Carolina Panthers can't afford to draft a WR at No. 8 in the 2025 NFL Draft

[kungfoodude]

29 minutes ago, Icege said:

I get that y'all don't like the XL pick, but let's not act like it was a bad move to have a 5th year option available for him because we gave up a 5th round pick... especially when that's not true.

Carolina traded a second (#33) and fifth (#141) for a first (#32) and sixth (#200) from Buffalo. It was just a pick swap... 32 <-> 33 and 200 <-> 141.

They essentially gave up on a $1M/yr guy to make sure they're able to keep XL for another year should he pan out. Keeping a possible WR1 for a fifth year vs. picking a special teamer 60 picks earlier... There's arguments for both. Team needs more bodies, but setting up to have a potential WR1 at an affordable cost for another year is the exact Excel magic some in here keep ripping their hair out over the team not doing.

 

But this is so classicly a move that goes against the Panthers. We have almost never had this sort of move pan out.

It's not accidental, it's not bad luck, it's piss poor management.

I did not like the XL pick and he did little to make me change my mind.

Until he can come out and actually show massive progress with basic WR catching skills, this one is not headed in the right direction.

But, last year's atrocious draft is already done. We have the opportunity to learn and actually draft like a real, functional NFL team this offseason. Let's not squander it.

[Icege]

57 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

But this is so classicly a move that goes against the Panthers. We have almost never had this sort of move pan out.

I'm not denying that being a fan of the Panthers has been downright painful at times, but I don't understand willfully gaslighting ourselves with misrepresentations. We don't need it to be any worse, the team has been embarrassing amounts of ass.

Take for example the quoted part + the recent talk about the XL trade: there was clear misrepresentation. The team traded a 5th to move up when it was a 5th flipped to a 6th. Regaring "this sort of move"... the fifth-year bonus option wasn't implemented until 2011 following the CBA (which Panthers fans should definitely remember if they were around then, that time was the big suck imo). The 2024 draft was the first time the team had ever traded up from the second round into the first. This is quite literally the first time that it's happened.

Now if we're talking about trading up in general not working out, well... that's why a lot of posters were against moving up from #8 when the team drafted Horn and #6 when they drafted Icky to take a QB. The data shows that it often doesn't pan out. At the same time, if the team wants a guy (or a particular position), there might be times where they just got to move up in order to get him.

I'm not saying you gotta believe in the team. It's completely fair to have a wait and see approach... but I don't see the point in assuming the worst until then. It's not like it's going to be any less miserable if it does go bad again.

Edited Friday at 02:15 PM by Icege

[kungfoodude]

15 minutes ago, Icege said:

I'm not denying that being a fan of the Panthers has been downright painful at times, but I don't understand willfully gaslighting ourselves with misrepresentations. We don't need it to be any worse, the team has been embarrassing amounts of ass.

Take for example the quoted part + the recent talk about the XL trade: there was clear misrepresentation. The team traded a 5th to move up when it was a 5th flipped to a 6th. Regaring "this sort of move"... the fifth-year bonus option wasn't implemented until 2011 following the CBA (which Panthers fans should definitely remember if they were around then, that time was the big suck imo). The 2024 draft was the first time the team had ever traded up from the second round into the first. This is quite literally the first time that it's happened.

Now if we're talking about trading up in general not working out, well... that's why a lot of posters were against moving up from #8 when the team drafted Horn and #6 when they drafted Icky to take a QB. The data shows that it often doesn't pan out. At the same time, if the team wants a guy (or a particular position), there might be times where they just got to move up in order to get him.

I'm not saying you gotta believe in the team. It's completely fair to have a wait and see approach... but I don't see the point in assuming the worst until then. It's not like it's going to be any less miserable if it does go bad again.

Trading up in general hasn't been our friend, as we are all well aware.

The biggest issue I had with the XL trade(aside from the fact that I wasn't high on the player), was that the trade itself was pure hubris. You flush an asset(valuable or not) for the potential of a 5th year option. Basically calling your shot that this won't be a bust.

