REPORT: Panthers like Mykel Williams

[Martin]

37 minutes ago, Basbear said:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44024373/nfl-draft-prospect-mykel-williams-was-injured-whole-year-georgia

 

According to Williams, he played the whole 2024 with a bad ankle. He said "I played at less than 60%". I wonder if his ankle is permittly damaged then..... I don't get why a top ten guy wouldn't take a couple weeks off to heal fully. They had plenty of elite players to win without.... odd. 

 

 

 

 

Something is just off, I would steer way clear of him

[Waldo]

Slow and unhealthy? Yay

[kungfoodude]

25 minutes ago, Waldo said:

Slow and unhealthy? Yay

Sounds like we need to trade up, amirite?

[frankw]

2 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Evero is definitely pounding the table for Mykel. That’s like his prototype edge. If he could create his own edge it would be Mykel Williams.

[Waldo]

33 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Sounds like we need to trade up, amirite?

It's like last year's first 2 picks in one. Can we get a 5th and 6th year option with that trade?

[Aussie Tank]

2 hours ago, Basbear said:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44024373/nfl-draft-prospect-mykel-williams-was-injured-whole-year-georgia

 

According to Williams, he played the whole 2024 with a bad ankle. He said "I played at less than 60%". I wonder if his ankle is permittly damaged then..... I don't get why a top ten guy wouldn't take a couple weeks off to heal fully. They had plenty of elite players to win without.... odd. 

 

 

 

 

Because he's not a big cat. He said me at 60% in better than the bum behind me at 100%. I actually like that he was still elite at stopping the run and showed mental toughness to push through pain 

[UAPanther]

[Daddy_Uncle]

I really really hope this isn't the pick. If it is I hope it's after we trade down to 15 or lower and get several good picks in return

[SmittysLawnGuy]

On 3/20/2025 at 12:16 PM, Bear Hands said:

Good lord.  Are we seriously this bad at hiding our cards?

Well if true. Not really a problem. No other team is dumb enough to take him before 8.

[raleigh-panther]

On 3/20/2025 at 8:53 PM, MHS831 said:

I watched a lot of film on Mykel Williams--hours and hours of video footage if you include the ads.   Here was my take:  He is a guy who, in college, could hold his ground inside at the 4i.  He did a lot of run stuffing and loop stunting toward the center in that role, and he was effective. His initial move, probably based on this role, is the swim technique--which is more of an IDL technique. I tried to focus on him from the 9 technique, and he did not let the OTs get their hands on him.  As a 9 tech, I saw some quick jumps and some where he seemed confused or slow.  I did not see a lot of spinning, but he seemed very concerned about the run.  In fact, I get the feeling that he was a run-first, then move to the QB.  Occasionally he got to pin his ears back and he was aggressive with violent hands, but it did not seem to be his main thing.  While some are calling him raw, I agree if from the 9 tech is our only concern.  But he was nasty inside and as a pass rusher and he holds the edge very well.  Now, last year, we gave up a ton of rushing yards on cutbacks. MW stays at home and is disciplined.  Do I see him as the #8 pick?  I have little faith Evero will use him correctly---which is also my concern about Walker, his teammate. He was often the DE in a 3-3-5, with the OLBs outside him on the LOS-and he had outside contain.  Even though he played inside the OT, the rush edge runs through the OT's hip, preventing Williams from being hooked.  Williams then established the edge and would then take a proper angle, depending on the play.  If the play goes away (run) you can tell that his responsibility is to close down the edge without over pursuit, watching for reverse, counter, bootlegs, and cutbacks. I saw him getting a lot of attention from RBs in pass pro, and a few teams doubled him a lot.  However, he was not in on a lot of tackles, and that may be because he was left on an island quite a bit.  15 solo tackles (5 vs Mass) for a complete season is curious to me.  I don't see top 10 stats, but I see a guy who knew his responsibilities.   

From this perspective, I understand why he only had 5 sacks. I think they feel if he stays outside as a 9, they could get the most out of him--with the ability to rush inside and give the Panthers 3 edges on passing downs.  I get it, but it is a gamble.  It seems UGA liked their swiss army knives.

From the Athletic on Thursday

8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

After considering offers from the Steelers for George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Panthers stay put and are the first team to draft a Georgia defender (in part because the Eagles aren’t picking until 32). Using a top-10 pick on a player with minimal production in college is a risk, no matter Williams’ physical gifts (which are many). But the Panthers are banking on big upside from one of the youngest players in the draft – one whose final season at Georgia was slowed by a high ankle sprain. Williams’ best games came against top competition: He had two sacks in a victory over then-No. 1 Texas, two more sacks in the SEC Championship triumph over Texas and three pressures in an opening-week win versus Clemson when he initially hurt his ankle. — Joseph Person

[CPcavedweller]

On 3/19/2025 at 9:48 PM, Donald LaFell said:

Yeah Warren and the CB Johnson seem a lot harder to fault for picking. It feels like 1 out of every 5 of these 1st round graded edges are going to work out.

Im not sure that nailing an edge would even put this team over the top, I hope we don’t feel pressured to draft for need. 

We shouldn’t go for need at that spot. Good teams become good teams by drafting the best players. You can build around the best. 
 

the Lions had a run of years selecting WR after WR. They had great receivers, but still couldn’t win. You dig a talent hole by drafting for need. This is still why I think drafting Young was a bad idea. 
 

could have brought in the new coaching staff with Darnold and I can imagine we would have been better off than we are now just keeping that pick and our future picks. 
 

Point being, draft the best. Trade up rarely. 

[Chief Keek]

Him and Walker make the most sense just not at 8.

[Basbear]

22 hours ago, Aussie Tank said:

Because he's not a big cat. He said me at 60% in better than the bum behind me at 100%. I actually like that he was still elite at stopping the run and showed mental toughness to push through pain 

 

I don't like it from the fact you can cause permit damage. I mean if we are Superbowl, then pop pills or inject the good stuff or whatever to play. Playing hurt is a big part of ball, I just felt two weeks and a young healer would be fine. He could have improved his numbers rather than hurt his draft stock. This is after the fact, unfair to mykel. 

 

My father sprained his ankle to the point that duke doctors wanted to perform surgery. Last minute they tired to case his foot in stead and see if that would prevent having extreme surgery.  He got home and couple days pasted, called up his father in law HS football coach. He told my pops to cut off that case and dip his foot into the coldest water he could stand for 20 minutes followed by the hottest 20 minutes. Repeat 5 times. He did and was finally able to put weight on his foot afterwards. It finally got better and started to heal. 

[Aussie Tank]

44 minutes ago, Basbear said:

 

I don't like it from the fact you can cause permit damage. I mean if we are Superbowl, then pop pills or inject the good stuff or whatever to play. Playing hurt is a big part of ball, I just felt two weeks and a young healer would be fine. He could have improved his numbers rather than hurt his draft stock. This is after the fact, unfair to mykel. 

 

My father sprained his ankle to the point that duke doctors wanted to perform surgery. Last minute they tired to case his foot in stead and see if that would prevent having extreme surgery.  He got home and couple days pasted, called up his father in law HS football coach. He told my pops to cut off that case and dip his foot into the coldest water he could stand for 20 minutes followed by the hottest 20 minutes. Repeat 5 times. He did and was finally able to put weight on his foot afterwards. It finally got better and started to heal. 

I'm hearing ya but as fans we can't whine when Horn and CMC were never on the field and then on the other hand winge that a play is playing through injury