Tag: nfl annual league meeting

Panthers HC Dave Canales offers ‘fascinating’ insight into Bryce Young’s footwork

When asked how he can reboot QB Bryce Young, Panthers HC Dave Canales got into some pretty deep detail.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales has a proven recipe for cooking up success under center. But what’s the secret sauce?

Canales joined the set of The Insiders from this year’s Annual League meeting on Tuesday. When asked how he’ll be able to get quarterback Bryce Young going, he offered a pretty intriguing (and detailed) response:

As Canales mentions, the approach did wonders for Russell Wilson, Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.

While serving as Wilson’s position coach and passing game coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks between 2018 and 2021, Canales helped Mr. Unlimited average 3,720 passing yards, 32.8 touchdowns and just 7.8 interceptions per season. He’d push the team’s next quarterback to a career campaign in 2022, as Geno Smith notched highs in passing yards (4,282) and passing touchdowns (30) as well as a league-leading 69.8-percent completion rate.

His best work, perhaps, came as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator this past year—as he orchestrated the career rejuvenation of former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield. Mayfield, who led the organization to its third straight NFC South title, hit bests in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044) and passing touchdowns (28).

You’re up, Bryce.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales wants to build ’emotional currency’ with Bryce Young

Panthers HC Dave Canales has been building up his relationship with QB Bryce Young.

For Dave Canales, it’s all about the money . . . sorta.

The new Carolina Panthers head coach met with reporters at the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday morning in Orlando, Fla. Canales, of course, spoke about his quarterback Bryce Young—whom he has gotten to know quite a bit thus far.

“We just try to connect on a personal level, and then what I’m trying to do is I’m trying to just build that emotional currency because I’m going to need to start drawing from that as we start to face challenges to get into the offseason,” Canales said, via Panthers.com. “You know, we start to talk about footwork and talk about protections and critiquing this and that. I think the more that we can create a relationship, it really softens the message versus when it’s just like player-coach, it’s kind of clunky, and it’s a little bit abrasive when it’s just like you’re constantly just correcting these football things, but you don’t have the basis of a relationship to lean on.”

Part of that relationship-building process, per Canales, has included some long talks—with topics ranging from their SoCal backgrounds to Young’s rough rookie campaign. 2023 saw its No. 1 overall pick average just 179.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

But Canales, who has a proven track record of getting the most out of his quarterbacks, has already begun his quest to get Young on track.

“I think that’s one of the things that I’ve learned about him,” he added. “He’s like, I’m glad I went through this past year. I’m glad I had the challenges of this because this is very different than anything that I’ve experienced up to this point, you know, and to feel him and to hear his hopefulness for where we’re headed, it’s exactly what you would hope to hear from your quarterback and, and from a guy that, that sees the best for himself going forward.”

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Panthers HC Dave Canales gives rationale behind Austin Corbett’s move to center

Panthers HC Dave Canales believes Austin Corbett is up for the challenge of transitioning to the center position.

Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Austin Corbett has yet to log a single regular-season rep from the center position. But that hasn’t been a deciding factor in his move to the very middle of the trench, at least for Dave Canales.

The first-year head coach chatted with reporters at the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday morning. Canales touched on the pricey free-agent signings additions of guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, stating that he wants to build his team’s identity from the inside out.

Part of that establishing that identity will include a change for Corbett—who has played the vast majority of his NFL snaps from the right guard spot. But according to Canales, it’s Corbett’s identity that should make the transition a smooth one.

“Well, it’s a specific role for a guy who’s a leader,” Canales said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “You can get away with it when a guy isn’t vocal; you can get away with it when a guy isn’t like the true alpha type of personality. You can get away with that, but you really would love your center to be like the middle linebacker and be the quarterback of the offensive line. And Corbs is that. He’s a man’s man; when he talks, people listen. He’s just natural for this, and for us to have the opportunity to go get the guards that we did to add Austin into that mix as a center to be able to piece it all together, the continuity of the tackles with a couple of new guys, a lot of guys just talking along the line. It’s really a dream scenario. And so I love this challenge.”

Corbett has recorded 3,984 snaps over his six-year career—with 3,442 of them coming at right guard. His only looks at center came during preseason play in 2019, when he lined up on 203 snaps from the middle for the Cleveland Browns.

On top of that challenge, the 28-year-old will be coming back from his second major injury in as many years. After returning from a torn ACL he sustained the 2022 finale, Corbett appeared in just four games this past season before injuring his MCL in the same knee.

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Panthers OLB D.J. Wonnum likely to miss OTAs due to quad injury

New free-agent signee D.J. Wonnum is likely to miss OTAs as he continues his recovery from a torn quad.

One of the Carolina Panthers’ newest weapons probably won’t be at their immediate disposal this offseason.

Head coach Dave Canales sat down with reporters at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Tuesday morning. When asked about his team’s pass rush, he spoke a bit about outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum—who is still recovering from a quadricep injury he sustained last season.

“I feel confident about playing with the guys we have right now,” Canales said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “DJ Wonnum, I don’t want him to speak specifically about his injury and all that stuff, but he’s rehabbing. But from his play on film, this is a starting-caliber outside linebacker with the pass rush. He’s versatile. I’m really excited about him.”

Canales also stated that Wonnum—whom the Panthers signed to a two-year, $12.5 million deal—is likely to miss team organized activities (OTAs) this spring.

The 26-year-old defender tore his quad in the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 16 outing against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 27. That put an end to Wonnum’s career campaign—one in which he notched bests in combined tackles (62) and sacks (8.0).

