Stinking Panthers Having A Firesale?
October 11th, 2022
So yesterday, any semblance the Stinking Panthers had of making the playoffs, well, strongman owner David Tepper decided to throw the towel in on the season and look to the future.
He canned coach Matt Rhule.
Joe doesn’t think this good news for the Bucs as the Stinking Panthers were woeful with Rhule and were in contention for the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023. With a new coach, hey, things can only get better. And the Bucs play them twice this season.
Now Joe was reading Jonathan Jones’ column on the Rhule firing and Jones believes the Stinking Panthers are going to have a firesale.
Teams have been sniffing around the Panthers in recent weeks, checking their pulse on the good, young players on the roster. I expect teams to place calls on Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Brian Burns and Derrick Brown.
That doesn’t mean Carolina GM Scott Fitterer even has to listen, especially right now with another three weeks before the trade deadline. But a star running back looking at another rebuilding team? A talented wide receiver early into his second contract? A Pro Bowl defensive end ready for his second deal? A Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle finally hitting his groove in year three? Each one of those players — to some degree or another — is tantalizing to the majority of the NFL.
OK, why not have fun with this? If the Bucs are really all-in for this season, why not make a trade with the Stinking Panthers, even if they are going to eat most of the salaries, which would make the players more movable.
The Bucs are struggling to keep a receiver on the field not named “Mike Evans” or “Chris Godwin.” D.J. Moore has never had that problem since entering the league in 2018. He’s missed two games total in his NFL career.
Brian Burns, are you kidding Joe? You can never have enough pass rushers. If Carolina agrees to eat a good chunk of his salary, this is a total no-brainer.
Joe thinks Burns is one of the most underrated young pass rushers in the league. Burns did have his fifth-year option exercised by the Stinking Panthers so Joe isn’t sure if this would be a drag on a potential trade.
So yeah, if the Bucs are really serious about winning it all this year, Carolina has players that could really help.
The trade deadline is exactly three weeks from today, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.
Would the Stinking Panthers be willing to trade players to a division foe? That’s another question.
October 11th, 2022 at 4:44 am
Personally I’d pass on McCaffrey & even DJ Moore. Both quite good but VERY expensive for what you get. McCaffrey is oft-injured & we have a stable of those already. Moore’s numbers have been going downhill every year (he’s a 3rd or 4th receiver at best, and we already have Gage for that).
Derrick Brown (DT) and Brian Burns (DE) are both outstanding young players who the Panthers will probably try to hang onto & build around. Still … you never know.
o Derrick Brown (DT): 6’5″ & 320 lbs drafted in 1st Rnd of 2020 (still has rest of 2022 plus 2023 with 2024 5th year option). Never missed a game (16-16-5) & seems to be quite good on the interior (5 sacks, 22 QB Hits, 17 TFLs, 56 solo & 36 assist tackles). Contract is for $23.6 mil over 4 yrs ($5.9 mil average per year) plus his 5th year option. Seems like the kind of player Panthers will want to build around going forward, but hey, never know if you don’t ask. THIS is where we urgently need help. Go for it JL.
o Brian Burns (DE): 6’5″ & 250 lbs drafted in 1st Rnd of 2019 (still has rest of 2022 plus 2023 5th year option). Has only missed 1 game in 4 years (16-15-17-5)& is an outstanding DE in the mold of JPP IMO (29.5 sacks, 61 QB Hits, 32 TFLs, 99 solo & 55 assist tackles). Contract is for $13.5 mil over 4 yrs ($3.9 mil average per year) plus his 5th year option. Panthers may very well part with him (last year of his contract), but he’ll be super expensive. Doubt Bucs can afford a contract like he’ll be looking for going forward, but again, never hurts to ask.
October 11th, 2022 at 4:54 am
Defense rules… you always break things down with a great analytical mind
October 11th, 2022 at 5:25 am
Great job, D.R.
October 11th, 2022 at 6:34 am
Remember when we thought Brady was gone and folks were talking up Baker Mayfield?
October 11th, 2022 at 6:39 am
Go get Derrick Brown. Legit NFL DT. Played on the same defense at Auburn as Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, KJ Britt.
October 11th, 2022 at 7:24 am
No need for a RB or WR any help on Dline is a bonus. They got any O guards for sale?
