Tag: Carolina Panthers

Watch: Leonard Fournette wants Cam Newton to join the Jaguars

Watch: Leonard Fournette wants former Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to join the Jaguars.

Cam Newton is still a free agent and there are at least a handful of teams who would get a massive upgrade at quarterback by signing him.

Players who know how valuable Newton can be are starting to lobby for their teams to make a move. Watch Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette make his pitch for Newton to join them on ESPN’s First Take.

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Leonard Fournette says his pitch for Cam Newton is simply to make Jags better

Competition brings out the best in everyone and Leonard Fournette feels like that would be the case if the Jags signed Cam Newton.

The Jacksonville Jaguars may potentially have a franchise quarterback in Gardner Minshew II but at least one of his teammates would like to see him face the fiercest competition available. That teammate’s name is Leonard Fournette, who raised some eyebrows when he made an Instagram post that featured a picture of him and Newton with a captioning that read, “What we teaming up of what [cross emoji]”

While on ESPN’s “First Take” Thursday, Fournette explained to hosts Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Max Kellerman that he certainly wasn’t overlooking his teammate Minshew. He added that Newton had Super Bowl experience and stated that he believed a little friendly competition would make the team an overall better group.

“Cam went to the Super Bowl,” Fournette said on “First Take.” “He’s a great guy. I’ve been knowing Cam for a minute now. And like I told some people that talked to me, it’s no disrespect to [Gardner Minshew]. I’m just trying to get in the best position as a team as we can [to] win.

“That’s all that was about. Just friendly competition ’cause that brings out the best in people.”

That’s certainly hard to argue with. After all, Minshew’s résumé is nowhere close to the one Newton has put together as he’s played in 124 games. He also has played in seven postseason games. Overall, Newton will enter 2020 with a 59.6% (2,371-of-3,980) completion rate, for 29,041 passing yards, 182 touchdowns, and a QBR of 86.1. While his completion percentage isn’t the best, there is no denying that he should be starting for a team in the NFL.

When we spoke with NFL insider Ian Rapoport weeks ago, he said that he had no knowledge of the Jags contacting Newton’s camp. However, for a general manager and coach on the hot seat in Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone, prancing on a veteran with Newton’s achievements might be a smart move that could pay off in the end.

Notre Dame Continues Showing Their Christian McCaffrey Love

Does it come off a bit weird hyping up a guy that not only didn’t play at Notre Dame but also a guy who starred at an annual rival?  No doubt, and I’m sure Tommy Rees himself even thinks that a bit.

Earlier this week Christian McCaffrey signed a record deal to remain a Carolina Panther and is set to make more money than any running back in NFL history as a result.  We went over at the time how some of the congratulatory tweets being sent McCaffrey’s way weren’t all meant for just McCaffrey to see.

Well, a few days later and more of the same, this time coming from the new Notre Dame offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees.

Listen, I don’t blame them at all.  If I had that card in my hand I’d being playing it as much as I could in order to try and land top talent.  Notre Dame has had some good running backs lately, but how many are truly great?  It’s been since Ryan Grant, Julius Jones and Jerome Bettis and that’s many moons ago that Notre Dame put anything into the league at running back that you’d consider anywhere near special (obviously Bettis is in a league of his own in that group of three).

I think Pete Sampson of The Athletic put it well in his tweet on Thursday in regards to Notre Dame’s new-found love for an old rival:

Does it come off a bit weird hyping up a guy that not only didn’t play at Notre Dame but also a guy who starred at an annual rival?  No doubt, and I’m sure Tommy Rees himself even thinks that a bit.

But in the world of recruiting when you’re trying to win the commitments of star prospects it’s clearly worth that awkward feeling that comes with it.  It may be uncomfortable but they’d be foolish not to be hyping up their rising star of a coach having a mega-star connection twice over.

Should the Panthers consider a trade for O.J. Howard?

Tight end is one of many positions the Carolina Panthers need to address in next week’s draft.

Tight end is one of many positions the Carolina Panthers need to address in next week’s draft. Picking one when there are so many holes to fill on the other side of the ball might seem like a luxury. However, the team needs to add another weapon at this spot to help compensate for the loss of Greg Olsen, regardless of how they feel about Ian Thomas.

Trouble is, this isn’t supposed to be a deep draft class at tight end so it might be hard to pick up a difference-maker. One possible solution would be to address this need before the draft begins with a trade.

According to Michael Lombardi, the Buccaneers are trying to trade O.J. Howard, per Greg Auman at the Athletic.

Howard has fallen on hard times since he was a first-round pick back in 2017. He caught six touchdown passes as a rookie and five more in 2018. Last season, he scored just once though to go with a medicore 34 catches and 459 receiving yards on 53 targets.

Tampa’s new quarterback Tom Brady has never been shy about freezing out receivers who he doesn’t trust. If Brady doesn’t feel confident in throwing at Howard, it makes sense for the Bucs to try to get what they can for him now. Remember, they still have Cameron Brate on the roster at a reasonable price and he has proven to be more consistent than Howard to this point. They also have plenty of other receiving weapons to lose him without feeling a sting.

