CHARLOTTE — The madness has receded in the football world, just in time for the basketball to take over the televisions for a few days.
And unlike the basketball I watched yesterday, the football news has been good here.
The Panthers settled into a slower week, which they needed after the flurry that brought Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd, Rasheed Walker, and so many others in the first week of free agency. They did add a punter this week, and a backup running back, and traded a backup quarterback, but the news slowed to a trickle just in time for another sport to creep in for a second.
Perhaps we should look for more football.
I peeked at a bit of the NCAA tournament last night after watching the Dell Curry jersey retirement ceremony (which was amazing, and left me missing Big Pat and Rick Bonnell).
But man, college basketball can be a hard watch. As a theoretical construct, it might be fun. But the basketball product isn't very good. (And because I'd rather light a candle than curse your darkness, Tar Heels fans, here's more pictures of Julius Peppers playing hoops. Julius being the only guy to ever make the Pro Football Hall of Fame and play in a Final Four should make you feel better.)
Fortunately, we have other things to distract us — like this pile of mail about the last couple of weeks.
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Things are looking up in Panther Land. I think the right people are in the front office to build a good team. Assessing talent and making the right choices to create a team rather than just a bunch of guys who play football takes experience, knowledge, skill, and a little bit of luck. My question deals with how and what they use to assess talent. The combine generates a lot of stats: how fast can you run straight ahead or through a course of cones, how high far can you jump; how much can you lift, how accurate can you throw, etc. Those are all measured with players dressed for track rather than football. Not sure how well that translates to the football field. There are other physical stats as well, like weight, BMI, height, reach, and hand size. I would think the most important criterion is how they have played in competition and for how many plays.
Our GM is trying to put together a team of "dogs". How is that determined? Are there "stats" that relate to that? It's interesting that if you live long enough, words take on completely different meanings. Used to be the last thing you wanted was a team of dogs, cause that meant they were soft, not hustling, and not very good! — Norm, Greenville, SC
As one who was once accused of "dogging it" and who lived through "bad" becoming good, I feel the generation gap, Norm. The youngs I work with say words in combinations I don't recognize, like the other day when somebody mentioned a "skivvy toilet" or something.
But the answer to your question is easier to understand. Dan Morgan looks at all the available information — they have a pretty robust data operation here — but the things he values most are game tape and getting to know the human being.
Guys have presented plenty of evidence of the kinds of players they are during the season, which is why a lot of their focus during the pre-draft season is on interviews. Beyond specific physical traits, Morgan's looking for his type of player. As a former linebacker, it's a bit of a "know it when he sees it" quality, but he wants guys who are good teammates, good leaders, and good citizens of the locker room.
Again, if a guy isn't big enough, strong enough, or fast enough, the other stuff doesn't matter as much, but this front office is much more attuned to relational abilities than relative athletic scores. Finding the ones with a mix of both is the key.
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When a new player is signed in free agency, when can the coaches begin trying to get them up to speed with their position? Specifically, when can Kenny Pickett get a playbook and meet with the quarterbacks coach to try to get up to date on the playbook? I like Andy Dalton and think he is a capable backup when fully healthy. You can't discount his experience in games that matter. But for the backup competition to be fair, who can begin tutoring Pickett on the offense, and when can they do it? — Bob, Aurora, CO
Well, the competition part took care of itself this week with the reports of Dalton being traded to the Eagles. (And as you may have heard, trades aren't finalized until players take a physical, and that hasn't physically happened yet).
But there is some amount of familiarization that Pickett can do in the interim.
He can get the playbook on the iPad and review it on his own. In-person coaching won't happen until the offseason program kicks in, which will be late April.
Once he has that information and background, he can walk in later this spring with some familiarity with the words they use, the concepts of the offense, and areas to focus on. But most of the work starts in April because this is the time of year for players to rest, recover, and get their bodies right for the long haul.
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If guard Olaivavega loane (6-4, 323) or tackle Francis Mauigoa (6-6, 335) are available at pick 19 only tight end Kenyon Sadiq 6'3" 245 should be considered otherwise. Please advise Mr. Dan Morgan that he has the right plan in action, and whoever we get at pick 19 will contribute. Play the "Who do ya think" with us Mr. Gantt! — Westray, Kershaw, SC
The heart wants what the heart wants, and Westray clearly likes 'em big. And he may not be wrong.
