A look at our roster by age

[panther4life]

This a list of what I'd consider the best 25 skill players on the roster under contract grouped by age.

33(2)

Steve Smith WR

Ron Edwards DT

32(1)

Gross LT

30(1)

Geoff Hangartner RG

29(4)

Thomas Davis LOLB

Chris Gamble CB

James Anderson ROLB

Deangelo Williams RB

28(1)

Beason LB

27(4)

Godfrey SS

Kalil C

Mike Tolbert FB

Greg Olsen TE

26(2)

Charles Johnson DE

Brandon Lafell WR

25(2)

Josh Norman CB

Jonathan Stewart HB

24(3)

Byron Bell RT

Greg Hardy DE

Amini Silatolu LG

James Dockery CB

23(2)

Cam Newton QB

Josh Thomas CB

21(2)

Luke Kuechly MLB

Frank Alexander DE

The following postions standout the most to me when looking at this list and generate the following thoughts.

DT- Ron is likely to be a cap casualty and even if he isn't he's still the oldest player on the team.We basically need 2 starers here and would love to re-sign Dwan and pair him with together with someone like Canty for a year or 2 to buy us time on developing/finding young talent here.

WR- Smith will be 34 by the time the season starts. Lafell is okay as a # 2 but even when paired with Smith neither were able to catch more than 4 TD passes last year. Lafell is also slated to be a free agent in 14 so even if he improves to a bigger threat are we going to want to pay him?

FS- This is a glaring hole as I am not ready to hand the keys over to DJ Campbell at either safety position and Nakumara should be cut to save us just under 1 million.

LT-Gross is still more trustworthy than any rookie or affordable free agent but time is slowly starting to catch up with him.

CB-Gamble seems near certain to be a cap casualty and we have 3 young guys with potential in Josh Thomas,Josh Norman and James Dockery. Captain may be back as well too. All that being said we lose our proven vet to get under the cap but the 3 J's could prove to be sufficient and are all super cheap for the position.

RG-We have 2 players with starting experience in Hangartner and Gary Williams under contract. Neither is ideal but this is a position that should be easier to fix via FA or in later rounds in the draft than the others listed above.

Some lower tier needs that deserve attention this offseason as well.

RG-We have 2 players with starting experience in Hangartner and Gary Williams. Neither is ideal but this is a position that could be upgrade late in the draft or fair

QB- Cam needs a backup to replace DA who seems intent on joining Chud back in Cleveland

TE- Don't know if Shula plans on incorporating the 2 TE set much but we at least need to find respectable backup.

Some improved o-line depth would be a good idea to try to find as well.

[SparkyDevil]

Just some random thoughts:

No way Ron Edwards is back next year.

I'm glad Steve Smith is our oldest player, he's one of the most physically gifted on the team with no signs of slowing down.

Gross has two years left in the tank, I see him restructuring his deal, it will be important for his long term relationship with the org.

The Cats will prob. keep Hangartner, he can play LG/C/RG and is not making too much money. Above average backup.

I can see us trying to trade Anderson for a 5th round pick.

We're lucky to have Ryan Kalil - hope he's healthy and productive next year.

I had no idea Josh Norman was so old.

Looking at this, our major needs are, in order:

DT - We got gashed last year, DT is the biggest need for the now.

DB - Our secondary needs a stud CB and FS. Bad.

OL - We're going to need a Gross replacement in the 2014 draft, maybe a starting RG this year

WR - As much as I want to see another stud WR, we can afford to wait one more year on this

[Mr. Scot]

Tell Kuechly and Alexander to stay off my lawn.

[panther4life]

Just some random thoughts:

No way Ron Edwards is back next year.

I'm glad Steve Smith is our oldest player, he's one of the most physically gifted on the team with no signs of slowing down.

Gross has two years left in the tank, I see him restructuring his deal, it will be important for his long term relationship with the org.

The Cats will prob. keep Hangartner, he can play LG/C/RG and is not making too much money. Above average backup.

I can see us trying to trade Anderson for a 5th round pick.

We're lucky to have Ryan Kalil - hope he's healthy and productive next year.

I had no idea Josh Norman was so old.

Looking at this, our major needs are, in order:

DT - We got gashed last year, DT is the biggest need for the now.

DB - Our secondary needs a stud CB and FS. Bad.

OL - We're going to need a Gross replacement in the 2014 draft, maybe a starting RG this year

WR - As much as I want to see another stud WR, we can afford to wait one more year on this

I agree aside from waiting another year on WR. I think we need help now not just in the near future.

[Moose Hoover]

didn't realize JStew was only 25.

[Argus Plexus]

Canty is an UT, not a NT.

[SOJA]

did not know beason was already 28...

[Bwood]

Tell Kuechly and Alexander to stay off my lawn.

Fuggin classic haha

[Peppers90 NC]

whats the earliest anyone would want to draft a backup qb if we decided to address that there? say if glennon or barkley were there in the 2nd, would that be a wasted pick? and no i dont think either will be there then, just hypothetical question

[Stroupe-a-loop]

whats the earliest anyone would want to draft a backup qb if we decided to address that there? say if glennon or barkley were there in the 2nd, would that be a wasted pick? and no i dont think either will be there then, just hypothetical question

Maybe fifth or something like we wanted to do with Russell Wilson last year. There's too many good players at positions we need to upgrade to take a backup quarterback.