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Normally when someone moves back into the first they are giving up a pretty good number of picks. A couple of 2nds or even a first next year is in play. I am sure you are familiar with our past exploits of trading up and what we gave up.
I agree with you and I was pleased by the Webb signing. I don't think in a million years we would pick up a QB in the 1st round - but I like playing devils advocate and thinking about crazy but possibly beneficial scenarios. Carolina in general is too conservative to seriously entertain any of those ideas. And in reality it hasn't panned out for the Redskins as they weren't able to recoup any of those draft picks with Cousins.
Agreed and unless one of the top OL falls, I think BPA = WR will be far more likely. The OL at the end of the 1st seem a lot more sketchy than the WR at the end of the 1st. I don't know much about OL at the end of the 2nd.
Avant wouldn't be horrible but it sure seems like we have all 3's in this WR corps.More receiver news, from PFT:
Panthers hosting Jason Avant on MondayPosted by Mike Florio on April 6, 2014, 9:28 PM EDT
Getty ImagesWhile it’s not the former Eagles receiver most Panthers fans wanted to see come to Charlotte, any former Eagles receiver will help improve the Carolina depth at this point, up to and including Harold Carmichael.
Fortunately, a slightly more recent former Eagles wideout will visit the Panthers on Monday: Jason Avant.
Cut earlier this year after the Eagles re-signedJeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper, Avant has drawn limited interest on the open market.
A seven-year veteran, Avant started a career-high 13 games in 2013.
The Panthers cut Steve Smith and lost Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn to free agency. Since then, the Panthers have added Tiquan Underwood and Jerricho Cotchery. G.M. Dave Gettleman opted not to pursue aggressively big-name free agents like DeSean Jackson, Kenny Britt, and Hakeem Nicks.
I'd like to see Cole back.PFT:
Panthers talking to Colin Cole about returnPosted by Josh Alper on April 6, 2014, 1:46 PM EDT
APWhen the Panthers signed defensive tackleColin Cole last February, he had not appeared in an NFL game since 2010.
The shot on Cole wound up working out pretty well. Cole started 13 times for a defense that was essential to Carolina’s division title, recording 15 tackles and a sack. Ankle injuries had kept Cole, who was a starter for the Seahawks in 2009 and 2010, off the field for the two previous seasons.
Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers are interested in an encore. The team is reportedly in contract talks with Cole, who made the veteran’s minimum of $840,000 last year. There haven’t been murmurs of other interest in Cole, so he likely won’t be making much more than the minimum next season either.
Although he started most of the season, Cole played fewer snaps than Dwan Edwards and Kawann Short overall and would likely be limited to a lower rung in the rotation again in 2014 if he winds up back with the Panthers.
Almost zero IMO. It would require too much to move up from 28 to get those guys. It's possible they could fall but it would take a fall out of the top 15 to enable Car a shot IMO. I don't think that's happening. Not with as many holes as Car has to fill.
Yeah I think DG has made it pretty clear he holds draft picks in very high value. I can't see them trading a draft to move up not only this year but any year DG is still GM.
Avant isn't a bad signing. I am assuming he was cheap as I heard we were the only ones bidding. But they still need that young guy on the outside to grow into a number 1 regardless of what Rivera may say.Englishteacher said:We have another WR. A decent vet. Should contribute. From PFT:
Panthers add Jason Avant to rebuilt receiving corpsPosted by Darin Gantt on April 7, 2014, 6:39 PM EDT
The Panthers might not have anything resembling a solid No. 1 wide receiver.
But they’re now closer to having an acceptable collection of No. 2s and No. 3s.
The team announced they had signed former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant to a one-year deal.
He’ll pair up with Jerricho Cotchery as another guy who played a bit role for a team in the past, but will be counted on more heavily now.
The Panthers had nothing to speak of at the position after cutting Steve Smith and letting the rest of their wideouts walk into free agency.
Avant had 38 catches for 447 yards and two scores last year with the Eagles, but averaged 52 catches for 633 yards per year over the three that preceded Chip Kelly’s arrival in Philadelphia.
“We are happy to have Jason with the Panthers,” says head coach Ron Rivera. “He provides a versatile player at receiver and brings good size as well as experience to the position.”
Again, it’s not a signing on its own that will turn the Panthers around. But if they can put the right kids alongside him, it’s at least a positive step for Cam Newton.
I am a little surprised they haven't made a run at Austin. I have heard that he wants a good size payday so that's probably the reason.
