Brian Answers: Gauging the effect of the first wave of free agency

Brian Answers: Gauging the effect of the first wave of free agency
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Bringing you part two of this week’s fan mailbag!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We were a little lighter on the questions this week, mostly because the news came POURING IN for free agency signings. I’m personally fine with that, I really enjoy being able to participate and be excited about free agency. So, let’s dive into this week’s questions.

@WTMealey: Our defense with the additions is now

A. a little better but still near the bottom unless we draft some studs

B. Top 25 with potential to be to 20 or better after draft

C. Definitely top 20 with potential to be to 15 or better after draft

D. Top 15 already and we’re playoff bound

I’m comfortable with answer B at this point, with the potential to be a C depending on how all these pieces gel together. Remember, while all of these guys they added on the defensive line should make it better, they haven’t played together. Basically all of the starters aside from Derrick Brown and probably one of the edge players will all be new to the scheme. So I’m going the healthy skeptic route until we see some Offseason activities.

@WTMealey: another question

How do other teams moves change how you see the draft going. Is there someone who is more or less likely to fall to us now that the teams ahead of us have filled some needs?

I think the offensive weapons like wide receivers in the draft are going to be more coveted. Many of the free agents got paid simply because the cap went up, but WRs were already getting huge contracts for the upper tier players. I think WRs will be more widely coveted now than we previously thought in the Draft, personally.

DIESEL009: I still think (hope) we pull off a trade for Garrett Wilson but I doubt it after Fields signing, I’m not against kicking the tires on Kupp.

But as far a WRs through the draft, Jaylin Noel should be a Panther.

What additions to the offense are you expecting? (FA and draft)

Wide receiver should absolutely be a priority somewhere, whether its in FA, or SOMEWHERE in the Draft. I’d also expect another move at the tight end position. The Panthers seem to be standing pat with Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders so far, which leads me to believe they’ll make a move there too. Maybe not Tyler Warren, but there are some other talents in the Draft to be had.

ericbuck: What are you doing to celebrate the Panthers actually acquiring an actual, real life nose tackle?

Considering buying a Derrick Brown jersey. I can’t wait to see him not be the focal point of the offensive blocking schemes every play.

**GooseCreek: Early on I put out a prospect of a trade between Carolina and San Francisco of their respective first and second round picks (#8 + #57 & #11 + #43). The...