The good news about their busy free agency — and they won't always be able to spend like this — is they go into the draft with all their bases covered. After signing punter Sam Martin this week, there are no more holes on the depth chart. They have a complete team.
But of the 72 players under contract, only 29 of them are under contract through 2027 or beyond, so they also have an incredible flexibility, and need to stack everything they can for the years to come. That's where you want to be, honestly.
There's not a position on the roster that you'd say they shouldn't consider, because as aggressive as they've been, this was still a multi-year project, and they're trying to make the team sustainable for the future.
But there is a need on the offensive line. They have 12 under contract at the moment, and one of them (Ikem Ekwonu) isn't practicing anytime soon. So they need to add at least three or probably four more before OTAs start.
Also, as Westray here is an old school FOTM, he has taken great pains to learn to spell those two names that are full of vowels. If they show up here, I will then learn how to spell them, same as I did with Iheanyi Uwaezuoke, Viliami Maumau, and Tshimanga Bikabutuka.
The wild part is, they're all actually pronounced Achane.
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Last year, I wanted the Panthers to pick a tight end, Tyler Warren. He is a great player, I am very content with Tetairoa McMillan, great addition to our team. This year, way down at the 19th spot, I believe we can get the best TE in the draft. Hopefully you brought your crystal ball to work today. Do you believe we go and fill the biggest hole in our offense? In addition KEEP POUNDING them typewriter keys for all us Panther fans. We never thank you enough for your dedication. — Will, Mount Airy, NC
Your participation is all the thanks I need, Will. But sadly, the crystal ball remains in Ben McAdoo's other pants.
There's a lot of interest in Sadiq, the Oregon tight end. Even Westray, who normally only covets linemen, is thinking about him. And having that kind of dynamic pass-catcher would obviously bring a new element there.
The Panthers were among the top five teams in the league in using three-tight end packages last year, so you can never have enough guys with varied skill sets there.
Again, they have to wait and see how the 18 picks ahead of them shake out, but he's obviously someone they'd be interested in if he's there. But he's not the only one.
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Wow! What a fantastic haul on free agency! I'm super excited and so ready to see what we get in the draft. I was wondering what these new players see behind the scenes besides our team, coaches, and staff, for instance, the NFLPA annual report card ratings for the Panthers? What do we have to offer them as extra benefits that other teams do not offer that make us more attractive?
Referring to my last post, the nearest Bojangles is 86 miles away from me. I asked the boss of my household, and we plan on making a day trip in the near future. Can't wait! Thank you for all you and Kassidy do to keep us posted, as we appreciate it. Keep Pounding. — David, Brooksville , FL
Oh, David, I'm so sorry for your loss. Having a Bojangles nearby is a big part of having a happy life (especially during Bojangler on a biscuit season), and reason enough to be grateful to live here.
As for the Panthers' recruiting efforts, guys are seeing what's happening on the field, and that's the main part of it. Both Phillips and Lloyd talked about this being a growing team as a lot of the reason they're here. The team's getting progressively better, and just went to the playoffs, so the arrow is pointing up. (Getting to play alongside Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn, and Tre'von Moehrig doesn't hurt either.)
And Morgan talked about the "family atmosphere," they're trying to build on Friday, and that's on purpose.
But Charlotte itself is enough of a draw. We are a growing city, new people flooding into town every day with their new ideas and energy. And we're getting younger at the same time, which is not something you can take for granted.
And as the great Brentson Buckner famously said, "Charlotte is the married man's paradise." He was referring to things like schools, real estate, taxes, and weather (the 12-month golf season is something many people enjoy).
For instance, even though he's headed to Philadelphia, Dalton made the decision years ago that Charlotte was now home, and the place he and his wife, JJ, wanted to raise their family. For a guy born and raised in Texas, who has the means to live anywhere he wants, that says something. They're embedded here now, and Charlotte has a way to do that to people.
As the slogan says, "Charlotte's got a lot," even though it has a lot of haters, too. (A lot of them are wearing parkas today and living even farther from their closest Bojangles, though, so their loss. We'll just be here enjoying the good life.)
