We address all sorts of post Draft fans questions in this week’s fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! This is an explosive follow up to a very loaded weekend of news following the Panthers highly regarded 2025 NFL Draft class. You all had a lot of questions about what’s next for this team, and I brought answers.
Let’s dive in!
Prickly_Claire: I’ve seen a lot of write-ups of Nic Scourton refer to him as a “three down” player, but is he a three down EDGE or does his skillset present the opportunity to be a guy who can move inside to DE in our scheme in pass rush scenarios?
Commenter Shifty Fish answered this question quite nicely, but to summarize, the Panthers liked Scourton as an every down player for their scheme. Dan Morgan even said in interviews this week they had a first round grade on him. The Panthers plan is to use him as both an edge rusher and as an interior player on passing downs, much like they did with Yetur Gross-Matos in his final year in Carolina in 2023. Only difference here, Nic Scourton was drafted to play that role, where YGM was a holdover from the prior regime.
@WTMealey: The Panthers had a total of 32 sacks last year. I know that isn’t the perfect metric for how well you are getting to the passer, but it surely means something.
What’s your over under number for 2025?
I think an over/under number of 40.5 is solid just off the top of my head. Carolina’s pass rush theoretically shouldn’t be fixed all in one Offseason, especially since they didn’t go out and get someone like Myles Garrett as an example. Getting 41 would have placed them right in the middle of the league in 2024 as far as total sacks are concerned, which compared to bottom 3 in the league for their results from the same year, would be a huge jump in production.
DannyLimes: Given the various puffs of smoke about T-Mac; an old video, reports (Joe P) that the initial visit with us didn’t go well, McShay and others concerns about work ethic… how much is that a concern?
I’ll be honest I’m barely concerned- saw some lazy-ish plays, halfhearted blocking etc but nothing outside of the realms of your average receiver. I am curious as to yours and the group think.
Panthers fans can certainly sound off in the comments about their thoughts, but overall I’m not concerned at all by the pre-Draft headlines about Tetairoa McMillan. The video that circulated about him not enjoying watching film came from his first year in college, and I think most players at that age aren’t going to say they sit around watching film all day. He’s since stated that it was an outdated take and he’s matured since then, I have no reason not to believe him after two incredible final seasons in college. His work ethic concerns mostly came from watching tape with plays he supposedly “took off” in college. Spoiler, but usually is a play isn’t going the wide receivers way on a run or if they aren’t expected to even be targeted on a passing play, coaches don’t generally jump down a guy of T Mac’s caliber’s throat for not going balls to the wall running a route or blocking away from the play. Coaches actually often encourage players to take a breather on those plays.
Not to say it isn’t something to watch, but I’m not worried about it as of this juncture.
Good_Ol_Boy: Two part question:
1) Do we have the resources to land Blackmon?
2) Is he the FS answer that we’re looking for?
- The Panthers definitely have the cap space to land Julian Blackmon. However at this point in the off-season, there’s no real rush for a player like him to sign. He’s a veteran, and likely not going to fetch top market safety dollars in free agency following the Draft. The Panthers can afford to pay him, but whether they are the most attractive situation for him is a different matter.
- He’d definitely alleviate concerns about the currently thin safety room. He’s probably the best option out there for their free safety problem.
Bruce Guild: I know there are many misses with 1st round wide receivers. Heck we have seen plenty throughout the years with the Panthers.
How often 1st off the board (excluded Hunter) or top ten receivers bust or underperform? I would think there is a higher miss rate at QB but are WR’s taken that high as risky a bet?
We have a lot of time between now and the preseason, so I’ve elected to answer this particular question with its own post. Stay tuned Bruce, I gotchu.
plancos: Which Day 3 pick are you most excited about (irrespective of round)?
Which UDFA are you most excited about (excluding the Kicker)?
I’m actually most excited about DL Cam Jackson. What Carolina lacked last year was true run defenders along the defensive line, and I think Jackson really helps strengthen the rotation Carolina is building on the interior in regards to the run specific help. They drafted Jackson at a spot where they don’t need him to be anything more than the next Colin Cole for him to be a very successful draft pick.