If they can get a good upcoming WR in the draft, or even two, they could be just fine. The Giants were fine when they lost Toomer and Burress, but people were saying before the season started that they had nobody to throw to. Turned out that rookie Hakeem Nicks, 3rd year Steve Smith, second year Manningham, and Hixon had a nice season with Eli.Avant isn't a bad signing. I am assuming he was cheap as I heard we were the only ones bidding. But they still need that young guy on the outside to grow into a number 1 regardless of what Rivera may say.Englishteacher said:We have another WR. A decent vet. Should contribute. From PFT:
Panthers add Jason Avant to rebuilt receiving corpsPosted by Darin Gantt on April 7, 2014, 6:39 PM EDT
The Panthers might not have anything resembling a solid No. 1 wide receiver.
But they’re now closer to having an acceptable collection of No. 2s and No. 3s.
The team announced they had signed former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant to a one-year deal.
He’ll pair up with Jerricho Cotchery as another guy who played a bit role for a team in the past, but will be counted on more heavily now.
The Panthers had nothing to speak of at the position after cutting Steve Smith and letting the rest of their wideouts walk into free agency.
Avant had 38 catches for 447 yards and two scores last year with the Eagles, but averaged 52 catches for 633 yards per year over the three that preceded Chip Kelly’s arrival in Philadelphia.
“We are happy to have Jason with the Panthers,” says head coach Ron Rivera. “He provides a versatile player at receiver and brings good size as well as experience to the position.”
Again, it’s not a signing on its own that will turn the Panthers around. But if they can put the right kids alongside him, it’s at least a positive step for Cam Newton.
Yeah it really is. Mr.Newton is not real good at this. For instance Smitty led the league in forced missed tackles IIRC. These are all marginal 2's and 3's. Even Lafell outperformed them. This is the same guy who spent weeks talking about how Mike Mitchell got a 25 million dollar contract so the Panthers couldn't afford him. I confronted him in email about it being only 5.2 million guaranteed this year. Nothing in the next 4 years of the contract is guaranteed and they owe him nothing if they cut him next season. Then he admitted he hadn't really looked at the contract but that somehow he was still right that we couldn't afford him. Everything the team does is right until it isn't. He has no real opinion and appears to put very little thought into what he writes. Not a fan at all.
This is kind of funny:
I don't get his point.
Yeah, but the offense. Oh my does the offense look bad right now. Maybe the D can force 3 turnovers a game and perhaps score 12 TDs on the year.
Did you get a concussion when you were riding your bike down Arrowwood Rd?
It looks like they replaced LaFell with Avant. Neither an upgrade nor a downgrade IMO. I also think it's a pick 'em between Smitty and Cotchery at this point in their careers.
Really? Wasn't Cotchery a WR4 for Pitt? Smith may not have much left in the tank but I find it hard to believe that is a push. I also don't think Avant is as good as LaFell but the change is minimal.
Numbers my friend. he put up better numbers than them. Well Cotchery did have all those TDs but that was a system thing not him being all that per se. Both Avant and Cotchery are lower rated players. Now why should I celebrate bringing in two older guys that are essentially the same guy you are cheering for leaving?
Cotchery - 6'1 200lbs
Guys if Smith's career was all about his measurable he wouldn't have ever had a career.
Not about measurables. DG seems to like bigger players in general and Cam does tend to sail a couple of passes every game.
I mean that they are considered lower rated receivers right now than LaFell. Age is probably the biggest part of that. And everybody keeps talking about high passes but LaFell is 6'3', he is taller than anyone we signed. By the way I do agree with you that his leaving is addition by subtraction. But I don't know that we did anything but trade one meh receiver for two more.
To be clear I am fine with Avant. As you say solid hands, solid locker room guy. I am just not buying what so many are selling, which is that all these guys are upgrades.
I'm with you. They are adequate replacements, but their ceiling is basically "as good as last year's group" and even that remains to be seen.
I agree with both of you, but I do think that the draft was always going to be a big part of the 2014+ WR corps, so it is hard to judge yet. Honestly, the guy who intrigues me the most might be Underwood. He hasn't caught a lot of passes, but he has shown some flashes and has some speed.The Commish said:
Honestly, I would bring in Bennett and Austin as well if they are still around. If they are getting any interest that requires more guaranteed money than we have, oh well, but if they want a chance to get back to being solid WRs playing for a bigger pay day next year, then Carolina isn't a bad spot to be in 2014. Collie isn't worthwhile anymore.
I was thinking Barner would get a shot this season. They need to get him on the field and he certainly has the moves.
Underwood could be interesting. He has the speed. Maybe a year with Ricky will get him there.
Dickson could give us the ability to run a 2 TE set again like we did when Shockey was here. Williams is still a project and the other guys are blockers primarily.
