Rough Depth Chart (with position analyses)

[Bear Hands]

We’re at a point where we need to hit on some top X factor type talent.

We’ve got Brown and Horn but still no one true playmakers on either side of the ball. They’ve packed decent depth in and filtered out the league cellar level extra bad. And also have young, untapped potential. Really need a guy to be an offensive focal point and a defensive playmaker.

 

[Beast_3000]

3 hours ago, NJPanthers89 said:

I think the TE room with Sanders and Tremble is set.  Two talented young guys who need to show up.  The WRs desperately need an alpha #1.  Leggette needs to really take a step forward, and we have to pray Thielen stays healthy.  Tet McMillan should be the target at 8 and would be a major upgrade to this offense.  A FA signing or two is inevitable as well.  
 

Defensively they are doing it right.  You don’t need a dominant expensive defense in today’s NFL.  You need a blue collar defense that can show up, stop the run, and create turnovers.  It’s very difficult to completely shut down other teams with the rules today.  The money should be spent on the offense, it’s an offensive driven league.  With that said there are obviously holes at LB and FS that Morgan will address at some point.  The roster is not going to be completely fixed this offseason but we should expect another trend to the upside with next off season being critical for a potential playoff push.  

Have you watched the tape on Tyler Warren? I think he could be the Alpha our TE/ WR room needs. He’s a good blocker 6-6 and I honestly think Tet McMillan is scared to run a 40 because his time would mirror Warren’s 4.6.

 

[panthersphan]

Ja’Tavion Sanders might be a guy, just saying…

[scratched]

Warren at TE covers 2 of these positions... I'm starting to like the idea of drafting this guy. If we are looking receiver help at #8, make it Warren and not a WR. I still think trading back is our best option, we have to many needs to not try an acquire extra picks. Maybe the Steelers would trade up for S. Sanders if he is still on the board?

[Stingray3030]

Here is my order in terms of positions of need going forward:

OLB/EDGE, S, RB, WR, DT, LB, CB, TE

I have no problem calling Tremble or Sanders TE1 - mid, but both were TE1 caliber.  I also have more faith in the development of our WR's than many here, but still have no issue putting it higher need.  I very much don't consider Clowney a starting OLB anymore - and he proved it last year.  His numbers and his pay are on par with Jones - so same same.  We desperately need to find starters at OLB and S - our last 2 starting openings.  

I expect our first 2 picks to be some combination of OLB and S - but I could see us taking BPA for DT.  I don't think WR or TE in the first round is the best idea (especially WR this year given the prospects).  If we are taking a WR I would rather see us trade back into RD1 for Burden or Tet since we have so much draft capitol.  RB in the 3rd round is also very tempting to me....Judkins, Henderson, Giddens, Skattebo - love em all in the 3rd.  I don't see any downside drafting a RB there.  If he's great, great - we can always trade a guy if we have too many in a year.  And if he sucks we are good too cause RB's are always available in FA and are fairly cheap these days...it is just a backup at this point.

[CPF4LIFE]

Tet scared to workout cuz it will drop his stock??  Lol...sounds familiar 

[ImfromClayton]

Really good work. Thanks for putting all that together. I definitely think our talent level is at worst, the same as last year, and in most positions we've gotten a little better. 

Draft and the rest of free agency are really wide open for us. Here's hoping to a lot of BPA picks. 

[PantherChris]

9 hours ago, Aussie Tank said:

Wharton is gonna start over Robinson

It's gonna he a rotation, I suspect we will be greatly improved agaist the run *if healthy* knocks on wood. Meaning we get hit with more passing but predictable passing.... leading to more rush opportunities 

[Camp Fodder]

5 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I am not sure about that. Wharton is really bad against the run.

54 mil for a backup?

[Jay Roosevelt]

QB:
We should look to add a developmental QB late in the draft, IMO. Never hurts to take a shot in the 6th or 7th round. I'm not sure Plummer is that guy. Bonus if it's someone who can be a short-yardage/QB sneak threat.

RB:
I expect we'll sign a veteran backup and draft one on day 3. Long-term we're in great shape here if Brooks recovers fully and even if he doesn't we only need a solid #2 and some depth.

WR:
This is a weird position because there is legit potential with what we have on the roster if XL and Coker develop and Thielen is a known quantity at this point, but obviously not a long-term piece at his age. I almost feel like the only sure fire way to upgrade our WR corp this season is to add that true #1 guy because I'm not sure a mid-tier or aging veteran does anything but muddy the water and take snaps away from XL and Coker that they need to develop.

