PRIORITIZED Needs as of 3/28/2024

[Stingray3030]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

worded poorly.  But I take it as last/final year as a Panther.  Theilen is most likely done here after this year.  Johnson most likely is just a one year rental if playing the odds. 

Oh gotcha - I thought he had 2 years left on his deal...makes sense.  Depending on how Mingo and the draft goes probably gonna get a good shot at a resign also though.

[TheSpecialJuan]

The o-line has been massively improved starting 5 and depth 

[Byrdman4real]

12 minutes ago, CRA said:

I think the 4th round is where you should target RBs.  You aren't going to find a CMC but that's where you build your RB committee.  Dudes drafted in the 4th round were 2nd round talent in prior eras.  Get a pass catching RB in this draft that can pass block. 

dylan laube close to CMC skills, can get in 5th round. 

[CRA]

4 minutes ago, Byrdman4real said:

dylan laube close to CMC skills, can get in 5th round. 

I'd be fine with me.  Homer in me wants Shipley in the 4th if he fell there.  I think he could come in pretty quickly and be a better 3rd down RB than the dudes we have. 

[Camp Fodder]

1 hour ago, OneBadCat said:

I think you have to sign Gilmore and push CB to 2025. 
 

WR, LB, C  in the first 3 rounds unless an absolute steal of a DE falls to us.  I’d be against double dipping WR in the second. We have to spread the talent around. 
 

We also need some considerations for what TEs could be available. 

I agree with this. We need another WR but we have to see what Mingo is since we spent a 2nd last year. Thielen is still more than good enough to be a 3

[ProcessBlue2]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Oops

Offense (22)

Left Tackle	Left Guard	Center	Right Guard	Right Tackle
Ickey Ekwonu	Damien Lewis	Austin Corbett	Robert Hunt	Taylor Moton
Yosh Nijman	Brady Christesen	Cade Mays	Brady Christesen	Yosh Nijman
Brady Christesen	Cade Mays	Brady Christensen	Cade Mays	Brady Christesen
	Chandler Zavala
Wide Receiver	Running Back	Quarterback	Tight End
Diontae Johnson	Chuba Hubbard	Bryce Young	Tommy Tremble
	Miles Sanders	Andy Dalton	Ian Thomas
Adam Thielen			Stephen Sullivan
Jonathan Mingo	R. Blackshear
I Smith-Marsette
T Marshall Jr

 

Defense (23)

Jack Linebacker	Defensive End	Defensive Tackle	Defensive End	Sam Linebacker
Jadav Clowney	Derrick Brown	Shy Tuttle	A’Shwn Robinson	DJ Wonnum
Amare Barno	Raeq Williams	Nick Thurmond	LaBryan Ray	DJ Johnson
K'Lvon Chaisson				Eku Leota
Cornerback	Will LB	Mike LB	Nickel	Cornerback
JC Horn	Shaq Thompson	Josey Jewell	Troy Hill	Dane Jackson
	Chan.  Wooten			Dicaprio Bootle
	Strong Safety		Free Safety
	Jordan Fuller		Xavier Woods
	Jammi Robinson		Sam Franklin

We literally have the same depth chart except for Bootle. I have Jamison over him.

[grimesgoat]

There are a lot of startable CB, WRs, and C's sprinkled throughout rounds 2-3.  But I think their primary need is to find a clone of Micah Parsons.  A disruptor/dog.  Someone they can line up anywhere and create havoc.  They will go in one of two directions...

Option 1: If Chop is there at 33, they grab him.  At 39, they move back 10-15 spots and get an extra 3rd.  Then they go WR, CB, C/RB with their next 3 picks.

Option 2: If Chop is not there at 33, they move back from 33 10-15 spots and pick up an extra 3rd and a 2025 2nd.  At 39 they pick Cooper or Wilson.  Then they go WR, CB, C/RB with their next 3 picks.

[Harbingers]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Hi Gang, after talking a look at the roster (I will post below because it has been updated) I no longer see (or think they see) OL as a need that MUST be addressed in the draft.  They added 2 starting guards, creating a starting and backup center (jury still out, I know), and a solid swing OT.  Behind that, they have former starter Brady Christensen and at least Cade Mays.  Most all NFL lines have areas they would like to upgrade, but if they can get Ickey balanced, this could be a very special OL. 

This list represents a shift away from a prioritized need at Edge as well.  Based on Canales' comments, they are going to go with Clowney and Wonnum and develop players like DJ Johnson, Barno, Leota, and Chaisson.  Good plan.  It suggests that Canales thinks these players were not coached up or developed, but he would never say that.  Athletically, the OLB room is full of studs.