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The Mailbag used to have more fun, stupid questions (My personal favorite: "Would you rather fight fifty duck-sized Julius Peppers or one Julius Peppers-sized duck?"). But lately, it's gotten a little (just a little!) too serious for my taste. I think we all need a reminder that football is a game as much as it is a business, and that our fan discussions should reflect that.
So here's the situation: You're assembling a team for a heist to recover stolen Bojangles trade secrets from a sinister gang called "The Saints." You need muscle, a safecracker, an inside man, and a getaway driver. Which Panthers player are you assigning to each role and why? — Simon, Charlotte
Simon, as a big proponent of "be the change you want to see in the world," I appreciate you taking the initiative to bring more stupid into the world. As such, I'm making you this week's Friend Of The Mailbag, and getting the appropriate honorarium on the way to you.
A Julius-sized duck remains terrifying.
I thought about this for a minute, and I think I'm going Derrick Brown as the muscle (for the obvious reasons), Tetairoa McMillan to crack the safe (best hands), Bryce Young as the inside man (because of his late-game nerve.)
There is only one choice for the getaway driver, especially with the Bojangles theme.
That's right, we're bringing Jake Delhomme out of retirement.
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Wow! What an offseason thus far! Hope this finds you and yours well, and as excited as our family is for another season of Panther football.
Kudos to Dan and the team for making some very solid pickups in free agency and giving the fanbase some real hope for a second division title and another playoff run. We may make a few more additions through free agency, but I see great opportunities to improve starters and depth on both lines through the draft to complete the three-year makeover that was intended when Dan and Dave took over. A strong running game and protection in the passing game coupled with a run stopping line that knows how to stress and pressure a QB is Panther football.
We are going to need a bigger stadium.
Fixating on the draft next month and taking the best player available scenario, which was afforded by a stellar free agency, brings up what to do with those very important draft picks.
What are you hearing in the "big house" as to what positions the Panthers may be leaning with the first three picks, and do you think they may take a QB to develop in, say, the fifth round, even though they signed Pickett to a one-year deal?
As the resident Old Guy, we only ask because you are an insider. Just remember the Buckaroo Banzai quote..."No matter where you go, there you are!" — Rick, York, SC
Simon asked for more stupid, and Rick delivers with a reference to a ridiculous movie from 1984. I barely remember it, but mostly remember how bad it was.
Peter Weller (yes, Robocop) starred as a guy who was at once a scientist, spy, superhero, and rock star, who chose to dress like Pee Wee Herman. (With Jeff Goldblum as his sidekick in cowboy gear I last saw in a Primus video). It's better not to think about it too much, because it made no sense then and even less now.
They have no limitations on early picks, as previously discussed, but more linemen on both sides of the ball make sense. (They have just six defensive linemen at the moment, and even though one of them is Derrick Brown, you always need more.)
But I think a quarterback at some point in the process makes sense, if they can find a long-term plan. Pickett gave them their younger, more mobile backup, but he's on a one-year deal — like most of the new additions. Development is kind of their deal here under head coach Dave Canales.
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Hey, I'm an 18-year-old who has loved the Panthers since I was 10. I was wondering if you could break down the top 10 busts in Panthers history, what went wrong with them, and what could have prevented them. I will also give my personal top 10 busts and the reason why. ... — Noah, Youngstown, OH
I edited this one lightly, because I don't want to do anything to stifle a young and investigative mind. And I respect Noah diving deep into a lot of picks that happened before he was born. We need more young people who are curious about the world around them and things that happened more than five minutes ago.
But he mentioned former third-rounder Armanti Edwards with the parenthetical "(really no point in drafting this man)."
And here's where I'm going to challenge Noah's assertion, and illustrate why context is important.
Around the time Noah was being born and wandering around in diapers, Edwards was the dynamic quarterback leading Appalachian State to national titles and the win over Michigan. He was little, but he was super-quick and elusive, and knew how to get skinny in small spaces to make himself an effective runner, even in goal-line situations.
But 2010, the year he was drafted, was perhaps the single-worst year he could have come to the Carolina Panthers to begin his conversion to wide receiver.