Safeties Trevian Thomas and Isaac Gifford excite me the most, and the main reason is we should see a lot of reps from them during training camp and OTAs to see if they are the next diamonds in the rough.
Carolinamaybenextyears: In the NFC south, how do you think the other team’s defensive coordinators are thinking about facing the Panthers offense? Nightmare fuel? Also, who do you think has a better offense across the board in the nfc south than the Panthers?
I think that really depends on how Bryce Young starts the season. On paper, Carolina’s offense IS improved from 2024. However, we’ve seen slow starts from Bryce in both of his professional seasons. If Carolina comes out with their crap together early, defensive coordinators might actually be scared of this offense. But until Bryce Young proves his progression at the end of 2024 was for real and not a mirage, teams aren’t going to fear the Panthers as more than a strong rush first offense.
The Buccaneers still have a stronger offense on paper. Again, the quarterback play makes the difference here. Same with the Falcons and Michael Penix.
Shifty Fish: What’s the delay on signing Blackmon? Why does this team think it’s some competition on who can do the least about free safety even though they’re the only one playing?
This is complete speculation on my part, so bear with me. But I think Carolina gave Blackmon a totally reasonable offer to sign here when he visited earlier in the off-season. It likely didn’t blow his socks off and probably matched up with the contract numbers that safeties who remain unsigned after the draft end up getting offered, even if he doesn’t necessarily belong in that same tier conversation.
I personally agree that I find their aversion to just locking down that position and being done with frustrating, but I think now we’re playing the post draft free agency game. Carolina might not sign that next safety piece until June or July.
brake23: My guess is they were targeting RJ Harvey as a receiving back and since he was picked earlier than anticipated, they panicked and grab their backup option very early. I know many of us were let down by the selection of Etienne in the 4th. Who would you have liked the team to have picked instead of Etienne at 114?
Probably a safety, an edge rusher, a defensive lineman, a linebacker, or a corner. Take your pick. Dan Morgan clearly felt they were getting some kind of value here, and as many of our commenters have stated, its right within the Seattle MO to draft a late round running back every year. I’m going to let this pick marinate until we see what kind of impact he truly has in the rotation. He’s definitely a complimentary player with both receiving skills and short yardage skills. If Carolina actually runs the ball the way they claimed they would in 2024, this pick might look alright.
KeepPounding88: Realistic expectations for T-Mac in his rookie season?
Dcangio09 answered basically the same-ish numbers I would have, so here it is.
I think the TDs matter more than the yardage for McMillan in his rookie season, as the Panthers have several guys who can get yardage. At wide receiver, T Mac is already their best redzone threat and he hasn’t even caught a pass yet. I think 1k+ yards really justifies his top 10 selection as it would put him up with other highly drafted peers (who were considered successful draft picks), but my expectations are that he doesn’t hit that between Adam Thielen returning as Bryce Young’s favorite target and plenty of expected attention for 2024 rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
Snarky_Comet: Is there a chance Pineiro doesn’t get picked up by anyone this season because his asking price is too high?
We’ve clearly moved on. Washington just picked up Matt Gay. I’m sure there’s other kicker-needy teams out there, but the musical chairs has started and spots are starting to be filled. Is there a precedent of a kicker holding out an entire season out for a large contract?
I don’t think Eddy Pineiro has any chance at a kicker market-resetting contract at this point. I don’t think its as much about holding out anymore as simply finding a team that will have him. There’s 32 starting kickers in the NFL, but there’s more than 32 other kickers out there just waiting to be called by an NFL team. There’s a very strong chance Pineiro doesn’t get picked up, but just as strong a chance Carolina brings him back. But I wouldn’t be worried about the money.
DIESEL009: Am I the only one that believes 10 wins and a wildcard spot isn’t an unreasonable expectation for this season?
I don’t think this is an unreasonable expectation at all, even if I took am riding the wave of optimism following a strong free agency and NFL Draft for the Panthers. I’m not quite ready to say I think the Panthers are playoff contenders until I see what the heck all these new pieces on defense look like together, but I’m not going to tell anyone who is feeling warm and fuzzy about it to stop feeling that way. It’s easier to feel good about the direction of the team when they’ve come out and told us two offseasons in a row what they felt they needed to fix, and followed a consistent and targeted plan to address it.
