Panthers to Trade Jonathan Stewart?

[gpngc]

The Panthers just signed Mike Tolbert to a four-year deal. What team do you think will trade for Jonathan Stewart (DeAngelo Williams signed an awful megadeal last offseason)?

Stewart quietly was very impressive last season.

The Panthers OL was awful at run-blocking for some reason and he had to split time with Williams.

But he was every bit of the back that we all expected him to be last season in terms of power and breaking tackles.

And he far exceeded expectations as a third-down back in terms of receiving and especially as a pass protector. He CLEARLY worked very hard at that and actually turned into one of the best 3DBs in the league.

This move is curious because you traditionally don't trade a guy that valuable, coming off a career year, who has clearly worked hard to develop his game by working on his blocking and receiving.

Maybe he requested a trade? And now the Panthers signed Tolbert so they can follow through? That makes more sense than just trading your 3rd best offensive player. Maybe he wanted a shot to be a 3-down featured back and didn't like DWill's presence? That makes sense.

Or maybe the Panthers really just want three RBs that need the ball. Hm.

Just checked his stats.

He averaged 5.4 yards per carry, had 47 receptions, didn't lose a fumble, and scored 5 touchdowns despite Newton also scoring a million rushing TDs and Williams taking his carries.

Again, he was CLEARLY better than Williams and played 3rd downs over him.

And he's 24 years old. The injury history is concerning, but he's 100% healthy now coming off a healthy year AND he doesn't have as much wear-and-tear on his wheels because he missed so much time.

The more I think about it, the more I think this is an extremely curious move by Carolina and one that some team is going to be VERY happy to take advantage of.

Stewart will be a VERY significant acquisition for someone. Pick #25 might not even be too high for John Fox. I'd expect a bunch of teams to make offers...

He's valuable. But how valuable?

And any chance they keep all three? Mike Goodson had 0 touches last year as the third back...

Or maybe they can somehow get out of DWill's deal....?

But if they do indeed trade Stewart... where!?

[Nalej]

What's his contract look like? Is he in his last year? Or... ?

[BeerBaron]

2012 is the last year of his rookie deal, so whoever he's playing for next year will need to sign him to a long term deal. Carolina can't reasonably afford 2 RBs being paid top 5-10 money.

[Nalej]

Ah, well then take the Pats hat out of it then.
I saw "pass protection" and "receiving" and "3rd down back" and pictured BB (not ^^^) drooling

[TACKLE]

I've felt for a while that Stewart could be one of the top backs in the league if he ever got the full workload. He's really a complete package at RB and has a pretty special size/speed ratio. If it were me, I wouldn't have a problem giving up a mid 2nd for him though a 3rd is probably a more likely price.

[Jakey]

Steelers.

DO IT.

DO IT NOW!

[Nalej]

Send him to Denver now as Peyton's new toy

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Jakey

Steelers.

DO IT.

DO IT NOW!

But my Steelers fan friend says that Mendenhall is the best back in the league. They don't need Stewart.

[A Perfect Score]

Originally Posted by TACKLE

I've felt for a while that Stewart could be one of the top backs in the league if he ever got the full workload. He's really a complete package at RB and has a pretty special size/speed ratio. If it were me, I wouldn't have a problem giving up a mid 2nd for him though a 3rd is probably a more likely price.

This. Basically what I said in the Free Agency thread this morning as well. A conditional 3rd that escalates to a 2nd if he reaches certain incentives sounds about right.

[brat316]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

But my Steelers fan friend says that Mendenhall is the best back in the league. They don't need Stewart.

You should hit him with a steel beam. Remind him of that ACL injury and that he probably won't be back this season.

Hell ya the steelers should take Stewart...if we can make magic cap space.

[brat316]

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

This. Basically what I said in the Free Agency thread this morning as well. A conditional 3rd that escalates to a 2nd if he reaches certain incentives sounds about right.

That depends on what the Panthers are looking for, if they want to wait good trade, if they want picks now, which they probably would.

[FordFairlane]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

But my Steelers fan friend says that Mendenhall is the best back in the league. They don't need Stewart.

Your friend is ********. Mendenhall is not even a top ten back in the league and he is coming off an ACL tear. He most likely is out next year or at best on the PUP list and going to be a free agent in 2013.

[Matthew Jones]

Carolina should hold onto Jonathan Stewart. After this season, DeAngelo Williams will have no guaranteed money remaining on his deal and Stewart will be looking for a new contract. Split the carries this year, see who you like better, and move forwards with them. They can always tag-and-trade Stewart next year if DeAngelo plays well, or try and move DeAngelo if Stewart is superior. Cutting DeAngelo after the season would allow the Panthers to avoid paying him the 4-$22 or so that will be remaining on Williams' contract, which could then be put towards locking up Stewart.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

You should hit him with a steel beam. Remind him of that ACL injury and that he probably won't be back this season.

Hell ya the steelers should take Stewart...if we can make magic cap space.

You speak with logic, reason and common sense. Those things are outweighed by insane homerism. (I was mostly just making a joke...)

The fact that the Steelers are looking at rolling into 2012 with a banged up Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and maybe a rookie is hilarious to me.

Ben will have to throw 40 times a game again behind an o-line that I don't trust to protect him and he'll end up hurt again.

