushed around for at least the first half of the season. a 1-2 year vet will bridge the learning gap.

I don't care about learning gap. Also, that didn't keep Slater from being an All Pro.

Growing pains are fine when you aren't protecting a QB that matters and on a team destined for failure.

[bLACKpANTHER]

1 hour ago, Zod said:

• Agreed to terms with LB Cory Littleton - C
• Agreed to terms with CB Donte Jackson - B+
• Signed WR DJ Moore to contract extension - A
• Signed G/C Bradley Bozeman - A+
• Agreed to terms with P Johnny Hekker - B
• Agreed to terms with DT Matt Ioannidis - B+
• Agreed to terms with LB Damien Wilson - C+
• Agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent G Austin Corbett - B+
• Agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent RB D'Onta Foreman - B+
• Agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent S Xavier Woods - B
• Agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent WR Rashard Higgins - C
• Re-signed WR Brandon Zylstra - C+
• Re-signed DE Marquis Haynes Sr. - C
• Re-signed S Sean Chandler - C
• Re-signed K Zane Gonzalez - B

A = star caliber
B = potential standout
C = depth, fills hole

Overall Grade = B+ - we definitely targeted some positions and filled them with A/B players and then added depth

Still not done in FA.. but obviously the 1 position that matters most is still up in the air.. gotta nail that one or all these other moves won't matter much..

if we trade for Baker/Jimmy = there is a lot of expectations and little hope in future
if we draft Willis/Pickett = there is less expectations but more tons of hope

This coaching staff begins the season on the hottest of hotseats - i think they will draft a QB to give themselves some breathing room

[demcj]

i give this offseason an A. these moves sparked some hope and excitement for the upcoming season that i didn't think was possible.

[poundaway]

Yeah.  Rhule and Fitterer are kicking ass.  I give it a B+.  Get a LT and a QB and LFG.

[Mother Grabber]

11 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I don't care about learning gap. Also, that didn't keep Slater from being an All Pro.

Growing pains are fine when you aren't protecting a QB that matters and on a team destined for failure.

i’m all for OT at 6. half of this board will be pulling their hair out when he’s not the best OT evah on week one.

[BrianS]

D'Onta Foreman is a starter?  What?  Are we crazy?  He's a nice piece, sure, but you're crowning a guy who has never even played a full season.    He missed the ENTIRE 2019 season.  He's been on four teams.  I'm not arguing against his signing, but let's not get carried away.  He's a short yardage back that we needed.  That's all.

Ioannidis is another good piece, yes.  However, he's not what you think he is.  People tend to forget that most of those sizzle reel clips where you seeing him walking people back to the QB are reps where they played him at DE.  His best two seasons in Washington he played at DE in fact.  He's a great piece, yes, but he's not the second coming of Star.  He's a guy who we'll probably move around a bit and hope we can get some production.

Yes, we've had a nice off season so far.  We've collected some pieces.  Matt Rhule is still the coach.  He's going to have to prove that the process is working.  1000%.  Because right now we have no evidence of that.