Panthers Extend Diggs Contract

by Jaxon on Mar 4, 2009 1:00 PM EST Comment 20 comments

In another salary cap move the Panthers extended the contract of LB Na'il Diggs through 2014 like they recently did with DT's Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu.

He likely received some guaranteed money to be prorated over the life of the new contract and thus provide salary cap relief. His '09 base salary dropped by $725,00 from $1.65million to $925,000, and went down from $2million in 2010 to $855,000.

So it looks like neither Landon Johnson or Dan Conner will be given a free pass to the starting line-up. Diggs has held off challengers the past 2 off-seasons and I'm betting he does it again one more year.

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Na'il Diggs has the advantage.

John Fox always gives the veteran an extra boost when it comes to competition. That’s just how he is. I’m betting that Dan Conner knocks him out of the starting position next year or the year after next, but for now Diggs will hold the position because he’s been with the Panthers for so long. He’s not a slouch either, he’s got game.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Mar 4, 2009 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Na’il Diggs will get the starting spot this year and most likely will have the LB spot until he retires. I would even guess that if Dan Connor outperformed Diggs (which is hard to do) in TC, Diggs would still get the start. I love John Fox as a coach but he favors veterans a little bit much in my opinion.

I read the article earlier and was very curious as to how Tyler Brayton reached escalators in his contract, since he did not exactly tear it up this year and it turns out they were playing time bonuses and that makes sense.

by bengoodfella on Mar 4, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brayton definitely got playing time

He can’t complain there.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 4, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know

Brayton got playing time, I think he performed decently though I would like to see him as the 3rd DE and not a starter but you can’t always get what you want.

I know Diggs keeps beating players out for the OLB spot but I can’t help but wish Dan Connor could step up and take it away, simply because he is younger and I think his ceiling is higher. I hope Fox gives him a true shot to do this.

by bengoodfella on Mar 4, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This should help with perspective on Brayton

Houston just gave big $$$ for DE Smith who had 3 1/2 sacks last season and 14 1/2 over 5 year career. That averages out to be a little less than 3 sacks a year. Brayton had 4 1/2 sacks last season in his first time since his rookie season playing the whole season at his natural spot of DE.

"The Texans made their first big splash in free agency, signing former Cardinals UFA DE Antonio Smith to a five-year, $35 million contract Saturday, with $12.5 million guaranteed.

Having released DLE Anthony Weaver earlier in the week, the Texans needed a proven pass rusher to man the DE position opposite DRE Mario Williams.

Unlike Weaver, who had only one sack in three seasons in Houston, Smith had 3½ sacks last season playing left end and has 14½ over his five-year career.“"
”http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/AFC/AFC+South/Houston/Features/2009/warner022809.htm" target="_blank">http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/AFC/AFC+South/Houston/Features/2009/warner022809.htm

Also, Brayton reached esscalators by how many games he played and started.

by meanoreno on Mar 4, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great point

by LittleKing on Mar 5, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I am not sure what perspective you want to give on Brayton but I am not accepting of a full time DE with 4.5 sacks. That number is too low for me. I am not saying Brayton stinks, I am just saying I want more production from that position. I would rather not compare anything the Panthers do to the Texans because the Texans are not exactly a model organization.

Just because the Texans felt the need to pay a lot for that amount of production doesn’t mean I am fine with Brayton making less money and giving just as much production as a full time starter. I would rather see him as a 3rd DE or at least up that sack total this year, that’s all. The Panthers are not the Texans, they just want to make the playoffs before the end of this decade. The Panthers want to win a Super Bowl and I don’t know if that is possible with a defensive scheme that doesn’t blitz a lot and one DE with only 4.5 sacks.

That doesn’t even count whatever is going to happen with the Peppers situation. If he leaves we need to find a way to get a pass rush and 4.5 sacks from a starter won’t get the job done. Maybe he will have more sacks this year and it could happen but I am not going to feel thankful for Brayton as a starter based on the Texans signing a guy with a total of 14.5 sacks in his career. I just like him as a 3rd DE rather than full time starter.

by bengoodfella on Mar 5, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree

with 4.5 sacks if Brayton played DT. I know there are rumors the Panthers may try to go with smaller, faster DT and I think he would fit that well. Then I could handle 4.5 sacks but this opens up a whole new problem for me in that I like having fat guys who can keep blockers off Jon Beason and Brayton does not fill that role…of course there is always Kemo.

by bengoodfella on Mar 5, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not surprised

…that you failed to gain any kind of perpective from my previous post. The vast majority os starting DEs in the NFL have yearly sack totals compared to what Brayton posted. Unlike you, Houston was aware of this fact because they make their living off NFL football and decided to pay what they did for Antonio Smith. DEs that average 10 sacks a season like Peppers are rare in the NFL and don’t come around too often. This is why the Panthers tagged Peppers and is willing to pay him over 16 million for one season.

