Tag: brandt tilis

Panthers HC Dave Canales is asked if holding out Diontae Johnson in Week 8 relates to trade

The Panthers are holding WR Diontae Johnson out for Week 8. Does the decision relate to the trade deadline? HC Dave Canales was asked that on Friday.

Are the Carolina Panthers holding out wide receiver Diontae Johnson for Diontae Johnson and the Carolina Panthers or for Diontae Johnson and another team? Well, from the perspective of his job, head coach Dave Canales says it’s the former.

Canales spoke with reporters on Friday, shortly after the team ruled out Johnson from their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. And with the league’s trade deadline now less than two weeks away, he was asked if the decision on his leading pass catcher is related to a possible deal.

“Those are all conversations that Dan [Morgan] and Brandt [Tilis] will handle,” he replied. “For me, it’s like, I wanna do the best thing for Diontae, the best thing for the offense and the continuity of what we’re trying to get done. And the fact that he couldn’t get back on the field this week, I felt confident about the guys being able to step in there and do it.”

Preserving Johnson, who is down due to a rib injury, would help preserve the chances of a potential trade with a receiver-needy contender. The former Pro Bowler is currently on the final year of his contract, so the 1-6 Panthers may be inclined to sell him off to the highest bidder.

In addition, his status for Week 8 is particularly interesting given his comments from yesterday—when he said he thought he’d be able to play through the injury.

The Panthers will also be without fellow veteran Adam Thielen, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury.

[lawrence-related id=705652,705630,705427]

Panthers HC Dave Canales ‘excited’ to get to final roster cuts

Panthers HC Dave Canales is excited to tackle the challenge of cutting down to his very first initial 53-man roster.

There will obviously be a lot of firsts in 2024 for first-year head coach Dave Canales. And among those new experiences will be the process of getting to his first initial 53-man roster.

In less than a week’s time, the Carolina Panthers must be down from 90 players to 53—leaving 37 difficult decisions to make. Nonetheless, Canales is looking forward to the challenge.

“Yeah, it’s hard. And I’m excited for it,” he told reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “When you respect and regard the whole unit and you’re kinda bringing everybody up at the same time—with the teaching, with the practices, the drill work and all those things as we improve everyone—it makes the decisions harder and harder.

“So I’m really excited about doing this with Dan [Morgan], with Brandt [Tilis], with the coaching staff. We’ve kinda had our touch-points throughout camp to evaluate where we’re at right now, and then we’ll have that culmination after we get through this last game.”

That last game takes place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET against the Buffalo Bills. Canales has yet to decide if his starters will take up some of that outing, perhaps leaving fewer opportunities for the players who are still trying to claim a roster spot.

Teams will have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to get down to 53 players.

[lawrence-related id=702060,702050,702044]

WATCH: Panthers draft room shocked by Rams’ offer for 2nd-round pick

The Rams simply made an offer the Panthers couldn’t refuse.

Nearly two months ago, the Los Angeles Rams made an offer the Carolina Panthers simply couldn’t refuse . . . and it showed.

Released on Tuesday evening, the latest episode of Panthers Blueprint ’24 dove into the organization’s journey through free agency and the draft. Included in the 44-minute documentary was the moment when executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis received a shocking trade offer from out west.

Check it out:

Driven by their desire to pair 19th overall pick Jared Verse with his Florida State University defensive line mate Braden Fiske, the Rams sent the 52nd and 155th picks as well as a 2025 second-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for No. 39. The trade, as Morgan also told Darin Gantt of Panthers.com, was a very enticing one to make—especially considering they did not have a second-rounder for next year.

“It wasn’t easy to not be at 39,” Morgan said. “I mean, you know that’s a starter, with what was on the board at that time. But at the same time, that two next year, I mean, you have to take that. That’s the right move for the organization as a whole, and you can’t just think about what’s happening right now.

“Really, that’s an easy call when you think about it, but you also know what you’re giving up.”

The Panthers would end up flipping that 52nd selection as part of a package they shipped to the Indianapolis Colts for the eventual 46th overall pick, running back Jonathon Brooks.