But....it damn sure looks a lot closer to a bust than a shrewd move after year one. I don't think even the most negative poster here could have predicted XL's hands and basic catching ability to be as poor as they were.

And I understand the argument that sure he might just need some development time. But his peers in that class didn't seem to need it. DJ Moore taken at 24 didn't seem to need it. 

This is why I get so frustrated with the ignorant poo that this franchise does. It's literally locked and loaded as "smartest guy in the room" vibes, meanwhile you have guys like Howie Roseman out there just straight fuging crushing without top 10 after top 10 pick. It's infuriating.

Edited Friday at 02:30 PM by kungfoodude

[Icege]

14 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

meanwhile you have guys like Howie Roseman out there just straight fuging crushing without top 10 after top 10 pick. It's infuriating.

Howie Roseman is the Game Genie of GMs. Dude is an actual cheat code, it's so insane.

Edited Friday at 02:43 PM by Icege

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, Icege said:

Howie Roseman is the Game Genie of GMs. Dude is an actual cheat code, it's so insane.

Yeah and that is an extreme example but there are plenty more that don't flounder the way we do in the draft. It's so disheartening.

To my core, I just hope it's that Morgan is completely incompetent. Because the alternative scenarios are so much worse.

[jayboogieman]

2 hours ago, frankw said:

The Jonathan Brooks pick

[Icege]

29 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Yeah and that is an extreme example but there are plenty more that don't flounder the way we do in the draft. It's so disheartening.

To my core, I just hope it's that Morgan is completely incompetent. Because the alternative scenarios are so much worse.

Roseman's luck is unreal... or purposeful. I can't believe the talent that he's had fall to the Eagles the last few drafts. It's one thing to have wheeled and dealed the way he has... but how in the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck does he keep getting GIFTED players!?

[CRA]

If Travis Hunter was there....I'd draft him at 8.  I'd have him play slot WR and have a package on D where he played nickel. 

but he won't be there.  TMAC is too much repetition of what we have been doing at the position. 

[Khyber53]

3 hours ago, CPcavedweller said:

That is why we draft Tyler Warren. He’s got perennial Pro Bowler written all over him from day one. You need to go BPA in the Top 10, period. 

That has been my take and exact pick for almost a month now. Warren, if he's still there, is the guy. 

[kungfoodude]

2 hours ago, Icege said:

Roseman's luck is unreal... or purposeful. I can't believe the talent that he's had fall to the Eagles the last few drafts. It's one thing to have wheeled and dealed the way he has... but how in the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck does he keep getting GIFTED players!?

It ain't luck. He has an eye for talent. In fairness, it isn't like he didn't take players plenty of people here weren't pounding the table for(Carter, Mitchell, etc). He just gets good players.

[Jon Snow]

2 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

That has been my take and exact pick for almost a month now. Warren, if he's still there, is the guy. 

If the Panthers take Warren at 8 Dan and Dave will be gone after the season and they will deserve it.

[OneBadCat]

I wouldn’t mind a stud WR but I don’t think it’s necessary for us to take one at 8. 

Development is a thing and I think people are far too impatient with XL. He did just fine for a rookie WR, pretty good for a Panthers WR at that. Coker might take off as well. 
 

Id rather us get a good veteran FA WR who we know can step in right away. 
 

The defensive line really needs help. Mason Graham would be a dream next to Derrick Brown. 

[Waldo]

21 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

If the Panthers take Warren at 8 Dan and Dave will be gone after the season and they will deserve it.

Blocking TE at 8? Yeah it would be firing season and then they would try amd trade that guy after 2 years just like LV is doing with their 2nd round blocking TE.

Edited Friday at 07:05 PM by Waldo

[Khyber53]

3 hours ago, Jon Snow said:

If the Panthers take Warren at 8 Dan and Dave will be gone after the season and they will deserve it.

Let's see how it plays out.