The Great Wall of Carolina

[Panther53521]

I have been thinking about the draft and our Defense. Brown returns, draft Graham if he is there, trade up in the second, draft Deone Walker

 

that stops the running game

Edited December 26, 2024 by Panther53521

[Crixtala]

gotta figure out what's happening with the defense this off-season. evero staying? 3-4 staying?

those are important questions that nobody on this board has an answer for yet, and that needs to be answered before we can really start speculating (i realize i am saying this while actively running and posting mock drafts )

i think mason graham is a phenomenal athlete, but less of a NT than what i think we'd need if we're staying a 34 front. i think he makes sense if we're returning to a 4-3, but that's a MASSIVE if regardless of how much the fandom thinks it should come back and will fix all of our woes

i also love deone walker, and my argument is basically the exact opposite of the above. 34, let's go... clogs the middle, let's the LBs play more freely and we could use an upgrade over tuttle. 43? he could still be fit in, but it's probably not the greatest of fits

this is basically just the bpa argument. if you're just taking the best athlete, system be damned, you end up with jeremy chinn who never finds a role on the roster, wastes his rookie contract and then we wave goodbye and watch them get picked up by a system who can actually use them properly

[Panther53521]

Oh yes, it all depends on who is running the D.

If they resign Evero, what I said stands. If I was Evero, I would do my best to stay, this team is starting to improve, and possibly a good Defensive draft. We all know that we don’t have the talent on defense.

but with a new DC will need to see what they prefer.

[MHS831]

The draft is deep at DT, in my view.  I think we get one, but not day 1--maybe round 3--understand that I am never right--but I hope and pray a QB could be in play and we could trade back.

I see it this way on this day:

Needs

1. Wide Receiver:  This is not to say we should draft a WR with the first round.  It is to say that I think it is our biggest need.  Depending on what we do with Clowney and Wonnum, I will say WR is the biggest need right now.

2. Defensive Tackle/End (2):  WIth one exception, I would clean out the DT room (here i mean Defensive Ends and DTs--the front 3), holding onto A. Robinson for rotational depth, whose contract is reasonable.  I would look for a DT (Nose) and a better DE to play opposite Brown--one that can get after the QB more.

3.  Edge:  We have to keep Clowney for another season at age 32, but he is not worth $14m at this point, so this could change to a post june 1 cut after the draft, saving the Panthers $8m of his $14m salary--giving this draft pick more value. Wonnum at 27 is probably worth the salary he will earn in 2025 ($8m), but making him a post June 1 cut leaves only $900K in dead cap.  It is difficult to guess what the Panthers will do until you know what they are going to do with the former Gamecock edge tandem.

4.  Linebacker:  Shaq is probably done, folks.  He has a small frame and his body is probably telling him to quit.  Jewell is hard to gauge because the DT/DEs in front of him were so bad.  Wallace was decent for a third round rookie, but he is a depth/ST player. 

5. Tight End:  This offense / QB needs a stud TE on the roster.  Tremble and Sanders are great depth, and using 2 TEs can create mismatches in the run game as well as the passing game.

6,  Center:  I think Mays got better as the year progressed, and they will probably go with him in 2025.  However, if he does not continue to improve, this is a need.

 

 

[Bear Hands]

I love Deone Walker.

Still under 21, team captain, outspoken leader, force in both run and pass d, elite quickness for someone his size. I think he’s a riser into R1 through the process but would be all for him next to Brown and Robinson.

[imminent rogaine]

No way I wouldn’t come out of this draft with 2 stud DTs and 2 edge. 

If possible, I’d trade back and take Walter Nolen, then follow it up w Deone Walker. Those 2 w brown coming back would be scary. 

[Swaggasaurus]

Jay Toia from UCLA at Nose is a guy who doesn’t have a lot of buzz, but fits the role of run stopper. But watch his MLB Carson Schwesinger get to the ball carrier. I want both. Should be round 3-4 guys. Schwesinger could go as high as the 2nd tho. The 5 tech is a tough position to project. You need a guy with length, heft, and a balance of pass rush and run stuff skills. Rylie Mills another mid rounder that I like for the 5 tech spot. It’s a good draft in the mid rounds for run stopping DL and there’s a couple good true middle backers in there.