Hello CSR! Welcome to another edition of Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re getting into mock draft and free agency speculation season again, and coaches are getting hired every day. Let’s dive right into your burning questions from this week’s mailbag!
Hythloday: What do you think of the Falcons hiring Stefanski?
I actually think the hiring was solid from the standpoint of bringing along something different. They clearly want to put more of a focus on the offensive side of the ball, which makes sense given the investment in Michael Penix Jr a few seasons ago. Stefanski got a bad rap in Cleveland after a couple of very successful seasons by the Browns’ standards to start it all off, but between the disaster that was the Deshaun Watson trade cascaded by many other blunders, I think them moving on and the Falcons picking him up makes sense. Of course, this is purely an objective take and we’ll have to see what direction the team goes in during the off-season to get a better grasp on things, but I didn’t have a negative opinion on the hire at all at first glance.
Bocktean2.0: If the 2023 NFL Draft flips Young and Stroud, is Young headed to Denver with the Texans as a betting favorite to go to a Super Bowl?
Very hard to say. I don’t know if their paths would be much different, but I don’t see Bryce Young at this stage being able to elevate that offense (or horrendous offensive line) enough to push them to the Super Bowl. I’d call it a push at best.
PantherBlueBlood: Do you think Evero gets hired? I like him as our DC although most on here don’t. I just don’t feel like he has not been given the proper personnel to flourish. He making something out of nothing imo. But, when I found out we get 2 third round compensatory picks and the way this team drafts, I wouldn’t hate that at all. The right LB, DT & DE additions in this draft plus FA signings could make a lot of coordinators successful with our current roster.
I’m currently in the very pro Ejiro Evero as defensive coordinator camp. I expect he will eventually get a head coaching job, whether or not its this off-season is a difficult thing to predict simply because there are so many potential candidates out there, many with actual head coaching experience. I think at the moment, he could end up with the Raiders having gone through two interviews already, but if that doesn’t work out I don’t know if he gets signed everywhere else. Which as I stated earlier, would absolutely be fine by me, I’d like to see another Offseason of building the talent on defense under his scheme. Everybody loves extra draft capital, but I don’t feel like I want to see it happen JUST because of the compensatory picks.
@WTMealey: I heard Morgan say they currently have 600+ guys on their big board or some type of evaluation. I assume that includes a buttload of UDFA prospects. What insider info do you have on the process from scout evaluation to a document/spreadsheet that is the guideline for the draft? How do they differentiate between BPA and BVA(Best Value Available)?
Spoiler: I do not have any insider information aside from following along with the draft process, listening to the interviews, and reading speculation and draft talk of experts in the field I respect. The only thing I can say is the Panthers definitely seem to have a type at certain positions, such as corner and EDGE, and they prioritize the trenches in this current iteration of the team. Beyond that, every prediction I make is an educated guess, even if I end up being right more than I would expect!
bolshy: We need help at almost every position on our team. I’m hoping this at least lets us go pure BPA in the draft. What position groups are strong and which are weak in the upcoming draft are which positions do you think we’ll target?
Middle/Inside LB seems to be pretty solid at the top and middle of the Draft, while EDGE seems to not be as deep. I’ll let your fellow draft enthusiasts sound off in the comments!
SpookyZ: With Moton at the end of his career and Icky getting hurt at the end of the season, is it feasible that we target Tackle in the first round, do we sign a free agent or is the answer on the roster? Also, what veteran WRs do you see as the most likely that we bring in?
The Panthers will definitely be signing someone in free agency, whether they bring back Yosh Nijman and target someone who can start when needed. I do think it is feasible they go for a first round talent at tackle, but I would hope that means they did a lot in free agency to get after some other positions. As far as veteran wide receivers go, I wouldn’t expect any big names to be signed. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker combined with their current batch of young wide receivers seemed to do well, I think they’ll grab a veteran with a more complimentary skill-set, but I don’t see them spending big at that position. Maybe a Greg Dortch or Scotty Miller?
Daddi-o: Do you think Canales will finally relinquish play calling duties and bring in an OC? I think it’s a big reason why the offensive play calling has been so up and down all season and/or lack in the game adjustments.
Absolutely not. The only reason he would is if his job is on the line, the Panthers are on fire, and they are looking for some kind of change of pace to save things. Dave Canales was hired to BE the offensive head coach who calls his own plays, that’s been the recent fad for NFL head coaching hires. He’s still developing, I don’t think handing off coaching calls to someone new would solve anything. If another year under his belt comes and it shows he shouldn’t be calling plays, maybe its possible in 2027. But I think at that point you’d be considering moving on entirely.
CasualFanAlso: If Evero gets a HC job, do the Panthers have coaching depth from which to choose an in house replacement?
If they go outside, do they look for someone who has been involved in a 3-4 scheme, or just pick a coordinator and let him implement his own scheme?
As SnarkyComet responded in the comments, current secondary coach Jonathan Cooley could be tabbed to fill the spot,
I’ve seen rumblings of him being considered for interviews outside of Carolina for a DC role. So the Panthers could certainly look to hire from within. Todd Wash (defensive line) was a defensive coordinator for the Jaguars from 2016-2020, and Peter Hansen (linebackers) was a defensive coordinator at UNLV in 2021 prior to making the NFL jump.
If they do go outside, I would assume it is someone who falls into that same Broncos/Rams coaching tree that Evero came from, where the scheme and concepts are likely very similar. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a unique scheme, but the transition would likely go much smoother to bring in someone who cut their teeth along those same lines.
