More options at the top

———————————————————-

Let’s go lightning round to close it out for the weekend:

Hey Old Guy, two questions: 1) How many years out can a team trade draft picks? 2) I’m going to a couple of concerts this summer; both are 80’s era bands since that’s my groove. Is it OK to dress in full 80’s attire to attend? — Rich, Mt. Olive, NC

Teams can trade picks as many as three years ahead of time. The exception is the weekend of the draft, when they’d be allowed to go four years out. So ostensibly, on April 28, a team could trade its first-round pick in 2025.

And brother, if those parachute pants still fit you without somebody calling the cops, you wear those things loud and proud. Rock on.

Who is the front runner for the starting quarterback position? Scott Fitterer said the Panthers would add depth to that position, but we haven’t added anyone so can we infer we are drafting a QB? — Sreenivas, Apex, NC

Or trading for one. Or something. It’s Sam Darnold until it isn’t.

Will the NFL be kind enough to schedule a Thursday night game while the Presidents Cup is in town late September? Can we make this request, officially? — Jordan, Charlotte

Teams can ask the league for certain allowances on scheduling, but the Panthers didn’t ask to be sent on the road that week (as they have in the past to keep from conflicting with other events).

If you are looking for a vacation, Mokelumne Hill in the spring is California foothill heaven on earth. Haunted hotel room on me. — William, Mokelumne Hill, CA

Thanks, but that’s a nope. “Haunted” is not listed among my preferences on the Marriott app. I’ve got enough terror in my life and I ain’t looking to import any. I am intrigued by non-haunted Calaveras County though, as long as it’s not bring your own frog (BYOF).

Any chance of Steve Smith Sr. coming out of retirement? Dude still makes me want to ice up. — Michael, Wilmington, NC

Steve likes making that easy money in the media. But I would pay cash money (perhaps even my own) to see him come out of retirement, Vinny Testaverde-style, for one game. And if he did, I’d still like his chances of making a play, especially if somebody made him mad. Which, frankly, is the easiest thing in the world to do, and if someone didn’t offend him, he would invent the offense, as he has done many times in the past.

Also, all “any chance” questions still go to @PanthersBill.

With Stephon Gilmore still on the open market, what do you think the chances are they bring him back on board? I think we’d be lucky to have him. — Wanda, Deep Run, NC

Never met a Wanda who wasn’t trouble with a capital T, but you seem nice. I like the theory of having Gilmore around. He is wise. I wonder about the practical application, after bringing back Donte Jackson to pair with Jaycee Horn. Stephon will have options to join teams which are perhaps closer to Super Bowl contention, and that might matter more than being close to home. We’ll see; it depends on him.

Favorite way to eat veal? — @DarthWaya on Twitter

When it is paid for by another.

That’ll do it for me. Enjoy your egg salad sandwiches this weekend, and don’t forget to tip your waiters and waitresses.