Along comes Salley

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with fourth-round draft pick Nate Salley.

Top pick DeAngelo Williams remains unsigned, but team officials planned to continue talks with his agent Thursday night

 

it's going to be a good ride this year

 

It's about freaking time. Shouldn't take this long to sign a 4th round backup safety.

 

agreed! It seems to me that he'll be facing an uphill battle to even make the final roster unless we keep more than 4 S's. He better not suck or he'll end up being a scrub in Houston or New Orleans in a couple of months

 

...Why the pessimism?

Salley started all those games for the Buckeyes, which is a pretty good team for sending guys to the NFL. Why are you counting him out? Hell, he could be the starter and play 10 years a la Minter. Don't quite understand the negativity.

 

FS is locked up with Minter. I'd be shocked if he actually beat out Shaun Williams for the SS position. Branch, maybe, but not Williams.

 

I seriously doubt he'll be good enough to start anytime soon or really given much of a look with that in mind right now. ST probably.

Doesn't that make everyone signed except Deangelo?

 

I think he'll make it over McAdam. I don't see that guy as much more than insurance for when Williams gets hurt, so we'll have a guy we can sign to be a backup. I'd be very surprised if Salley didn't make the team and find a niche.

My worry was more what he'll become, and I guess expecting a 4th round S to be a starter long term might be a lot anyway. But his positives are extreme to one side, and his speed's on the other end of that. His hands, too. I can't get that out of my mind, and unfairly I equate him to Damien Richardson. Hope we can get more out of him than that, and it's not his issue I wanted a higher rated safety earlier in the draft.

 

At the worst, I can see him as Hankton's long term replacement. Same size, but more explosive. I'd like him to be more than that, but he should make the team regardless. Granted, I was thinking a lot of the same about Emanuel, but Salley seems to have more of a mean streak that lends it's nicely to special teams. Plus, we have a need at safety this year. Emanuel had to compete against vets who have started in the league, while Nate is going against an average special teams player. If we end up with 4 CB's, and I assume we will, he will certainly make the team, even if we decide that McCadam has some value.

 

Yeah B&B I would love to see an effective replacement for Hankton too that does NOT use up a valuable roster spot. A ST captain who is also a decent backup safety would be a plus over a WR who averages just under 2 catches a year.
Magnus, I keep feeling like the only guy that we are going to miss (and we should have resigned) is Marlon McCree. I really thought he was a damn solid addition, and all things considered was an excellent pickup. Yeah, I guess our staff can’t actually be expecting McCadam to have the goods to contribute to that degree. However, he does have the McC thing going for him . .. and that’s really really crucial.)
I think it’s apparent now (even to me) that we are thinnest at safety. Minter is old, Williams and Branch are coming off injuries. Maybe Salleys agent sees a larger probability of Salley being forced into more playing time as a rook than any of us would be comfortable with. Let’s hope that ain’t the case.