[lawrence-related id=696776,698605,696865]

Panthers’ Brandt Tilis: Jonathon Brooks was ‘by far’ our No. 1 prospect at 46th pick

Panthers executive VP of football operations Brandt Tilis provided some insight into the team’s selection of RB Jonathon Brooks.

Wheeling and dealing seemed to serve the Carolina Panthers rather well during the 2024 NFL draft. But if the wheeling and dealing didn’t come with intent, it didn’t come at all.

To get us ready for tomorrow’s episode of Panthers Blueprint, team reporter Darin Gantt rolled out his deep dive into Carolina’s draft from this past April. Among the many inside looks was an intriguing detail on the choice of running Jonathon Brooks, whom the organization took with the 46th overall pick.

That selection made its way to the table upon the Panthers’ third trade of the draft—when they sent the 52nd, 142nd and 155th picks to the Indianapolis Colts. New executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis provided some insight into the move.

“We’re not trading just to trade, like we’re doing it with intention,” Tilis said, via Gantt. “There are players on the board who we want, and we’re gauging where we think we can get them and still acquire more value along the way to get more players. So like the Brooks one, it was a really good example of that. There were a few players on the board who we liked. Brooks was by far a (or our) number one guy, and we were planning on a smaller move back, and then the Rams came in and offered what they did, and it was, frankly, too good to pass up. They really wanted that pick.

“And we knew that if we traded the pick there would be a player that we would miss out on. We were comfortable with that because we really wanted Brooks, and to be able to get the two next year, we said, OK, once our guys start going, then we’re going have to move back up. It’s not like we did anything that was so smart or great or whatever; we were just willing to take a larger risk to get that outcome of the trade. It’s like, let’s not get cute here. Let’s just get our guy.”

Their guy was the very first running back to be taken from the 2024 class. Before tearing his ACL in November of this past season, Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns through 11 games.

[lawrence-related id=698597,698152,696964]

Contract details of Derrick Brown’s 4-year extension with Panthers

Let’s go inside the numbers of Derrick Brown’s big four-year extension with the Panthers.

Thanks in part to their president and executive vice president of football operations, the Carolina Panthers have given Derrick Brown another term.

As announced on Friday afternoon, the team agreed to a four-year extension with their star lineman. So, what are the details of the deal?

First off, as initially reported by ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the pact is worth a total of $96 million with $63.165 million guaranteed. The total is tied for the fourth-highest value amongst all defensive tackles, moving Brown next to New York Jets anchor Quinnen Williams.

That number over four years gives the contract an average annual worth of $24 million, which is also tied with Williams’ deal as the fourth-highest at the position. The very top is headlined by Kansas City’s Chris Jones ($31.75 million) with Las Vegas’ Christian Wilkins ($27.5 million) and Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike ($24.5 million) following up.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated would also add that Brown will receive $49 million over the first two seasons of the agreement and $72 million over the first three.

Great job, Dan and Brandt!

[lawrence-related id=694803,692054,694008]

Panthers trade up to 1st round in The Athletic’s post-combine mock draft

Dane Brugler of The Athletic forecasts a jump up into the first round for the Panthers in his newest mock draft.

After trading the farm for last year’s No. 1 overall pick, are the Carolina Panthers really in a position to move up again this spring? One longtime draft expert believes so.

The Athletic NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler just rolled out his latest mock, straight off this past week’s trip to Indianapolis. He has the Panthers, whose opening pick currently sits atop the second round, leaping into the first in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.

Brugler’s proposed swap nets Carolina the 30th overall selection in exchange for the 33rd and 141st selections. He then has them netting University of Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey:

The Panthers have to get better on the offensive line, but they also have to add weapons who can get open and give Bryce Young a target. McConkey, who can play both inside and outside, is arguably the best in this draft class at creating space with his crisp route running and electric speed/quickness.

In this scenario, Carolina doesn’t let the Chiefs snatch up McConkey. First-year general manager Dan Morgan moves up and gets his guy.

McConkey had one of the better combine performances at the receiver position. The two-time national champ clocked an impressive 40-yard dash at 4.39 seconds and proceeded to cut right through the gauntlet like a hot knife through butter.