Bull123: after watching games all weekend, including the game Monday, i am even more convinced that you win in the trenches….Hunt & Lewis were fantastic pick-ups for us…what is out there in FA that is realistic for us that will make a real impact?
There are some veteran EDGE players out there that could come in and help this rotation. Dre’Mont Jones, Arden Key, even familiar face Yetur Gross-Matos appear to be available. There will also be some safeties hitting the wire, but the higher end ones won’t be cheap. I’d keep your eye on the bargain bin signings for impact at most positions right now, but as we near closer to free agency and see who doesn’t get re-signed, the picture will be clearer.
GooseCreek: Boxers or Briefs?
I’ve definitely warmed to briefs as I’ve gotten older. And as the comments said, boxer briefs are my favorite.
dayneb12: There seems to be plenty of divide in opinions of Evero as DC. What are some pros and cons to keeping Evero around?
The obvious pros are continuity for the scheme and personnel, another season adding the personnel and developing the young guys inside of the scheme, and keeping that side of the ball basically off of Dave Canales’s plate for the most part. I don’t really have any major cons, I think Evero did a fine job with what he was given in 2025 and would expect another step forward in 2026. Maybe he can be a bit more aggressive with his blitzes and play calling with a more well rounded group.
aaroningreensboro: I honestly think there’s a chance Bryce breaks out into a top 10 QB next year. His poise under pressure is tip-top already. We have two WRs capable of starting for any team in the NFL, and if we start next season with 4 healthy O linemen + a reasonable excuse for a LT I feel like there’s a chance. My question is this:
Am I on crack?
Its certainly possible if Bryce Young takes the massive step forward we expected following the 2024 season. Unfortunately, inconsistency still plagues his game and that will always hold him back from entering that conversation. But, if he can lower the play to play volatility, eliminate the mistakes, and come out faster from the start on both a game and season standpoint, its possible. You aren’t on crack, you just might be more optimistic than many of us, which is okay!
KeepPounding88: I know we’re years away from this now, but if you had to take a random shot in the dark, which QB do you want and/or expect us to draft in 2027 to replace Bryce?
I don’t expect them to draft a replacement in 2027 unless the wheels really fall off next season. They could look to draft competition if they don’t do that this off-season, as far as a name goes, I don’t have one for you yet. College football quarterbacks seem to have a lot of variance year to year on where they are expected to be drafted.
e4*: For a PB&J, grape or strawberry?
I’m definitely a strawberry guy, as that’s one of my favorite fruits. Both are delicious though.
panthers2112: Which would you hate more. Denver getting another ring, or Sean Payton getting another ring?
I assume you might have meant “Patriots” instead of Denver, but I absolutely do not want Sean Payton getting another ring. Not this soon. Not like this. Even with the stench of the 2015 Super Bowl still hanging around, my passionate dislike for Payton definitely transcends the Broncos themselves, but if he wins a ring, that means they win. So no matter what you meant by your questions, its Sean Payton 100%.
Panthers75: Who is your prediction for cap casualty cuts this off-season?
A’Shawn Robinson and Bobby Brown could be cut for some cap relief, but it isn’t a lot. Guard Damien Lewis looks like someone they could let go, but I don’t think that makes sense considering the offensive line is a strength and is already going to the season short handed.
Brazilian Panther: IU CB Ponds to replace Chau, DJ Moore released by the Bears goes back to Charlotte to replace XL who gets shiped somewhere with some Bojangles, DM and DC trade for Max Crosby and makes all the right picks again in April… too much to ask or I’m just daydreaming Brian? Enlighten me.
I don’t expect the Panthers to move on from Chau Smith-Wade. They have a lot of faith in him and I felt he did very well for the role he played. DJ Moore coming home would be a delight, but he won’t be cheap and the Panthers seem very happy with what they have at wide receiver. In both instances I think they could still draft someone to add to CB and WR, but DJ Moore coming back would be expensive.
While as a fan I would love to see the Panthers go get Maxx Crosby, I think it will cost them and this team doesn’t seem to be in a “sell out for the playoffs” stage as of now. But the Draft should be fun and I expect them to be active in it once again. So to all your points, optimistic, but this is the time of year for it!
SnarkyComet: Are we going to have to make a costly move to truly upgrade at LB? I don’t think we’re going to luck into it like some teams do.
There just aren’t many young, high-caliber linebackers projected to hit free agency. And in most of the mock drafts I’ve run, we’re not landing a true impact LB in the first three rounds unless (a) someone falls in fantasy-land fashion (b) we trade up or (c) we reach.
But on the FA end, let’s say the Jags somehow let Devin Lloyd walk*. Are we comfortable overspending to bring him here? If we miss on some of those top LB FAs, do we try and bring Rozeboom back?
This is your annual reminder that Mock Drafts change a ton between now and April, and I think Carolina has a very real shot at landing a starter caliber linebacker in the Draft. But every year with Canales and Dan Morgan, the Panthers go into free agency clearly targeting a position or two to truly upgrade, and linebacker should be one of them this off-season. So I could see them signing a veteran, drafting one, and possibly signing Christian Rozeboom or another veteran depth presence to fill out what was clearly their thinnest position on defense.
That’s all this week, Panthers fans! Join me for another edition next week!
68.1 Defensive Grade (*7th)
(@4MR_Fetti) 
: NFL Network 
DB Corey Thornton – 73.3
S Tre'von Moehrig – 68.4
CB Jaycee Horn – 32.7 
(@PanthersAnalyst) 