The question is if Matt Rhule and the team’s new tight ends coach Brian Angelichio believe they could resurrect a once-promising career. Bruce Arians made some eyebrow-raising remarks about Howard during the season though and if he can’t get Howard to produce then it doesn’t bode well for his future in the NFL.

Then again, he was a first-round pick for a reason and once upon a time the Panthers were showing interested in him – although that was during Dave Gettleman’s time as general manager. Legend has it that Howard was actually No. 2 on the team’s board behind Christian McCaffrey.

If they can get Howard for a Day 3 pick now it would be worth the risk.

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Panthers 2020 NFL draft: 5 potential surprise picks in the first round

Here are five potential surprise picks for the Panthers this year.

The 2020 NFL draft is one week away. That means we are mercifully coming to the end of the season of speculation.

Throughout most of the offseason, the same three names have been connected to the Carolina Panthers in a lot of national media mock drafts: Auburn DT Derrick Brown, Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons and South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw. They are all fine prospects who would fill significant holes for a floundering defense. However, there’s no guarantee they will be available at No. 7.

Every year, the draft is filled with twists and turns like any one-score game and very few people outside the actual draft rooms themselves get it right when it comes to predicting what’s going to happen. Let’s take a look at a few names who the team might consider selecting in the first round who aren’t named Brown, Kinlaw or Simmons.

Here are five potential surprise picks for the Panthers this year.

Baylor WR Denzel Mims

Denzel Mims
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

We know coach Matt Rhule really likes his guys and the Panthers have already signed several former Temple players. Mims (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) is the best 2020 prospect who played for Rhule last year at Baylor. He’s also one of the top wide receivers in a deep class of them. In 2019, he posted 66 catches, 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns. Picking Mims at No. 7 would be a reach, but if they’re moving down into the teens to add more picks, Mims could be right in their range.

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2020 NFL draft prospect profile: Florida CB CJ Henderson

2020 NFL draft prospect profile: Florida CB CJ Henderson

There have been recent reports that Panthers general manager Marty Hurney and coach Matt Rhule are looking to trade back in the draft and acquire more capital. Teams like the Raiders, Buccaneers, or Browns could be potential trade back partners which would then put Carolina picking in the mid-first round.

Cornerback is an obvious need for the Panthers, so let’s take a look at Florida’s CJ Henderson, who has been shooting up draft boards recently and has been the subject of some rumored interest by Carolina.

Scouting Report:
Henderson is one of the best man coverage corners in this class. He is truly special in coverage, as he possesses fluid hips, explosive footwork and tremendous ball skills that help him stick to wideouts like glue. He also possesses the physical traits to be an elite corner. At the combine, Henderson measured in at 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, clocked a 4.39 second 40-yard dash, jumped 37.5 inches vertically, put up 20 bench press reps and posted 127 inches in the broad jump.

Henderson is above average in zone as well, as he shows a quick trigger to explode downhill and makes a good break on the ball. However, sometimes he gets caught patrolling the flats and reading the quarterback’s eyes with too much anticipation. This means that a smart QB can take advantage of his eagerness and totally re-direct him out of his zone, opening up some major throwing lanes.

Although he is tremendous in coverage, Henderson does not bring quality tackling skills to the table. On film, you can see it’s not that he doesn’t know how to tackle, it’s just that he obviously doesn’t want to. Whether that’s due to injury or laziness is unknown, but it will be something the team who drafts him has to figure out.

Overall, Henderson is one of the best pure cover corners we have seen in recent years. He has gone up against top-level competition in the SEC and produced steadily.

Highlights:

Henderson vs. Florida State

Henderson vs. Missouri

Henderson vs. Vanderbilt

Henderson vs. Miami

Fit With the Panthers:
Henderson is a prototype cover corner who can make an immediate impact Week 1. Selecting Henderson would allow Phil Snow to run plenty of man coverage schemes and mix up his blitz packages to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. If the Panthers pick him, they will likely still have to go after another corner in free agency or the draft. However, pairing up Henderson with Donte Jackson and another quality addition could be the foundation of a solid corner group for years to come.

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2020 NFL draft: Panthers, Falcons could be eyeing the same CB prospect

Based on the latest 2020 NFL draft buzz, the Panthers and Falcons could be eyeing the same cornerback prospect in the first round.

The Panthers need as much help at the cornerback position as any team in the league heading into the 2020 NFL draft. They are far from the only team that could use a boost at this spot, though. Cornerbacks are critical for success in the modern, pass-heavy game – particularly in the NFC South where there’s a ludicrous number of talented wide receivers to contend with.

Based on the latest buzz surrounding next week’s draft, it sounds like the Falcons and the Panthers might have their eye on the same cornerback prospect: Florida’s C.J. Henderson.

Atlanta is in need of a new No. 1 corner after releasing Desmond Trufant. For what it’s worth, Dane Brugler at the Athletic beleives the Falcons could be looking to trade up from No. 16 in order to replace him with Henderson.

As for the Panthers, Cecil Lammey at Football Guys says they are going to take Henderson in the top 10.

Interesting stuff.