For one, it was the last year of the John Fox era, and at the time, Fox had no interest in developing rookies in what he knew was going to be his final season. So after a wasted first year, Edwards needed to get into the weight room and add muscle. But 2011 brought the lockout, and a full offseason of a supervised training plan, which he needed, was not available to him. By 2013, he had a good enough summer for then-coach Ron Rivera to deem him the training camp MVP. Alas, it didn't work out.
That's a long way of saying, the time you arrive and the situation matter. A lot. There's no certainty he'd have worked out under a different coach or anywhere else. But he practically had no shot from the moment he walked in the door.
So context matters, Noah. Don't settle for surface-level hot takes, though. You're better than that. Dig deeper.
(Also, the worst draft picks were the two they gave Washington so they could sign Sean Gilbert in 1998, and not just because those picks turned into Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and after more trades, a very good tackle in Chris Samuels. It was a different time.)
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This one is really perplexing me. I'll get straight to it. I generally like the Jaelen Phillips move in a vacuum. What I'm struggling to understand is why pay an injury-prone Phillips $30m per year and not pay a durable Brian Burns $28m per year? — Tim, Greenville, SC
Why would you put Jaelan in a vacuum? It's dusty in there, and he might be allergic.
As with the above answer about so-called draft busts, context matters.
The Panthers had negotiated with Burns for more than a year and hadn't gotten anywhere, and tagged him before trading him to the Giants to retain some value. All of that back story complicated things, and the fact that he was entering the final year of his deal depressed what he was able to bring in return.
The salary cap was also 255.4 million two years ago, so the average of Burns' deal (which is, admittedly, a crude way to calculate value), was a slightly higher percentage of the cap. (This year's cap is 301.2 million)
You also have to consider where the team was at that point. Two years ago, when the Panthers traded Burns, they were coming off a two-win season, and the defense was in the middle of a reconstruction and not ready to compete for the playoffs. This year, the Panthers are coming off a division title and a year in which they rose from 32nd to 16th in total defense.
So on the whole, the deals are fairly comparable. The circumstances from which they sprang are not.
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Love all the free agent moves, but why is Nick Scott back? — Will, Rock Hill, SC
In short, and we discussed this on the Happy Half Hour the other day, because Nick Scott is good at football.
I have no idea how Scott became such a lightning rod around this place.
Actually, I kind of do know, and it doesn't please my spirit. We live in a very binary world, and especially those among us who spend way too much time on the internet (which, in hindsight, was a terrible idea), a player is either the GOAT, or a bust, with no in between. There's also a lack of understanding about his position. Safeties tend to end up in the background of other people's highlights, whether the play is their fault or not.
No one here is saying Nick Scott is Ed Reed, or heading to the Hall of Fame or even the Pro Bowl anytime soon. But apparently, for some, anything short of banishing him from the city forever seems to be insufficient.
PFF ranked 98 safeties in the NFL last season. His overall grade was 36th, which puts him right around the top third of the league. And if you take that number at face value, it means every team has a safety better than him, but he's at the top of the next group, and every team starts two.
But beyond anything you can measure statistically, Nick Scott is a value-add. He's responsible for all the communication in the secondary, which is very good as a whole. He's great in the locker room and practically adopted rookie Lathan Ransom last year. So when Ransom was asked the week of the playoffs if Scott was having a better season than anyone gives him credit for, Ransom had a look of disbelief that it was even being asked.
Great may be strong. But he's quite good.
Scott doesn't seek out attention, perhaps because the internet kind of attention hasn't been kind to him. And he has a way of soft-pedaling his actual value, saying all he had to do was "tackle and talk."
He did both well last year, with a career-best 109 stops, second on the team.
He's also funny, smart, has an excellent vocabulary and good manners, is an exceptional golfer (except that one time Ryan Fitzgerald got him), and is kind to the people around him. But even if you isolate it to football, he's pretty good across the board. If you start asking coaches about him, you'd better have a minute, because coaches like having Nick Scott on their rosters.
So quit yelling at Nick Scott, he's better than you think. And if you ever had a roster on which he's not starting, that's probably a pretty good roster.