RebuildingSince95: Other than T-Mac, XL, Thielen, and Coker, what receivers do you think make the team?
Do you think we might have our answer to replacing Moton on the roster already?
Probably David Moore. I know Panthers fans are going to boo that but he had great chemistry with Bryce Young in 2024 and familiarity with Dave Canales stemming from 2023 and even the prior Seattle Seahawks years. It could certainly change but right now he has a leg up. If the Panthers keep six, I’ll go with Jimmy Horn Jr, rookie 6th rounder. Dave Canales likes to have a speedster/returner type to do fun things with (remember Deven Thompkins?) for designed runs and gadget plays. And they will have practice squad spots available to stash players.
Hunter Renfrow is a great comeback story and I hope Carolina gets the very best out of him that we saw a couple of years ago with the Raiders, but he was out of football all last season, he didn’t even land on a practice squad as a veteran for any team.
Bull123: will Hunter Renfro make the team & become an impact player for us?
will Wallace step up & be the ILB we need?
See above re: Renfrow. As far as Trevon Wallace goes, currently he’s slated to start right alongside Josey Jewell at interior linebacker. The Panthers are still apparently high on Claudin Cherelus and Jacoby Windmon, and they signed Christian Rozeboom in free agency. But I do think its Wallace’s job to lose right now, even if they go with a healthy rotation of Rozeboom to spell him a bit.
MarloBarksdale99: Will Barno make the 53 this year with all the moves we made on defense?
This is a real tough one. I think if the Panthers didn’t take Princely Umanmielen, he probably had a shot. But right now that edge group is very crowded. I think he’s a strong practice squad candidate, but if he does make it, he’s gotta be developing quite nicely.
schrodingersblackcat: Evans seems like a steal in the 5th round. How much do you expect to see him on the field in 2025? Will he see more use as a blocker than target? What does our depth chart look like at TE by the end of the season?
Going to be a Debbie downer here, but right after the Draft (especially one as deep as this one), many players seem like steals. I do like Mitchell Evans as an Ian Thomas replacement, and I think he CAN be that healthy balance between “guy who is definitely going to run a route” and “guy who is definitely blocking” for this offense. I think Tommy Tremble will take precedence over him right away, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have a healthy snap count himself in an offense that should run the ball and piggy back play action passes off of it quite a bit.
positivebob: Are you optimistic about going into the season with the current TEs?
I was definitely someone looking for them to potentially take Tyler Warren at 8. I like how things fell, I like that they went ahead and invested in home-grown talent Tommy Tremble after he showed a lot of real progress, and I like that they still added to the room around 2024 4th round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders. I don’t think the room will be in the top of the league conversation as far as specific position rooms, but it doesn’t seem like Dave Canales needs that from his tight end group either. Overall, I’m happy. Could be happier, but you can’t make every position group elite in one Offseason. And they could totally make me eat crow and all fill their roles nicely, we’ll see!
dayneB12: It seems the Panthers were heavily investing in WRs when it comes to UDFAs, signing 3 notable players. I’m all for adding competition, but when the depth is so thin in the secondary, why was WR a major focus, despite addressing it in the draft, when there are big holes at CB and S? While they did make some additions there, none of the players seem to have very high rankings when it comes to UDFAs.
We call day 3 draft picks “dart throws” here at CSR headquarters. UDFA signings are more like throwing darts at a haystack and hoping to find a needle. I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on what positions they looked at in undrafted free agency. Sometimes you find a guy like Jalen Coker who perfectly fits your position of need. Sometimes, you find the Andrew Norwell’s of the world when there’s a plan at that position prior to the season starting.
Carolina actually did the “best player available” thing (or so they say) in the Draft, which meant the team came away looking thin at some positions. They did sign two CBs and two S’s as UDFA’s, and remember after the draft the back end of the roster is basically fluid until the 53 man roster countdown. Your concerns are valid, don’t get me wrong, but let’s give it time.
Join us next week for another edition of our weekly mailbag. We’ll be along the ride all offseason. Keep Pounding!