The question is if Henderson is worth being picked at No. 7. While he is one of the top cornerback prospects in this class, taking him that early would qualify as a reach. Also, with a cornerback class this deep, there’s no need to pull the trigger that early. If Jeff Okudah is there they should take him, but the Panthers can still get good value by picking a corner on Day 2.

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Christian McCaffrey contract a roadmap for Giants, Saquon Barkley?

Does the recent extension given to Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey provide a roadmap for the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley?

The New York Giants have a superstar in running back Saquon Barkley, who is technically under contract until the end of the 2021 season, but looking at the deals his contemporaries have recently signed, he’s in line for big payday well before his rookie contract expires.

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman knows if Barkley has another banner year — let’s say one in which he amasses over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage — he’s going to have be paid in the same neighborhood as the Carolina Panthers back Christian McCaffrey or even higher.

During his conference call this week with reporters, Barkley’s impending contract situation was on his mind, along with the contracts of some other young stars.

“Part of the tight rope that I walk on is short-term and long-term. Part of the long-term is we have some good, young players right now. We’ve got Dalvin Tomlinson, (Evan) Engram and (Jabrill) Peppers. We have to make decisions on them. They’re some good, young players. After another year, you guys are going to be banging on me about Saquon,” Gettleman said.

McCaffrey was given a four-year, $64 million contract extension by Carolina this week, making him the second-highest paid running back behind Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott, who was inked to a ridiculous six-year, $90 million contract extension before the 2019 season.

Barkley is currently the fifth-highest paid running back at the moment (the Jets’ LeVeon Bell is third and David Johnson of Houston is fourth), with his rookie deal paying him a total of $31,194,751 over four years. He has two seasons remaining on that deal.

Gettleman does not have to make a decision on Barkley until next spring when Barkley’s fifth-year option is due to be exercised. At that time, depending on Barkley’s health outlook, the Giants will explore a possible contract extension.

That will likely be based more on McCaffrey’s deal than will be on Elliott’s. The Cowboys vastly overpaid Elliott by all accounts. Running back is not considered to be a position in which teams allocate the lion’s share of their cap space. Most teams that either reach or win the Super Bowl these days have a running back-by-committee approach to the position.

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2020 NFL draft: Panthers FaceTime with 2 EDGE prospects

The team is doing their homework on EDGE prospects.

The Panthers have lost a lot of depth at several defensive positions this offseason. Last season, Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin were starting on the edges of the defensive line. Both have since left in free agency, signing with the Bills and the Seahawks, respectively.

Heading into the 2020 NFL draft, Carolina will need to reload at this position and find another starter to pair opposite Brian Burns. The team is doing their homework on EDGE prospects.

According to Justin Melo at Draft Wire, the team recently held a FaceTime meeting with Florida outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who has also spoken with the Giants, Jets, Titans and Falcons.

Greenard (6-foot-4, 263 pounds) spent the first three years of his college career at Louisville, then transferred to Florida for 2019. He had a breakout season for the Gators, totaling 10 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

Greenard is nowhere near as explosive as Burns, but he has grit and a good frame for his position. He is projected to be an early Day 3 pick.

According to Melo, the Panthers also held a Facetime meeting with Michigan State EDGE prospect Kenny Willekes. He’s also gotten interest from the Eagles, Browns and Ravens.

Willekes (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) posted very similar numbers to Greenard’s last year with 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss, but he has more experience and has been producing since his sophomore season.

For what it’s worth, we like the fit and picked Willekes for Carolina in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) of our most recent 2020 mock draft.

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Russell Okung on Panthers: ‘I don’t really see us as rebuilding’

Okung will play a huge role in whether or not the Panthers can improve on their division-worst 5-11 record last year.

For much of the 2020 offseason, the question has been whether the Panthers are “rebuilding” or “retooling.” The answer seemed to change day to day depending on the most recent move the franchise made. Releasing Greg Olsen and allowing everyone from Mario Addison to James Bradberry to leave in free agency seemed to indicate a total rebuild was underway.

However, signing players like Teddy Bridgewater and Robby Anderson has made it clear that this is more of a retooling phase rather than a blow-it-all-up and start from scratch kind of movement.

The best evidence for the retooling argument was the trade that sent Trai Turner to the Chargers for Russell Okung. Not only is Okung five years older, but he has just one year left on his contract. For his part, Okung told reporters in a Zoom call yesterday that he doesn’t see this team as rebuilding and he’s here to win and win right now.

Okung will play a huge role in whether or not the Panthers can improve on their division-worst 5-11 record last year.

Trading for Okung wasn’t our favorite move the team has made this offseason, but at least it gives them a proven, stable option to start at left tackle for the first time since Jordan Gross retired. If Okung is able to stay healthy and continue to play at the respectable level he has most of his career, it will help Bridgewater make use of the considerable number of weapons he has around him.

Okung also has to help build for the future. His most important task aside from his own performance will be developing 2019 second-round pick Greg Little. Thanks to several injuries, he only played four games as a rookie and saw his growth stunted. If Okung is able to coach up Little and get him ready to replace him in 2021, it will go a long way towards securing the future at a spot that’s been problematic for too long.

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