CBS floor and ceiling for each team

[Captain Morgan]

Carolina Panthers (2021 record: 5-12)

Ceiling: 9-8, playoff berth

Acquiring Baker Mayfield was the best move Carolina could make in order to have a chance at the postseason. The Panthers did have the the No. 2-ranked defense in 2021 -- and that was without Jaycee Horn the majority of the season. Carolina had horrible quarterback play with Sam Darnold and Cam Newton, which impeded its ability to compete for wins late in the season. 

 

Mayfield doesn't need to be playing at a Pro Bowl level, but has to manage the game and make the crucial throws. A healthy Christian McCaffrey will help as well as Carolina was 4-3 when McCaffrey played last season.

The NFC South isn't a daunting gauntlet as in previous seasons. There's an opportunity for Carolina to steal some wins and go to the playoffs. 

Floor: 6-11, miss playoffs

The Panthers could still have McCaffrey miss significant time (he has only played in 10 games over the last two years), really hindering what Carolina wants to do with its offense. That also makes Mayfield's job more difficult in a make-or-break year as a starting quarterback. 

 

Yetur Gross-Matos will have to step up with the departure of Haason Reddick and Ikem Ekwonu has to figure out how to pass protect at the next level. The offensive line needs to be better (on paper the unit is better) than 2021 or Mayfield will be running for his life. A significant injury to Mayfield derails Carolina's playoff chances. 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ceiling-and-floor-for-all-32-nfl-teams-bills-chiefs-bengals-bucs-packers-looking-to-dethrone-rams/

 

 

[Captain Morgan]

and might as well add in CBS All NFL South Team

Offensive skill positions

QB: Tom Brady (TB)

RB: Christian McCaffrey (CAR)

WR: Mike Evans (TB), Chris Godwin (TB), D.J. Moore (CAR)

TE: Kyle Pitts (ATL)

FLEX: Alvin Kamara (NO)

Perhaps the easiest quarterback selection of this entire exercise was Brady over the likes of Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Baker Mayfield. If CMC can just stay on the field, he is going to be the most productive running back in the NFL. We know that based on his history. The injuries he's suffered are not of the type that should be career-changing, so we're betting on his finally getting back to himself.

 

Offensive line

OT: Tristan Wirfs (TB), Ryan Ramczyk (NO)

G: Shaq Mason (TB), Chris Lindstrom (ATL)

 Bradley Bozeman (CAR)

 

 

Defensive front

EDGE: Brian Burns (CAR), Cameron Jordan (NO)

IDL: Vita Vea (TB), Grady Jarrett (ATL)

LB: Lavonte David (TB), Demario Davis (NO)

FLEX: Shaquil Barrett (TB)

We were very aggressive in pushing a breakout season from Burns a year ago, and we got it. He matched his 2020 sack total with nine, but made more plays in the backfield, increased his pressure rate, and got himself to the Pro Bowl. He's an ascending player and should have another excellent year. 

 

Defensive backfield

CB: A.J. Terrell (ATL), Marshon Lattimore (NO), Jaycee Horn (CAR)

SAF: Antoine Winfield Jr. (TB), Jeremy Chinn (CAR)

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2022-nfl-mvp-odds-picks-justin-herbert-josh-allen-best-bets-plus-more-staff-award-picks/

 

[panfanman]

I think our ceiling is much higher if we stay healthy.  And I think our floor is a tad less than they projected if we don't.

[KSpan]

6 minutes ago, panfanman said:

I think our ceiling is much higher if we stay healthy.  And I think our floor is a tad less than they projected if we don't.

Yeah, 6-11 is a bit generous. 3-14 seems pretty possible with an injury or two like every team suffers and team figuring out the defense for a third year in a row. Not saying that's the most likely scenario by any means, but it is does have legs.

[t96]

22 minutes ago, panfanman said:

I think our ceiling is much higher if we stay healthy.  And I think our floor is a tad less than they projected if we don't.

I could see 11-12 wins easily if we stay fully healthy and Mayfield and the line prove to be the real deal. That’s probably our ceiling in a perfect situation. Agree our floor is less

[PNW_PantherMan]

2 hours ago, t96 said:

I could see 11-12 wins easily if we stay fully healthy and Mayfield and the line prove to be the real deal. That’s probably our ceiling in a perfect situation. Agree our floor is less

That perfect situation probably involves Tom Brady surprise retiring this week lol.