But would he be worth a stab at the expense of Brandt Tilis’ old buddies?

[lawrence-related id=692433,692429,690269]

Panthers’ offseason hires praised around the league

The Panthers are getting some props for how they’ve started their 2024 offseason.

Will the third time be a charm for Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper? A few folks in and around the league may think so.

The 33rd Team NFL insider Ari Meirov recently served up news and nuggets coming out of this year’s Senior Bowl. Among the notes is praise for the Panthers, who are getting props for their hiring of head coach Dave Canales as well as their restructuring of the front office.

Meirov writes:

Patience will be key with owner David Tepper, and only time will tell if he’s willing to play along. Several people told me when putting together my head coach candidates list that Canales was a name to watch. However, if a team hired him they’re getting him a year early. Carolina was willing to take that risk.

On top of that, the Panthers also got praise for the front office they’re assembling. It starts with GM Dan Morgan and Executive VP of Football Operations Brandt Tilis, who came from Kansas City. This structure is similar to what San Francisco has with John Lynch and chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe.

Tilis, according to the organization, will be responsible for “all football administration and non-coaching matters related to operations, equipment, video, and analytics, among other areas.” He’ll also lead player contract negotiations, similar to his role for the Chiefs.

Hey, not bad for supposedly having the least desirable openings in the NFL, right?

[lawrence-related id=690733,690547,690388]

Chiefs, Panthers fans react to Carolina hiring Brandt Tillis as Executive VP of Football Operations

Fans on Twitter reacted to the #Panthers’ hiring of former #Chiefs executive Brandt Tillis on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs lost a key piece of their front office staff when the Carolina Panthers hired long-time executive Brandt Tillis to be their Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

Offseason departures like this are common, especially for teams that have found as much success as the Chiefs have in recent seasons. The Panthers are in the midst of what seems to be a never-ending rebuild and brought in Tillis for his expertise and championship pedigree as Carolina looks to get its franchise back on the right track.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

While the move may not prove to be a crushing blow for Kansas City, it may prove instrumental in the Panthers’ rebuild in the coming years.

Fans on social media were quick to offer their take on the news of Tillis’ move shortly after Carolina announced his signing on Wednesday afternoon.

Check out some of Twitter’s top reactions to the Panthers’ signing below:

Panthers name Chiefs executive Brandt Tilis as their new Executive VP of Football Operations

The Carolina #Panthers named former Kansas City #Chiefs executive Brandt Tilis as their new Executive VP of Football Operations.

The Carolina Panthers are hiring former Kansas City Chiefs front office executive Brandt Tilis as their next Executive VP of Football Operations.

According to a new report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panthers are officially finalizing a deal to hire Tilis. He was linked to Carolina in 2021 when the franchise searched for a new general manager. The veteran executive has earned the salary cap expert title from many around the league for his exceptional insight into the team’s roster finances.

Tilis has spent the last 14 seasons with the Chiefs and the last three as vice president of football operations. He has been notably the lead contract negotiator since 2017, working to develop a structure enabling Kansas City to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes his record-breaking 10-year, $450 million contract extension in 2020.

In his new role, Tilis is expected to be responsible for all football administration and non-coaching matters related to operations, equipment, video, and analytics, among other areas. According to the Panthers press release, He will also lead player contract negotiations, compliance with the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and league rules, salary cap management, and maintenance and labor administration.

The Chiefs continue to see many of their executives move on to new opportunities, showing the ongoing development of the front office tree. Teams around the league are watching Kansas City’s success, hoping to take a piece of their talent to spark their franchises.

Panthers fans react to hiring of executive of VP football operations Brandt Tilis

Panthers fans seem a bit more encouraged by the new structure of their team’s front office.

The Carolina Panthers weren’t going to wait for the conclusion of Super Bowl LVIII to officially close on their guy.

As announced by the team on Wednesday, Brandt Tilis has been named the new executive vice president of football operations. He now comes over after a highly-regarded 14-year run with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here’s how Panthers fans are reacting to their organization’s latest addition: