Key Injury Updates

[MHS831]

33 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Did they take on his $20M salary as well? 

I think so.  I was watching the graphics with the sound off.  Turned it up and they said Washington had $80m in cap room, so I assume they were talking about taking on his salary--that would make sense considering the low trade value

[Shocker]

Commanders finally cast out Daniel Snyder and 2 years later they are right there contending.  Got a good coach and building a great foundation.  Good to see IMO

[Jon Snow]

25 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I think so.  I was watching the graphics with the sound off.  Turned it up and they said Washington had $80m in cap room, so I assume they were talking about taking on his salary--that would make sense considering the low trade value

Too rich for us. 

[kungfoodude]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I think he was an older rookie, which means he is pushing 30 right now.  Probably a valuable backup, but if you need for a long stretch, bryce is in trouble.

He is 28. Closer to the end than the beginning, most likely.

[Icege]

10 hours ago, MHS831 said:

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.

This meshes with what a former Huddler posted earlier in Pantherscord based off of Morgan's comments and the team meeting with RTs. At the very least, it sounds like they're looking to draft and develop a guy.

Dammit... time to dive into RT tape.

[MHS831]

14 minutes ago, Icege said:

This meshes with what a former Huddler posted earlier in Pantherscord based off of Morgan's comments and the team meeting with RTs. At the very least, it sounds like they're looking to draft and develop a guy.

Dammit... time to dive into RT tape.

that is what I said--researching RTs.  I did not know the team was meeting with RTs. If you hear who, that may give us an idea what round.

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, Shocker said:

Commanders finally cast out Daniel Snyder and 2 years later they are right there contending.  Got a good coach and building a great foundation.  Good to see IMO

Teams are like Companies--if the CEO is the problem, he is going to fire everyone around him until there is nobody left.

[MHS831]

Here is encouraging news, imo.  We have our OL coaches back.  This season, we got incredible improvement from Ekwonu, Mays, and Zavala.  I can't think of any position that featured more development and growth than OL. 

Rounds 1-3 (est.)

[PleaseCutStewart]

11 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I do not know to what degree the positions are different now, but I watched or read something that was very interesting.  If you think about the best pass rushers in the NFL now, most play on the defensive left side.  Crosby, Watt, Garrett, Bosa, to name a few.  Watt said that even though he is not rushing the blind side, the ball is closer to him and he can strip it easier.  Regardless, the top edge rushers in the NFL attack the RT, so there is the beginning of a shift to put more emphasis on the RT.  Here is an article from 2023 that describes it.

https://www.hogshaven.com/2023/4/16/23681579/have-right-tackles-become-just-as-important-as-left-tackles-in-the-nfl

I think the value of LT over RT was because most QBs are right-handed and can't see the left side rush as well because when they throw, they are going to turn their body to the right.

With how much defenses can rotate where pass rushers Rush from, I don't think there's any value of weighing LT a lot more than RT now

[Icege]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

that is what I said--researching RTs.  I did not know the team was meeting with RTs. If you hear who, that may give us an idea what round.

Marcus Mbow (Purdue)
Josh Conerly Jr (Oregon)

thought I saw one or two more, will dig in the morning

[PleaseCutStewart]

9 minutes ago, Icege said:

Marcus Mbow (Purdue)
Josh Conerly Jr (Oregon)

thought I saw one or two more, will dig in the morning

I think Mbow will shoot up draft boards by draft day. I can easily see him being drafted mid - late 2nd

[Waldo]

12 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I do not know circumstances, but I am pretty sure that BC did not cut it at LG and he sucked at center when Cade took over and played well.  I have always thought his role would be as a swing OT.  His arms are short, but he really has not spent time at T, his college position.  So I am not sure how valuable he is if he has not played well at G or C.

I don't think he is very valuable but this team seems to think so. Brining back Corbett is the same for me.

[bababoey]

4 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

I think Mbow will shoot up draft boards by draft day. I can easily see him being drafted mid - late 2nd

Probably but not as a RT.  Most teams are looking at him as a center.  He is too light, especially in the legs, to live on the edge in the NFL.

Think Belton, Trapilo or Pierce ( my dream out of Rutgers) kind of area.  Those are 3rd/4th round type of guys that we are probably looking at.

[kungfoodude]

FWIW, this is a fairly thin OT class. 

This is a bad time to be making this replacement if we choose to do so via the draft.