Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! Another week down in this long offseason, but the discussions are ongoing with you guys, our community. Let’s dive right in with all your questions!
@WTMealey: What’s a tougher waiting period draft to training camp or training camp to week 1?
It used to be the NFL Draft to training camp when I was younger, but I think now its definitely training camp to week 1 of the regular season. During the dead zone
period after the NFL Draft, there’s not much to talk about short of roster projections and reviewing the previous season, and acquisitions during the off-season. There really isn’t a whole lot to think about during that time so I can focus on other aspects of life. I think once training camp starts happening, the anticipation for the regular season really starts to build as we fans are fed morsels of information to wet the appetite. The preseason doesn’t help either, because once you’ve been around the block enough, you know what you’re seeing in the preseason really has no bearing on the regular season short of the back end roster guys who might make the 53. So that’s my answer and I am sticking to it.
Carolinacloggy: Brian my man, you have the most Dutch last name i’ve ever heard! Keep pounding (regards from a Dutch fan)
I always enjoy the responses about my last name. Most people have either never seen my last name, or have met someone related to me. Yes, it is very Dutch. Welcome to CSR, friend!
Revshawn: Does Fanfest count as the start of the NFL season?
I think it certainly does, it is the starter as we really ramp up into “we’re almost there” time.
Mozzie11: Is the golden ago of qb’ing over? Brady, Manning, Rogers, et al giving way to a time of qb’s with flaws and very few HOF candidates. Mahommes is heading to the HOF but has been heading down hill over the last several years but might have some more good years. Allen just got voted by execs as the top qb but has not won anything of consequence yet. Jackson is an ex MVP but has a number of major flaws passing wise and sucks in the playoffs. Hurts – not so much. Mayes has had a promising start but there is a lot of time needed to see how he shakes out.
If you step back and look at it that the league has no/few true elite qb’s, does it change the way a team should approach team building?
I think the approach now needs to be more team focused than anything, at least for those teams drafting a QB to be “the guy”. Quarterbacks don’t come out as pro-ready as they did a decade ago, partially because of the way college offenses run now and also partially because QBs often shift to different colleges way more often now. I don’t think we’re done with having several elite caliber quarterbacks in the NFL, but I think most situations will require a little more development than they used to for a quarterback to cement himself as “elite”.
I think the big difference now is that you’re very rarely going to be able to just draft a quarterback high with a bad team and expect a quick turnaround. And teams need to plan for those growing pains over time.
Good_Ol_Boy: How old were you when you went in person to your first NFL game?
I would have been 13. Colts vs Chargers, December 26th 2004. My brother and I spent most of our younger years in Kentucky and Tennessee, so Peyton Manning was all the rage. We went and saw Manning break the touchdown pass record. This was before I had really gotten into football, but it was still quite a game to see with my parents. Great memory.
Robholland211: Do you expect TMac to break 1000 yards again this season? Or do you think the emergence of Coker cuts into that total and he falls short of 1000?
I do expect Tetairoa McMillan to break 1,000 yards again. Despite your individual opinion of Bryce Young, these two dudes have great chemistry, and Bryce has said he is comfortable throwing the ball to T Mac even when he isn’t open in the traditional sense. I do think Jalen Coker will eat into his targets, apparently their target share only had a 1% difference when Coker was healthy and on the field. But I think T Mac comfortable occupies that WR1 role, and he’s going to get his share in most games.
I went ahead and linked your question because it drummed up quite a nice discussion in the comments, and I encourage all readers to check it out. So I’m going to throw a curveball to the question and answer with someone not previously mentioned. As your resident wrestling fan, I don’t think you can go wrong with Brock Lesnar. Despite how you feel about professional wrestling, the dude was an absolute freak of an athlete. And he went on to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship after he took a break from professional wrestling, a combat sport but still very much adjacent rather than similar to professional wrestling. A decorated amateur wrestling champion who also happened to get a shot in the NFL. If you’re familiar with Brock, there’s not many scarier humans in the world than him.
bolshy: Bryce has improved each year and will very likely be better this year, even if it is incrementally. How close to his ceiling do you think he was last year? I’m thinking 70-80%.
I think it depends on where you view his ceiling. His ceiling could be much higher if he truly hones his fundamentals as a thrower, and gets a bit more aggressive down the field consistently. But I think 70% is about right.
TVRaider: What’s your prediction for the Panthers record in 2026?
I think 9-7 would be a success considering their first place schedule from last years divisional results. Anything less than 8 wins should be considered a disappointment after 2025 where they went 8-9.
GooseCreek: Will Grier’s retirement left an opening on the Panther’s training camp roster. Do you foresee them bringing in one of the players they are said to be eyeing to fill the vacancy? If so, who do you think is most likely to be brought in, DaQuon Jones or Brady Christiansen?
I think if the Panthers wanted to bring in someone of that caliber at this juncture, they have the room to make a move and let someone else go. So I don’t think Will Grier’s decision will prompt them to go that route. I assume they will be finding the 4th QB for camp because you need arms to throw the ball during practice. But that wouldn’t preclude them from bringing either of those guys in or someone else really whenever they want. They may not even fill the vacancy for a few weeks.
That’s all for this week, Panthers fans. Join us next week for another edition of the mailbag, and KEEP POUNDING!