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Who do you think is going to have the biggest impact on pass-heavy teams? — Cooper, Chapin, SC
I mean, the easy answer is probably Phillips, since he was top 10 in the league in total pressures last year, per Pro Football Focus. And if he is, that's good news for everyone including but not limited to Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Tre'von Moehrig.
But Lloyd also has the opportunity to make a big difference in the pass game with his coverage ability.
As you may have noticed, tight ends had some big games against the Panthers last year, and Phillips has the chance to cut into that. He had five interceptions a year ago, which is as many as Panthers linebackers have had since Luke Kuechly retired.
When Dan Morgan talks about players with length, it is about their ability to get hands and arms into passing lanes, to bat passes down or intercept them, or just to disrupt. Having guys like Phillips and Lloyd in the front seven is going to make it easier on the rest of the secondary, as well, since quarterbacks shouldn't have as much time to throw.
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Darin, here is the older guy from Stuttgart again. First of all, as a loyal fan since the Panthers franchise's start, through all our ups and downs, I wish to extend my sympathy for the loss of his father, another loyal fan, Jake Mills. The Panthers fans are a family I am proud to be part of. Free Agency Frenzy has really been exciting. I believe the Panthers have made some huge statements/signings and retentions. Dave and Dan have lived up to their pledge when they became a team, GM and head coach, brought in the DAWGS, and rebuilt the team. Beginning with the offense, now the defense. Winning the division in the second year, (I don't care what naysayers say, we came in through the back door), if it wasn't us, it would have been Tampa Bay or Atlanta, plus we did win some last-minute come-from-behinds, playing tough Super Bowl-contending teams. I know every year I get my hopes up; however, with these free agency signings and with the seven picks in the upcoming draft, I have a solid feeling that Dan and Dave are going to make more solid decisions and continue this solid rebuild. I see a very successful season coming up and can hardly wait for it to begin. With that said, Go Panthers, Keep on Pounding. — Kenneth, Stuttgart, Germany
See, spring is in the air, and people are feeling good.
At least the ones not watching college basketball.
Also, I knew we weren't getting through this week's bag without people touching base with Jake. The people who read this space are like family, even if they've never met or aren't even on the same continent.
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And on that note, let's go lightning round, brought to you by the patron saint of the lightning round Jeff from Fuquay-Varina, to close it out this week.
I almost bought a couple of PSLs in 1995, but being 100 miles from Charlotte, with two small kids, my wife thought it was not a wise choice of our resources. My question is how much have ticket prices increased since mid '90s and how much is a beer and pretzel cost in 2026? — Will, Mount Airy, NC
Less than a tank of gas, that's for sure. I remember fishing enough change out of my ashtray to get a gallon in high school, back when change, ashtrays, and 89 cents a gallon were things. Everything's relative. In 1995, the Panthers had the second-highest priced tickets in the league. Now, they're around 23rd. Things cost more now, but relative to the rest of the league, they're not out of line.
You've been bagging on college basketball for years. I thought you were from here. Why do you not like it? — Cliff, Cornelius, NC
Because I like basketball, and people who are good at it. That's why I pay my own money for NBA League Pass. Too many schools in the tournament are named after directions or bad crayons. So for every Duke-Burnt Siena game, there's usually about three where Michigan State's up 30 at halftime on Raw Umber, or Arizona's beating Long Island by 25 in a battle of the teas.
But for all who celebrate, as my old friend Mark Packer would say, "Get it all over you." He also called it "Bazooka Friday" when you couldn't find anyone at the office at the end of the week, which I add for no reason whatsoever as I finish this Mailbag on my porch.
So here I sit, a lonely Panthers homer down in Buccaneer country, waiting for my FOTM merch. Which isn't a complaint, no really, it isn't. I don't even have a question, just so much optimism about our guys in black and blue because they're doing everything right. Loving your football insights, your life insights, and the great questions you get to answer. Even if I weren't a Panthers fan, I'd probably read your column. And I can't get back to class because I'm 62 years old and happily retired. Keep Pounding! — Michael, Wesley Chapel, FL
Appreciate the kind words, Michael.
I'm behind on mail because of all the free agent news we've been bringing you. But now that we're pushed through Winter 3 and Spring is back and all the pollen is in the air, these fresh short-sleeved shirts will be in the mail soon.
And people will be looking as good as they're feeling.