[TheCasillas]

3 hours ago, Captain Morgan said:

and might as well add in CBS All NFL South Team

Offensive skill positions

QB: Tom Brady (TB)

RB: Christian McCaffrey (CAR)

WR: Mike Evans (TB), Chris Godwin (TB), D.J. Moore (CAR)

TE: Kyle Pitts (ATL)

FLEX: Alvin Kamara (NO)

Perhaps the easiest quarterback selection of this entire exercise was Brady over the likes of Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Baker Mayfield. If CMC can just stay on the field, he is going to be the most productive running back in the NFL. We know that based on his history. The injuries he's suffered are not of the type that should be career-changing, so we're betting on his finally getting back to himself.

 

Offensive line

OT: Tristan Wirfs (TB), Ryan Ramczyk (NO)

G: Shaq Mason (TB), Chris Lindstrom (ATL)

 Bradley Bozeman (CAR)

 

 

Defensive front

EDGE: Brian Burns (CAR), Cameron Jordan (NO)

IDL: Vita Vea (TB), Grady Jarrett (ATL)

LB: Lavonte David (TB), Demario Davis (NO)

FLEX: Shaquil Barrett (TB)

We were very aggressive in pushing a breakout season from Burns a year ago, and we got it. He matched his 2020 sack total with nine, but made more plays in the backfield, increased his pressure rate, and got himself to the Pro Bowl. He's an ascending player and should have another excellent year. 

 

Defensive backfield

CB: A.J. Terrell (ATL), Marshon Lattimore (NO), Jaycee Horn (CAR)

SAF: Antoine Winfield Jr. (TB), Jeremy Chinn (CAR)

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2022-nfl-mvp-odds-picks-justin-herbert-josh-allen-best-bets-plus-more-staff-award-picks/

 

Cant believe they have Pitts over Ian... thats some bullshit.

[t96]

11 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

That perfect situation probably involves Tom Brady surprise retiring this week lol.

We play them twice, they don’t have a big impact on our final win-loss record. And with their OL issues they are entirely beatable in BoA

[Smithers]

Am I the only one who thinks our defense is better with Luvu instead of Reddick?  Reddick couldn’t stop anyone besides the QB - he was a huge liability.  Luvu is an upgrade.  

[The Huddler]

3 hours ago, t96 said:

I could see 11-12 wins easily if we stay fully healthy and Mayfield and the line prove to be the real deal. That’s probably our ceiling in a perfect situation. Agree our floor is less

hell yeah bro

[SteveSmithTD89]

Ceiling - Super Bowl Winner

Floor - 1st overall pick 

Did I go out far enough on the ledge with that one? 

If the line plays how we hope it does, CMC and DJ stay healthy, Baker returns to his 2020 form and Brown can make that leap in year 3 then we are much closer to the Ceiling than the floor. 

Is it a lot to ask? No doubt. Does that make it impossible? I don't necessarily believe that. While in total it looks like a perfect storm, individually each of those components aren't that farfetched. 

I've maintained since before the draft a LT at 6 and Baker makes us a playoff team.

I'm not wavering on that now. 

[1of10Charnatives]

14 hours ago, KSpan said:

Yeah, 6-11 is a bit generous. 3-14 seems pretty possible with an injury or two like every team suffers and team figuring out the defense for a third year in a row. Not saying that's the most likely scenario by any means, but it is does have legs.

Realistically all it would take is an early season ending injury to Mayfield and 3-14 looks not only possible but likely. If more than 9 is possible, it's contingent on a lot of things breaking our way and the division being overall weak.

 

[PNW_PantherMan]

11 hours ago, t96 said:

We play them twice, they don’t have a big impact on our final win-loss record. And with their OL issues they are entirely beatable in BoA

Two games is the difference in 9 and 11 wins, which is the difference in your ceiling and CBS's.  We haven't beaten Tampa since Tom has been there.  That would be a big swing to sweep them.

[t96]

31 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Two games is the difference in 9 and 11 wins, which is the difference in your ceiling and CBS's.  We haven't beaten Tampa since Tom has been there.  That would be a big swing to sweep them.

They are one of the best teams on our schedule, so they are more like the difference between 12 and 14 wins