October 11th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Defense Rules, I’m sure Licht has been sniffing around. If Carolina is willing to part with Brown or Burns for a reasonable price, I’d go for it. I agree that we don’t need to dip into CAP money for another RB or WR, even though McCaffrey is a hell of a player. I think our focus should be on the O-line and ways to improve our running game, as well as on the D-line and ways to improve our run defense. I see those as the two glaring weak spots on the team.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:03 am
McCaffery is always hurt, no thanks. Brown or Burns would be Ok at the right price, but I don’t see it happening this year. If anything with the firing of Rhule, Tepper is trying to save the season.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:08 am
I’m calling about Derrick Brown this morning if there’s a chance to pry him away. Still on a rookie contract and just hitting his stride. The Hicks signing has been a disaster and if we can shore up the middle of the defense we’re in trouble.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:14 am
Dam Joe, you just threw the only WR on our team to play in every game under the BUS.
I will apologize for you, THANK YOU Gage for being the only WR to play in every game for us so far this season.
While your health for this next game may be in question. Thank you for not missing any to this point.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:17 am
Go get Burns and Brown, both. Why not. We have no DL at the moment. Reality, though, is the Panthies won’t want to trade their guys in the division, so we are just fantasizing here.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Trade Hicks and a 1st round pick for Derrick Brown….2 problems solved 😉
October 11th, 2022 at 8:52 am
I don’t see them trading their young core. Trade Burns? Wouldn’t make sense even in a rebuild, because he’s the kind of young core player you build around. Plus if you want to hire a good coach having some good players on the roster helps. I think older players beware, and McCaff certainly they’d look to trade. But dream on about trading for Burns.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:21 am
BS….let Carolina trade all their good players out of the division….and, why would Carolina trade to us.
We don’t need to be giving up top draft picks for any players right now…..
October 11th, 2022 at 10:01 am
The position groups needing the most help are OL and DL.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:42 am
D line O line from Carolina.
Bucs need to get stronger in the trenches. After that, WR
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 11th, 2022 at 11:06 am
No way they get rid of Brown or Burns.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:12 am
I live in Charlotte, and I keep a close eye out on the panthers. DJ Moore would thrive with the Bucs. His numbers went down because he had no QB. Put him anywhere else and he will ball.
B. Burns, he isn’t going nowhere. It would take a ransom for them to trade him to the bucs.
Brown is on his way to being called a bust. His name is on the radio every morning. Fans can’t stand him. I guess its because of the spot he was taken at.
Fans are hoping Sean Payton is the next coach. But will the Saints really trade his rights to the Panthers?? I doubt it.
go bucs
October 11th, 2022 at 11:20 am
We could use another veteran DL and an OL. Those are truly our biggest needs.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Hell yeah, gimme Derrick Brown and put him right next to Vea.
Run defense issues resolved. Kid is definitely imposing..
I’d take Brian Burns as well but he’s gonna be quite costly here soon…:
October 11th, 2022 at 1:05 pm
There’s no way the Panthers would trade anyone young or valuable to the Bucs – because if they were young or valuable, teams in other divisions would also want them and would pay the same as the Bucs for them.
DJ Moore would be interesting, for the simple fact he’s healthy, but he’s owed $20m next year. So the Bucs would be cutting him, or giving him some amazing deal that pushes his money down the line a bit. But with so much money already tied up at WR already, I don’t see how they’d give up much value to get a guy that is a half season rental. The NFL isn’t the NHL, and another team might be willing to give up some good value to get a guy who has multiple years left on a deal.
Now, if the Bucs did follow in the footsteps of the Lightning and give up a 1st rounder for a half-season rental and it worked out, and the Bucs won a SB, I think the Bucs would be setting a new trend for the NFL. But teams are much too guarded about their lottery tickets to give them up for known quantities.
October 11th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
we could trade “the mouth White” for Brown … 2 problems solved .
October 11th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
Hell no to McCaffrey. He’s already blown his wad at only 26 years old and is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t pay runnng backs a lot of loot. They’d have to give me a number one and a two just to take on his contract. Moore is an ok receiver, but his touchdown production sucks and he’s vastly overpaid at 15+ million per year. I’d pretty much give the panthers next years draft for Burns since Licht has been terrible at drafting edge rushers. Brown hasn’t done much, but I’d still give them a 4th round pick just based on his potential.
October 11th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Agree with DR 100%!
Would LOVE Burns or Brown.
The offensive guys would be nice to have, but ultimately too costly for an area that isn’t a big enough need, even with our current WR injuries.
October 11th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Tepper may need some money because he still owes Ruhle 40 Million Dollars!
The ONLY way out of it is if Ruhle gets another job before the 40 million is payed out.
IOW, Ruhle can sit on his butt, and collect 40 million dollars from Tepper!
Do not bet on Ruhle coaching anywhere until he collects that 40 million he is owed.
October 11th, 2022 at 8:01 pm
Why would the Panthers do this? These moves would only set them back even farther.