It’s officially 2020, a year that is set to bring a lot of change to the Panthers. While a new head coach may be the biggest decision for the organization this year, the team is also set up to make some major moves concerning who is on the field next season.
Fourteen players will become unrestricted free agents in 2020, including seven defensive starters. An unrestricted free agent is able to sign with any team once the league year starts March 18.
Who are those players? And should the Panthers bring them back for a 2020 season that will be high on expectations? Here’s a look at every free agent’s situation and who Carolina should focus on bringing back.
High priority
Carolina Panthers cornerback James Bradberry runs into the end zone to celebrate his interception of a pass by. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback James Winston during action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England on Sunday, October 13, 2019. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 37-26. Jeff Siner jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
CB James Bradberry
Experience: 26 years old, four years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 3 INT, 12 PD, 65 tackles.
Previous contract: 4 years, $3.96M.*
Whatever direction the Panthers go with Bradberry will be one of the most important decisions they make this offseason. The team could place the franchise tag on him for about $16 million, and things may likely be heading in that direction as negotiations have stalled. After a career-high three interceptions and an consistent impressive showings against some of the NFL’s best receivers (all four NFC Pro Bowl wide receivers came from the South), Bradberry should be a key part of this defense for the future.
*All contract numbers are per spotrac.com.
S Tre Boston
Experience: 27 years old, six years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 3 interceptions, 11 PD, 68 tackles.
Previous contract: 1 year, $2.1 million.
Boston was signed to a one-year deal during training camp that brought the veteran safety back to Carolina. He said he would be happy to return next year, but that he has proven that he deserves to be paid more. And he has. Boston will be looking for more than the Panthers may want to pay him, but if they can bring him back on a deal that makes sense, they should. Despite missing 13 tackles this season (per Pro Football Focus), he still finished fourth on the team in tackles. He was also literally the only player to have a takeaway over the second half of the season. He has proven he can be a reliable and effective safety.
“I know I’ve put up the stats each and every year. It’s up to them, we’ll see what the narrative is spun on it this year. I feel like I’ve done everything I need to do to prove myself, I’ve been on these prove it deals every year. What more is there to prove,” Boston said.
“We’re in a group message already about being about together where we go because we all want to win a championship, we all want to be successful and we know we can have it here if we all get the numbers right and get the numbers going back healthy.”
Addison’s time in Carolina may be coming to an end — he was given the honor of pounding the drum before the team’s final regular-season game — but the Panthers would do well to try and keep him. The veteran led the team in sacks once again, as he has done for the last four years, with 9.5 in 2019 and has been a strong presence on the line. He is 11th in the NFL in sacks since 2016 (39). At 32, the Panthers may have a cheaper, younger option, but Addison has been the Panthers’ most consistent pass rusher over the last few years. His production would be a necessity to replace if he moves on.
DT Gerald McCoy
Experience: 31 years old, 10 years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 5 sacks, 37 tackles, 7 TFL, 13 QBH.
Previous contract: 1 year, $8M.
A major part of the reason McCoy came to Carolina was to play under Rivera. The veteran, who was a team captain this year, may not be inclined to play on another one-year deal. While players were cleaning out their lockers Monday, McCoy said he would consider the Panthers in free agency, but that many factors, such as the quarterback and head coach, will impact his interest
“I’m going to weigh all my options. Coming back here is definitely an option,” McCoy said. “You just got to weigh all your options, there are a lot of different variables go into making that decision: coaching, players, the health of your quarterback, all that jazz.”
At almost 32 years old, McCoy is unlikely to want to be on a team that is rebuilding, but if the Panthers were to bring quarterback Cam Newton back, there’s a greater chance that he would be interested in returning. Keeping McCoy in Carolina should be another priority.
EDGE Bruce Irvin
Experience: 32 years old, eight years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 8.5 sacks, 36 tackles, 8 TFL, 16 QBH.
Previous contract: 1 year, $4M.
Irvin’s time in Carolina may have come to an end. After signing a one-year deal to join the team’s new defensive scheme, Irvin had a good season, finishing with 8.5 sacks. His return will likely depend upon who the defensive coordinator is, seeing as the Panthers are only considering head coaches with offensive backgrounds, and what scheme they run. Part of the appeal of Carolina for Irvin was playing under Ron Rivera and Eric Washington. He may also receive more money elsewhere.
CB Ross Cockrell
Experience: 28 years old, six years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 14 games, 2 INT, 8 PD, 62 tackles.