I'm still not ruling out a big trade for a true #1 here before the draft (Tee Higgins? Brandon Ayiuk?) but we will almost surely sign at least a veteran for depth. This seems like an obvious day 2 target position in the draft as well. I like Jack Bech from TCU or Ricky White III from UNLV in the 3rd.

TE:
I think we're done here. I know there's been talk of drafting Tyler Warren, but I honestly don't see it. Had we not re-signed Tremble I might say there's a chance, but he's obviously our TE2 and I don't see them paying him only to draft Tyler Warren, which would put Sanders as TE2 and Tremble as TE3. I could see us maybe adding a blocking TE late in the draft, but we're probably done here.

OL:
We may legitimately have one of the best AND deepest OLs in the league. Bringing back both Cade Mays and Austin Corbett was a solid move, but managing to re-sign Brady Christensen is massive for depth purposes. I cannot fathom how he didn't have more interest on the open market based on his versatility alone. Even Chandler Zavala showed some signs of life last year after an awful rookie season. I can see us drafting a tackle in the 4th/5th round that we feel has some upside to develop as Taylor Moton's long-term replacement, but we finally seem set here for the first time in years.

EDGE:
Our biggest need and it's not close. Outside of a trade for someone like Trey Hendrickson I think we almost have to draft two edge rushers in the first 4 rounds, maybe even the first 3. The closer we get to the draft the more I'm starting to think Shemar Stewart is our likely pick at #8. I'm not sure how I feel about that given his lack of sack production, but you can't question the athletic ability. It's almost certainly either him or Jalon Walker.

DL:
I can see us adding some more FAs for depth before the draft and drafting a player or two as well. The real interesting scenario is if Mason Graham falls to us at #8; I don't think we can pass on him, but where would he play? Do you leave your $50M free agent (Wharton) on the bench? Unlikely since I think Graham is gone before we pick, but something to consider.

LB:
If there's one position I'd like to see us address other than EDGE and WR it's definitely linebacker. Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace are not exactly the most inspiring tandem, IMO. Wallace flashed last year but is still very raw and Jewell is just a guy. I'd LOVE to see us go after Carson Schwesinger from UCLA, Chris Paul, Jr. from Ole' Miss or Jack Kiser from Notre Dame in the draft. The remaining FA options aren't great.

CB:
I'd like to see us add an experienced nickel; Mike Hilton from the Bengals would be great. Other than that, unless someone falls to us in the draft I think the most we can expect to add is some depth in the draft or later in free agency.

S:
We need another starter (preferably someone who is more of a cover guy) and some depth. There are options I like in the draft, but given our other needs I think the safer bet would be signing another free agent to start at FS and drafting some depth.

ST:
Need a long-term kicker and unless we sign one I fully expect us to draft one on day 3.

[shaq]

This is a great post, love to hear a discussion on our needs with great analysis. Props to you man, been carrying the huddle this offseason with your posts! Appreciate you my man

[Swaggasaurus]

LINEBACKER- Schwesinger, Stutsman, Knight Jr. Got to get one of these guys. Huge need.

FREE SAFETY- Huge need. 0 on roster.

EDGE- Need a sack artist. Huge need.

WR- Need a split end. Moderate need.

TE- Need high level guy only. Moderate need.

Could use an OT, CB, NT to groom. 

[CarolinaLivin]

3 minutes ago, Swaggasaurus said:

LINEBACKER- Schwesinger, Stutsman, Knight Jr. Got to get one of these guys. Huge need.

FREE SAFETY- Huge need. 0 on roster.

EDGE- Need a sack artist. Huge need.

WR- Need a split end. Moderate need.

TE- Need high level guy only. Moderate need.

Could use an OT, CB, NT to groom. 

really cannot wait for the draft, hopefully lessons have been learned and we draft smart this year. 

[shaqattaq]

6 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I think the biggest glaring weakness is still the overall defense. About 5-6 of the "starting" players would be rotational players on the majority of NFL teams. 

After that, obviously the pass catching group is one of the worst in the NFL. Albeit a chunk of that is due to very unproven, young players.

Still 2-3 offseasons away from potentially being a good roster but at least we might have made some overall progress towards that goal.

This is an excellent synopsis! 

Our WR group is a 34 year old man who has had a hellova career, but can't keep it up forever. A draft reach who only produced 1 season in college and was seen as a project with a tremendous ceiling IF he hits his potential. I really hope that 2024 was essentially a redshirt year for him. And finally a UDFA that didn't get any real time until we were more than halfway through last season. AND THAT'S ALL. We need at least 3 more players, one of which has to start day 1.