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All I can say is "per source" because I was told some information (not "Breaking News" Juan) from someone close to the situation that I do not think is confidential, but I think the person did not want his/her name affiliated with it because it was slightly opinionated or speculative at times. I do not want to say anything to misrepresent what was discussed and I will not quote them or mention an opinion they shared--only how what they shared impacted my thinking. As I said, most is common knowledge about which I figured there was more to it that we knew already. That was not necessarily the case. Xavier Legette--Legette never said he was going to have surgery on his wrist at the end of the season; he said that he might have to have surgery. He also stated that he had been concerned with the wrist since 2021, if you recall. Apparently, there was no issue that requires surgery, based on my interpretation of the fact that he said "might" and never had the surgery. As for the foot, if you recall Legette missed a few days with a foot injury during camp and we never heard another word about it. Was the reason for his surgery based on that injury? There is no information to suggest that these two injuries are related. The cause of the foot injury remains a mystery, but the wrist mystery seems to be solved. Taylor Moton--Moton missed games this year due to a knee that has been giving him trouble for some time. At his age, there are several reasons they may not extend him. It is likely that the Panthers want to see how he does for a season before making a decision on Moton, but at his age, it seems (to me) to be unlikely that he will get a third contract with the Panthers unless his knee fully recovers. It is probable that they will address depth at T, possibly to groom a RT for 2026. I am going to start looking at right tackles in the draft and free agency, but most likely, the draft. Probably day 3, but the reason I inquired about Moton is based on an expectation that OTs could be available at #8 and if his knee is shot, RT becomes your new priority. I did not get that vibe--instead, the feeling I got was that the Panthers will probably not extend Moton and opt to take a "wait and see" approach. If my thinking is correct, Moton's $31m cap hit will be absorbed in 2025. In 2026 Moton is a free agent, and I do not see them re-signing him despite still having $4.8m cap hit. It would be smart, with 9 picks (6 on day 3) to sign a RT or draft a raw RT to groom for a season. It is my impression, based on the facts, that Moton is entering his final year as a Panther unless his knee improves. Still, the articles I have read describe the average NFL linemen start declining at 32. Moton will be 32. I also know that lingering knee issues in big men at his age are more likely to be based on the wear and tear over the years than something that will heal. About Legette again--why tell the press that you might have to have surgery? It seems to me that he is possibly making excuses. Dawgs don't make excuses. To me, telling the press about non-serious injuries is not something the best do. In January, everyone is banged up. Summary: Legette will not be having wrist surgery. No idea why he had foot surgery. Moton is probably in his last year and the Panthers will likely watch the knee and postpone making any decisions about 2026 or beyond. -
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Another thing about press conferences: if you're a young reporter who doesn't work for a local TV outlet, the O, ESPN or NFLN, there's a decent chance you may not even get to ask a question. "Big deal. Just write whatever they said," you probably think. But if you're a young reporter, writing what everyone else wrote doesn't make you stand out. It keeps you on the bottom rung of the totem pole, it doesn't allow for different spins on topics, and a lot of the younger folks in there are the ones who take it most seriously, anyway. It's the same concept as drafting a guy in the sixth or seventh round, or signing a UDFA, then letting them play no more than one or two snaps a year, because they weren't a Day 1 starter. Well how the hell do you know how good they are, then?
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