Heres how i see the panthers off season playing out: In 2006 the have a projected cap of 98 million and most likley the cap of the year will be 92-93 million Free Agents: Deshaun Foster (with so many injuries his price went down) Will Witherspoon (says he want to stay with the team) Marlon McCree Jeff Mitchell Dante Wesley (most likely will stay with team) Tutan Reyes (must sign at a very low cost or he is gone) Jeff Mitchell Chris Weinke (will probly test free agency because he isnt going anywhere behind Jake) Cap Casulty: Stephen Davis- he is due a 3.8 million salary and a 1 million dollar roster bonus. His productive is very low so i think to sign Foster and Witherspoon they are going to have to cut him. Restructuring Contract: Julius Peppers- he is due 14 million next year and will likely somehow restructure his cap value so the panthers will have a shot at a SB. Free Agents pickups: The panthers would have to do a lot to sign a big time free agent like Shaun Alexander, so i believe that they will take a crack at Jamal Lewis if he hits the market. John Fox wants a powerful back and Jamal can do that. Mark Fields if he is healthy will want to sign with the panthers The Draft: Round one possibilties: Leneord Pope TE Georgia (best blocking TE), LenDale White RB USC, Thomas Howard (if Witherspoon leaves and Fields doesnt return), Gabe Watson DT Michigan (he is a run stuffer and Jenkins cant keep healthy), Micheal Huff (if witherspoon and McCree leave and panthers want to keep Thomas Davis at LB), Rodique Wright DT Texas Round Two possibilties: Nick Mangold C Ohio State (jeff mitchell is getting older and a free agent), Jason Avant (panthers need a reciever to complement Steve Smith), Max Jean Gilles G Georgia (panthers running blocking was very lacking he is a beast in the run), Dominque Bryd TE (if the panthers dont pick up Pope he is a big threat and is improving his blocking) Third Round: Demetrius Williams WR Oregon, or Gerald Riggs Jr
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>Heres how i see the panthers off season playing out: In 2006 the have a projected cap of 98 million and most likley the cap of the year will be 92-93 million Free Agents: Deshaun Foster (with so many injuries his price went down) Will Witherspoon (says he want to stay with the team) Marlon McCree Jeff Mitchell Dante Wesley (most likely will stay with team) Tutan Reyes (must sign at a very low cost or he is gone) Jeff Mitchell Chris Weinke (will probly test free agency because he isnt going anywhere behind Jake) Cap Casulty: Stephen Davis- he is due a 3.8 million salary and a 1 million dollar roster bonus. His productive is very low so i think to sign Foster and Witherspoon they are going to have to cut him. Restructuring Contract: Julius Peppers- he is due 14 million next year and will likely somehow restructure his cap value so the panthers will have a shot at a SB. Free Agents pickups: The panthers would have to do a lot to sign a big time free agent like Shaun Alexander, so i believe that they will take a crack at Jamal Lewis if he hits the market. John Fox wants a powerful back and Jamal can do that. Mark Fields if he is healthy will want to sign with the panthers The Draft: Round one possibilties: Leneord Pope TE Georgia (best blocking TE), LenDale White RB USC, Thomas Howard (if Witherspoon leaves and Fields doesnt return), Gabe Watson DT Michigan (he is a run stuffer and Jenkins cant keep healthy), Micheal Huff (if witherspoon and McCree leave and panthers want to keep Thomas Davis at LB), Rodique Wright DT Texas Round Two possibilties: Nick Mangold C Ohio State (jeff mitchell is getting older and a free agent), Jason Avant (panthers need a reciever to complement Steve Smith), Max Jean Gilles G Georgia (panthers running blocking was very lacking he is a beast in the run), Dominque Bryd TE (if the panthers dont pick up Pope he is a big threat and is improving his blocking) Third Round: Demetrius Williams WR Oregon, or Gerald Riggs Jr</div> You need a linebacker on defense who can play full time, and is full sized to replace thomas davis. Let him focus on what he does best, special teams and being a bust
Panthers are gonna have potentially a unbelievable LB core next year. Pro Bowlers Dan Morgan and Mark Fields. Last years starters Will Witherspoon and Brandon Short and key backups Chris Draft and Thomas Davis. The panthers are in a good situation. If McCree or Witherspoon leaves then Thomas Davis will fill that spot. Most likely the panthers will draft Leneord Pope TE out of Georgia. The panthers requirement of a TE is blocking 1st and Pope is a beast in that area. The panthers could draft up and get lendale white those are the two most likely selections
Off the top of my head who picks first? Chicago or Carolina because I think Chicago will take Pope. He can really stretch the field for them and with his size is a great red zone target. I also think Carolina could end up with Maroney. One of the Fab 4 backs are going to drop and I think it's Maroney. He's durable enough for Jon Fox's style as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'>Off the top of my head who picks first? Chicago or Carolina because I think Chicago will take Pope. He can really stretch the field for them and with his size is a great red zone target. I also think Carolina could end up with Maroney. One of the Fab 4 backs are going to drop and I think it's Maroney. He's durable enough for Jon Fox's style as well.</div> Chicagos TE Desmond Clark is heading to the pro bowl. So they already have a good TE. I think they should draft a WR. Muhammad is getting older and they dont have much depth.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Vernon Davis is higher ranked by most.</div> Yeah but do you really see him around when they pick. Davis is the a combine monster. He holds weight room records in Maryland and ran a 4.48(though I expect more like a 4.5 or 4.6 at the combine) 40.. He'll be long gone by the Chicago Carolina area..
Panthers are only gonna draft a TE if he can block. Last year they didnt think Heath Miller had the blocking abilty they wanted so they passed on him. Pope is the only 1st round TE that can actually block. I think Mercedes Lewis just droped himself out of the 1st round with that horrible Senior Bowl performance
I also think that Chicago will take Pope, LenDale WHite will be a good pick up for the panthers and could have a 8-10 td season in his rookie year, but that is if he stays on the board for that long
If you already have a pro bowl TE in Desmond Clark , why get potenial another one when you can get a good WR like Santiono Holmes or Chad Jackson. I think if the panthers dont make a move in free agency to secure a power running back they will move up to draft LenDale White. He is the only back IMO that John Fox wants because he wants a grinder that can run the ball with pure power.