Previous contract: 2 years, $6.6M.
Cockrell is another player the Panthers should bring back if they can. Not only is he a strong veteran presence, but he has proven this year how versatile he can be after missing the entire 2018 season due to injury. In 2019, he showed that he can fill in all over the defensive backfield. Re-signing the 28-year old would be a big help to the defense on and off the field.
Carolina Panthers offensive guard Greg Van Roten, formerly an undrafted free agent, was the team’s only offensive player to play 100 percent of the snaps in 2018. Jeff Siner jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
G Greg Van Roten
Experience: 29 years old, five years in the NFL.
Previous contract: 2 years, $1.66M.
Van Roten played well this season before going on injured reserve after Week 12. His presence was missed, he allowed the fewest hurries and pressures of any of the team’s starting offensive lineman by a significant margin, according to Pro Football Focus. He also was consistent. Prior to his injury, he was the only Panther to play 100 percent of snaps dating back to 2018. There’s a chance the team brings him back for another season, but depending on his cost, they may draft a player to fill his spot or reshuffle the line, such as moving Dennis Daley to left guard.
It would be surprising if Butler is back next year. After the team declined his fifth-year option coming into the year, he had his best season to date. But changes are coming to the defensive line. Butler’s actions in the Colts loss (getting ejected for punching the wrong player and then putting up his middle finger to a booing crowd) may have sealed his fate.
DT Kyle Love
Experience: 33 years old, 10 years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 15 games, 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QBH.
Previous contract: 1 year, $1.35M.
Love showed glimpses of why the Panthers brought him in for the 2019 season, but at 33, he is less likely to be apart of a defensive line that will need to be refreshed in 2020. He could be brought in on another cheap one-year deal as Carolina has a history of doing (and as evidenced by the contracts on this list).
NT Stacy McGee
Experience: 29 years old, seven years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 4 games, 0.5 sacks, 2 tackles, 1 QBH.
Previous contract: 1 year, $805,000.
McGee was signed midseason because of an injury to Dontari Poe. He played well in a fill-in spot and could be a player the team returns to if it needs stability or deals with more injuries going forward.
DE Wes Horton
Experience: 30 years old, seven years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 6 games, 4 tackles.
Previous contract: 1 year, $805,000 contract.
Horton only rejoined the team in November due to injuries after spending six seasons in Carolina. He played limited snaps.
CB Javien Elliott
Experience: 26 years old, four years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 1 INT, 2 PD, 37 tackles (special teams player as well).
Previous contract: 1 year, $720,000.
Elliott played well in the nickel spot in 2019. He could be a good piece for the Panthers to bring back for a cheap price.
WR Chris Hogan
Experience: 32 years old, eight years in the NFL.
2019 stats: 7 games, 8 receptions, 67 yards, 0 TDs (also helped on punt returns).
Previous contract: 1 year, $1.45M.
Hogan spent much of 2019 on injured reserved with a left-knee injury, but was brought into action late, thanks in part to the concussion DJ Moore suffered in Week 16. The veteran could be a good player for the team to bring back on another one-year deal, especially if the plan is to start a young quarterback. However, even when Hogan returned from injury, he didn’t play much of a role.
G Daryl Williams
Experience: 27 years old, five years in the NFL.
Previous contract: 1 year, $6M contract.
Williams seems unlikely to return to Carolina in 2020. He gave up the most sacks of any Panthers offensive lineman (12 with the next closest player, Daley, allowed seven) and struggled throughout the season after returning from a knee injury in 2018. Offensive line is one of the most important areas for the team to improve this offseason and Williams had a tough year.
Other free agent notes:
DT Dontari Poe and WR Jarius Wright both could become unrestricted free agents if their team options are not picked up.
T Dillon Gordon and WR DeAndrew White are both restricted free agents, which means they have three accrued seasons and the Panthers have the right to match any offer made by another team.
The Panthers have eight exclusive rights free agents, who have two or fewer accrued seasons, including Kyle Allen. The Panthers either gives these players a contract or they become free agents. The full list includes Allen, TE Marcus Baugh, RB Reggie Bonnafon, T Brandon Greene, S Cole Luke, DE Efe Obada, G Kitt O’Brien and K Joey Slye.
This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
Alaina covers the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. Before coming to Charlotte, she worked at The Dallas Morning News and The NFL Today on CBS.Support my work with a digital subscription
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