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin: Diontae Johnson will be a ‘big asset’ for Panthers

New Panthers WR Diontae Johnson got quite an endorsement from his former HC Mike Tomlin.

If you want to know what the Carolina Panthers are getting in wideout Diontae Johnson, there’s probably no better person to ask than the one who’s served as his only head coach in the NFL.

Well, Joe Person of The Athletic did precisely that at the Annual League Meeting on Monday—asking Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin about the 27-year-old receiver.

“You’re gettin’ an awesome route runner, a guy that can create separation at the top of routes, a guy that’s tough to stay with,” Tomlin replied. “He can win in non-vertical route-running and vertical route-running. So you get a guy with a complete skill set in that regard and I just think he’s gonna be a big asset to ’em.”

As part of their offseason mission to surround soon-to-be second-year quarterback Bryce Young with as much help as possible, the Panthers acquired Johnson from the Steelers two weeks ago. Carolina sent Pittsburgh cornerback Donte Jackson and agreed upon a pick swap, shipping the 178th overall pick of the 2024 draft for the 240th, in exchange for the former Pro Bowl pass catcher.

In his five years under Tomlin, Johnson reeled in 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns. And while that may be fine for some wideouts, the longtime Steelers coach knows his former receiver still wants more.

“Make no mistake, he wants the football,” Tomlin said. “But I think they all do.”

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Panthers GM Dan Morgan provides update on potential Derrick Brown extension

Panthers GM Dan Morgan expressed some optimism about a potential contract extension for DT Derrick Brown.

Maybe the Carolina Panthers have themselves a standout defender who they can actually keep.

On Monday, the team’s president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan talked with reporters on a Zoom call from the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. When asked about defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is entering the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, he expressed some optimism about a potential contract extension.

“I’m not going to put any timetable on it; we have had some good discussions with his agent,” Morgan said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “But as of right now, we’re working through that, and hopefully, it ends up working out at the end, which I think it will.”

Brown is coming off the first Pro Bowl season of his NFL career. In fact, it was no ordinary all-star campaign—as the 25-year-old broke the all-time single-season record for tackles by a defensive lineman.

A few of Brown’s fellow interior linemen got their big paydays this offseason—including Kansas City’s Chris Jones, Las Vegas’ Christian Wilkins and Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike. Jones set the market at a $158 million pact, with Wilkins at $110 million and Madubuike at $98 million.

So, is Brown next?

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Panthers ‘keeping in touch’ with free-agent OLB Jadeveon Clowney

Don’t count the Panthers out of the Jadeveon Clowney sweepstakes.

The New York Jets aren’t the only team planning to remain active in the Jadeveon Clowney sweepstakes.

On Monday, Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan spoke with reporters on a Zoom call from the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in Orlando, Fla. And with his team still needing to add some pass-rushing prowess to their defense, he said they’re still in on the three-time Pro Bowler.

Clowney, a Rock Hill, S.C. native, visited with the Panthers back on March 14. Following his stop in Carolina, the former No. 1 overall pick then went to see the Jets—who he, per Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, has “remained in constant contact” with since.

The 31-year-old is fresh off one of the most productive campaigns in his pro tenure. Clowney recorded 9.5 sacks, his most since 2017, and a career-high 71 pressures for the Baltimore Ravens, who are also reportedly interested in his services for 2024.

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Panthers have not made a decision on Jaycee Horn’s 5th-year option

Panthers GM Dan Morgan said the team has not come to a decision on CB Jaycee Horn’s fifth-year option.

Apparently, the 2025 season is no sure thing for Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn.

The team’s president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan spoke with reporters via a Zoom call from the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Monday. When asked if the team will exercise the fifth-year option on Horn, he did not provide a definitive answer.

Carolina selected Horn with the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft. While he’s proven that his talent and effectiveness is absolutely undeniable, his availability is a completely different story.

The 24-year-old defender has dealt with injury after injury as a pro—from breaking his foot three games into his rookie campaign, to breaking his wrist near the end of 2022 and to sustaining a hamstring strain in the 2023 regular-season opener.

As a result, Horn has played in just 22 of a possible 51 games since entering the league.

The Panthers have until May 2 to either exercise or decline Horn’s fifth-year option. The option would cost the team approximately $12.4 million for the 2025 season.

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GM Dan Morgan explains why Panthers traded Brian Burns

Panthers GM Dan Morgan gave a little insight into why he pulled the trigger on the Brian Burns trade.

Dan Morgan wasn’t handed an easy job when he was named the new president of football operations and general manager of the Carolina Panthers. In fact, he just had to make one of the most difficult decisions this franchise has faced in quite some time.

Two weeks ago, Morgan and the Panthers traded away star pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants. The move effectively put an end to the year-long stalemate in contract talks and awarded the two-time Pro Bowler the massive big-money deal he was looking for.

On Thursday, through a Zoom call from the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Morgan explained why the team pulled the trigger on what he described as a “tough decision.”

“You know, those are always difficult conversations and, and decisions that you have to make from the seat that I’m in,” he said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “We love Brian. The player he is, the person he is, but sometimes you’ve got to make tough decisions, and the salary cap along with draft capital that we got, we felt like it was, you know, time to pull the trigger and make a move.

“We felt like the timing was right. And yeah, those are always tough decisions, but we had to make it, and we feel OK about it.”

In return for Burns, the Panthers received the 39th overall pick of the upcoming draft, a pick swap of the 141st and 166th selections and a 2025 fifth-rounder.

The trade also opened up approximately $24 million in salary cap space for Carolina, who had placed the franchise tag on Burns the week prior to the swap.

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