I still think our biggest need is a solid WR and if I were the GM, I would take 2 in this draft.  But nobody on the Huddle is talking that much about the second and third biggest needs, imo.  So here is what I put together this morning for you hacks to attack (includes long term needs--to me, since most rookies do not produce immediately, it is stupid to draft a player based on immediate needs):

1. Wide Receiver:  Johnson and Thielen, the top 2 WRs at this moment, are possibly in their final years.  Mingo was overdrafted and his performance has not matched expectations.  In my opinion, in a WR-deep draft, you grab 2 Wideouts.  Longterm:  You do not want to enter 2025 with Mingo, draft pick, Smith-Marsette, and Marshall (who may not be on the team by then).  In my view, you can take two and still find the essential depth pieces at ILB and CB.

2. Cornerback Depth:  Of course, signing Dane Jackson to replace "Action" Jackson and re-signing Troy Hill is not enough, considering Horn’s injury history--and even if Horn stays healty--you need 3 starting caliber CBs and a nickel.  I think we have to proceed as if Dane Jackson is the only starting caliber CB without an injury history and Bootle is a roster fringe CB at best.  We need a CB who can start if necessary.  Longterm:  Horn is a huge question mark at this point, so we have to draft as if we are taking a developmental starter.  For this reason, I see a second rounder being spent on CB. Dane Jackson is not elite by any means, and if we do not get pass rush this season, the secondary will be exploited. Troy Hill is 33 and this is obviously his last season here.  

3. Inside Linebacker Depth:  With only Thompson and Jewell with Wooten behind them, ILB Depth is needed.  I fully expect Morgan to go after an ILB on day 2.  He understands their importance to a defense.  I am assuming the new kickoff rule may make LBs more valuable as well. Longterm: Jewell was just signed to a 3-year deal, but I doubt Shaq is back, having just signed a 1-year deal at age 30 for 2024.  We will be signing an ILB early in this draft.  Morgan guarantees it (not really, but I bet he does)

4. Tight End:  I think they feel that TE is “covered” for now, but if they can upgrade the position, they will.  In my estimation, they want to see what they have in Tremble; that suggests they do not think the TE position was used properly in 2023.  Pure speculation.  Sullivan flashed as a pass-catching TE, and Ian is a suitable #3 TE as a blocker, but I have not seen that much from him in that area.  The could add a TE to the room, but with three other needs that are more pressing, I am not sure they will add someone who helps them improve.  However, they want to surround Bryce with weapons, so a TE would kinda be necessary–See the Super Bowl–their TEs were pretty good. Longterm:  This team needs an Alpha TE, and if Tremble cannot be that guy, they will bring one in.  I do like some of the TEs later in the draft, however.  A player like Ohio State’s Cade Stover would be a nice addition.  

Good post but you forgot new owner…

[MHS831]

6 hours ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Great post.  For number 5 I would add a receiving specialist at running back.  Someone to rotate with Chuba.  I would just assume Miles Sanders doesn't exist from this point.

My list went through 10.  I think Sanders could bounce back; they owe him a lot of money.

 

I start threads like this because my thinking gets biased very easily and quickly.  And when we talk about one player, we fail to see the big picture a lot of times-so this kinda makes us frame it that way.  Yes, I would love to draft a C, but the way it is set up right now, I cannot.  I also hope we draft 2 WRs, because Mingo could be the only player back from the current roster in 2025

Edited March 28 by MHS831

[MHS831]

5 hours ago, jayboogieman said:

Other teams have played Corbett at center and quickly moved him to guard. The Panthers need to heed that lesson and move him to backup guard and draft a starting caliber center because they don't have one.

TE should be moved up the list of needs as well. The Panthers don't have a starting caliber TE on the roster either.

CB is another fairly large need since the team cannot depend on Horn to play.

And yeah, they need to add another WR or two, preferably one that is a returner. They haven't drafted one of those since Smith.

This is the dilemma.  We have about 7-10 needs and you are very lucky if 3 draft picks stick--especially without a first.  And this is BEFORE injuries etc. 

[MHS831]

5 hours ago, CRA said:

I'd be fine with me.  Homer in me wants Shipley in the 4th if he fell there.  I think he could come in pretty quickly and be a better 3rd down RB than the dudes we have. 

I keep mocking Shipley in the fourth as well.  I really do not know the RB market.

 

[jayboogieman]

13 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I keep mocking Shipley in the fourth as well.  I really do not know the RB market.

 

Shipley has the skillset teams want in a modern RB. That said, he's had some injury issues which might scare some teams off. I wouldn't draft him before the 5th, but that's the way I feel about every RB.

[PNW_PantherMan]

20 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

My list went through 10.  I think Sanders could bounce back; they owe him a lot of money.

Maybe.  But he's not really the type of back I think we need to add.

[bythenbrs]

58 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

My list went through 10.  I think Sanders could bounce back; they owe him a lot of money.

 

I start threads like this because my thinking gets biased very easily and quickly.  And when we talk about one player, we fail to see the big picture a lot of times-so this kinda makes us frame it that way.  Yes, I would love to draft a C, but the way it is set up right now, I cannot.  I also hope we draft 2 WRs, because Mingo could be the only player back from the current roster in 2025

This is certainly the year to draft two WR’s.  This year they are both need and BPA, depending on round and where we are drafting.

Edited March 28 by bythenbrs