[gpngc]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

Carolina should hold onto Jonathan Stewart. After this season, DeAngelo Williams will have no guaranteed money remaining on his deal and Stewart will be looking for a new contract. Split the carries this year, see who you like better, and move forwards with them. They can always tag-and-trade Stewart next year if DeAngelo plays well, or try and move DeAngelo if Stewart is superior. Cutting DeAngelo after the season would allow the Panthers to avoid paying him the 4-$22 or so that will be remaining on Williams' contract, which could then be put towards locking up Stewart.

That sounds reasonable, but what the hell are they going to do this season? Unless Tolbert's willing to play FB, it's not going to work with three mouths to feed (four if you count Cam).

I suspect JStew asked for a trade. He knows he's going to be a FA after this season so he wants to get a chance to showcase his worth. He definitely didn't feel he was maximizing his value by sharing the carries with DWill.

[ShutDwn]

Originally Posted by gpngc

That sounds reasonable, but what the hell are they going to do this season? Unless Tolbert's willing to play FB, it's not going to work with three mouths to feed (four if you count Cam).

I suspect JStew asked for a trade. He knows he's going to be a FA after this season so he wants to get a chance to showcase his worth. He definitely didn't feel he was maximizing his value by sharing the carries with DWill.

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

I'm shocked, but a trade apparently isn't expected according to a Panthers reporter on twitter. A big part of this signing is that Tolbert is a decent good teams player which has been the biggest theme of the Panthers silent offseason. ESPN says Tolbert left $1M on the table to come to Panthers but I don't know anything else about the deal.

The only thing I really know is that Mike Goodson is gone.

[gpngc]

"Multiple team sources" tell the Charlotte Observer that Jonathan Stewart is "unlikely" to be traded despite the Panthers' addition of Mike Tolbert.
The Panthers will face a tough decision when Stewart enters 2013 free agency, but for now they're poised to keep him along with DeAngelo Williams and Tolbert. Tolbert will likely shoulder some of the load on passing downs, and cover kicks on special teams. Stewart and Williams will be the primary backs. The Panthers could consider cutting Williams and re-signing Stewart next offseason, although releasing DeAngelo would cause a roughly $5 million cap hit in 2013.
Source: Charlotte Observer
Mar 19 - 1:05 PM

I guess Tolbert will play primarily specials? His deal must be peanuts...

Oh well.

[BeerBaron]

The Panthers ****** that situation up so badly. I have no idea why they paid so much to DeAngelo to keep him when a 1-2 of Stewart and Goodson would have been more than adequate.

[RaiderNation]

Denver makes sense with Fox and Manning in town, Willis McGahee is old and Stewart could possibly Manning's best RB since Edgerrin James. A 2nd would be decent value for both sides, and Denver has the cap room to make this type of move.

[mightytitan9]

I went with Tampa, although I doubt htey'd trade him to a division rival I think it'd be agood fit

[Brown Leader]

I'm sure Clev's interested but he's always nicked up. Pass.

[ShutDwn]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

The Panthers ****** that situation up so badly. I have no idea why they paid so much to DeAngelo to keep him when a 1-2 of Stewart and Goodson would have been more than adequate.

I don't think they foresaw Cam being where he is. I think they believed DeAngelo would be carrying the ball a lot more. It's still way to big a contract, but I would bet on it being restructured next year. The Panthers do this all the time.

The thing about Mike Goodson is that he can't stop fumbling. He got into Rivera's doghouse in training camp early and helped himself by fumbling twice in the opening preseason game and then didn't get minutes till the last game. It's a fixable problem but I suspect there is more between them than just fumbles. Someone may fix him, but he won't get time when Williams and Stewart fumbled once all last year.

I also don't like weighting performances by players during horrible seasons for the team too heavily.

If they don't trade Stewart I wouldn't expect Tolbert to get many carries. He can offer a lot of versatility to the Panthers as a fullback and special teamer. I can't see Tolbert having any leverage in negotiations so I hope this contract is small.

[YotoJets007]

Stewart's value may be about 3rd -4th round compensatory pick for 2014 draft so that means Panthers should acquire any higher than 3rd round pick for 2012 draft.

I would love to have him for 3rd round pick if moving Stewart were a must. I still am perplexed about them signing Tolbert.

[LonghornsLegend]

Originally Posted by TACKLE

I've felt for a while that Stewart could be one of the top backs in the league if he ever got the full workload. He's really a complete package at RB and has a pretty special size/speed ratio. If it were me, I wouldn't have a problem giving up a mid 2nd for him though a 3rd is probably a more likely price.

I've thought this about him for a very long time. Stewart is a beast, and if it is only going to take a 2nd rd pick teams should be lining up to do it. Cincy anyone? Two 1st rd picks and Stewart with the 2nd? Mmmmm.

I wish Carolina wasn't so stupid. Let's just let this guy rot on the depth chart and keep giving everyone else carries and then trade him so they are looking for another RB again in a week.


NFL teams never cease to amaze me. They resigned Deangelo again for what? Signed Tolbert for what? J-Stew and Goodson was a good combo and a cheap one at that.


Someone is going to get a steal if they get him out of Carolina.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I really wonder what he gets on the open market. He could be our next Turner (but more versatile), who is also an FA.