The Panthers were a fortunate team last season to have had the starting DEs like they had. Between Peppers and Brayton they combined for 19 sacks total. That makes them one of the better pair of DEs in the league, even though Peppers made up the majority of their combined sacks. A team is fortunate to have one DE player like Peppers, to be asking for both starting DEs to be like Peppers is just unrealistic.

Almost every team that I could think of that have an elite DE have the opposite DE spot filled by a player no better than Brayton. Except for the Giants, they are the exception, that’s why they probably have the best DL. With salary caps, teams can’t afford the salary of two elite DEs. The Giants managed this by drafting really well and then getting them developed realatively quickly, but as soon as their contracts are up, they won’t be able to afford to keep all of them.

Elite DEs & Their Counterparts
Dwight Freeney – DE Raheem Brock who had 3.5 sacks last season.
Mario Williams – DE Anthony Weaver who had 0 sacks last season.
Jared Allen – DE Ray Edwards who had 5 sacks last season.
Aaron Kampman – DE Mike Montgomery who had 2.5 sacks last season.
John Abraham – DE Jamaal Anderson who had 2 sacks last season.
Kyle Vaden Bosch – DE Jevon Kearse who had 3.5 sacks last season.

Even some top drafted DEs didn’t do much better than Brayton.
DE Will Smith – had 3 sacks last season. The Sainst other starting DE is Bobby McCray who had 6 sacks last season. The Bucs top draft choice in 2007 in Gaines Adams had 6.5 sacks last season. The Bucs other starting DE in Kevin Carter had 4 sacks. The Rams DE Chris Long had 4 sacks last season with their other DE in Leonard Little getting 6 sacks.

Just because Peppers is an elite DE that averages 10 sacks a season, it doesn’t mean that Brayton isn’t starting material because he doesn’t average the same. Just the way that Brayton showed this last season that he is solid against the run and fair against the pass, he would more than double his pay this season if he was a FA. This was an excellent pick up by the Panthers. Also, with more time playing at his natural spot, I expect Brayton’s yearly sack total to be going up. Last season was his first season since his rookie season where he played the whole time at DE.

If Peppers ends up staying with the Panthers than they have their starting DEs. Like I said, to expect both starting DEs to be as good as Peppers is unreasonable. If Peppers gets traded, the Panthers are going to have to try and translate the picks coming from him into the best DE they could get to replace him, but Brayton is doing a fine job where he’s at.

by meanoreno on Mar 5, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for not being surprised

I am always happy to learn from others ability to be condescending. I never asked for both DEs to be like Peppers and you threw in the Giants very briefly as the outlier for having two good DEs and that is who I would like for the Panthers to be similar to. The Giants have an elite defensive line and the way the Panthers play defense requires an elite D-Line to be successful. I know you are aware the Panthers don’t blitz that much and rely on their front four to get pressure on the quarterback so they need a strong front four.

I didn’t say Tyler Brayton sucks or is not going to improve, I said if he is going to get 4.5 sacks a year, I would rather have him as a backup than a starter. Brayton moved around a lot in Oakland so that is a wonderful excuse we can use for him. If he/when he improves this year, I will change my mind, I am just saying with Peppers potentially leaving, 4.5 sacks is not going to get it done on the other side. If Peppers goes in a trade, to be successful on defense we are going to need to find sacks somewhere and I am not sure if Brayton is that guy who brings them.

I never compared Brayton to Peppers or said Brayton should be as good as Peppers. I was just saying assuming he contributes 4.5 sacks again, I am not sure how I feel about him starting. Clearly you disagree but with the odds being good Peppers is not on the team next year and, like you said, there not being a lot of 10 sack guys out there 4.5 sacks doesn’t get it done for me. I wish you could see what I was saying and not get so worked up over thinking I expect the Panthers to have two Peppers on each side of the defensive line.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice research Meanoreno

Point well made. If Peppers does stay which more and more it is looking that way I wonder if he will be giving his best effort. He couldn’t possibly be motivated to play for Carolina….

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 6, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I give up

Brayton is awesome. So should we expect another 2.5 sack season from Peppers or will he break double digits? I am fine with Brayton and 4.5 sacks with Peppers actually here and contributing, but I think he is gone.

Brayton is absolutely find as a starter for now, but in October when everyone is complaining about having no pass rush on a Johnson/Kemo/Lewis/Brayton line (which is assuming no FA or draft moves), please remember I had concerns.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't give up Ben

I think we are all actually on the same page with this. We certainly want more from Brayton but the original premise was “Did he outperform his contract?” We paid him $1.8M last season I think. Not a lot really so 4.5 sacks might be a bargain compared to what we paid him.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 6, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I still give up

I think he may be right. Maybe he was a bargain but the Texans paid a heck of a lot of money for Antonio Smith considering how many sacks he had last year.

I just want better DE’s if/when Peppers leaves. I just don’t want to be stuck with no pass rush.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I skipped the long posts (for now)

but I think we all agree that if/when peppers leaves want a great replacement.

by LittleKing on Mar 6, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably a good idea. I just read meanoreno’s previous posts about Dwayne Jarrett and I think he and I are in total agreement about the passing game. We are going to be BFF on that issue.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Truce bengoodfella

I’m really not trying to argue with you. We just had a difference of opinion. I understand that you’re concerned with Brayton’s 4.5 sacks. It would concern me too if that’s all that both DEs could get, but while Peppers is still on the team that’s not the case. If/when Peppers leaves, that’s when they will neeed to find a good pass rushing DE to replace him.

Right now, with Peppers still on the team I think they need depth at DT & DE for rotation purposes, more than trying to replace Brayton as a starter. I do realize they now need OL depth too. IMO, trying to replace Brayton as a starter would be a luxury rather than a necessity. I also believe Hilee Taylor will become a good pass rushing DE. They need to find a good pass rushing DT to come in for Kemo on obvious passing downs and another good run stuffing DT so a team like the Giants can’t do what they did when Kemo gets injured. If the Panthers were to take care of all their imediate needs, then had the extra draft picks or $$$ for FA pick ups, and now were seeking to upgrade Brayton’s spot (LDE), then I would say “great”. Even though I think Brayton is a solid starter because he’s good against the run too, I’m always for the Panthers starting better players. I just think at the moment they have more pressing needs. Hope there are no hard feelings, I didn’t attend to create any and I don’t hold any myself. Take care!

by meanoreno on Mar 6, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

We are both Panthers fans so we want the same things. Your opinion was pretty strong and persuasive, I think I can handle Brayton’s sack total (because I think it will go up) the next year if we have Peppers but if we don’t, I will be nervous. I am paranoid because I know the Panthers love to try and get pressure with four guys and I am afraid we won’t get that pressure and every game will be like the last 8 games of this year. I think I am still scarred by the Cardinals game.

Replacing Brayton is a luxury, I have to agree with that in retrospect. I think you are right when I look at it that way, that if he is the 3rd DE then we have to find someone to replace him and that is not an immediate need right now. If Peppers stays then I want some more depth there but even if Peppers goes there is no way we would be able to replace Brayton and get the depth at DT and OL that we need.

Yeah, I would like to find a DT that can both run stuff and pass rush but every team wants that. I actually feel good a/b Taylor in Meeks scheme, it seems like he fits it well and I think we will be able to find a DT that can clog the middle in case Kemo gets hurt again. I actually like it when Brayton moves to DT on passing downs and that really improves the pass rush, so he could in essence be a passing rushing DT on 3rd down. If we trade Peppers, I think the picks need to be used to replace the interior of the D-line and provide O-line depth.

I don’t think we should really upgrade the LDE spot with Brayton, we have other things to take care. Absolutely no hard feelings, I am just worried about no pass rush, which won’t happen. We are both Panthers fans and I am glad we are so dedicated to care a lot.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Jaxon

If Peppers does end up staying, I’d be surprised if he didn’t give it his all. He would have too much to lose, by either holding out or by not playing hard. If he held out, not only would he lose over 16 million, but he would also lower his value considerably. At the end of next season he would be a FA again, but this time he would be 30 years old that either hasn’t played in a year, or whose last playing season was lousy.

by meanoreno on Mar 6, 2009 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I was afraid Peppers would dog it but if he does that he is only going to lower his market value when he becomes a free agent. I can’t see him sitting out the entire year, that would almost seem like career suicide to me, simply because he is in his prime right now.

If the Panthers are going to trade him, I hope they get good value for him and trade him soon. I just don’t want this to drag out forever.

by bengoodfella on Mar 6, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs