Analysis: Panthers can make the offseason less complicated by paying safety Tre Boston
The Panthers have has two focal points on defense this offseason: Replacing retired linebacker Luke Kuechly, and determining how things will shake out with seven defensive starters hitting free agency.
Safety could be the defensive position that looks the most similar in 2020 to how it did in 2019, if the team is willing to pay Tre Boston more than the one-year, $2.1 million contract they signed him to during last year’s training camp.
During locker room cleanout day at the end of the season, Boston made it clear that he expects to be paid more.
“Not a little more. It’s time. I told y’all year after year, compare Tre Boston’s stats to the top-10 paid safeties and there’s no difference,” Boston said. “So what is stopping them from paying me the same? I’m going out there banged up just like the rest of ‘em. Numbers just like the rest of ‘em. It’s all about getting my worth … they know what I’m worth … I’ve proved it year after year after year.
Continuing The Observers’ position-by-position analysis, here’s a look at Carolina’s situation at safety.
Panthers offseason position analysis:
WHAT WENT RIGHT IN 2019
Boston and Eric Reid finished the team second (129) and fourth (68), respectively, in tackles.
Reid’s tackles were second-most among all defensive backs (behind Cardinals safety Budda Baker). That was partly due to him playing more of a safety-linebacker role and having more responsibilities against the run. The Panthers’ run defense was an issue, particularly in the second half of the season, but of all safeties, Reid finished with the most run-stopping tackles, per Pro Football Focus (58). He also had 24 defensive stops, a tackle that constitutes a “failure” for the offense, third-most among safeties per PFF.
“I’m kind of a safety-linebacker hybrid, I feel like,” Reid said during the season. “I have a lot of run responsibilities, but I also have pass responsibilities. I think the team is utilizing my versatility; I like that. And I’ve been blitzing this year — that’s fun. I mean, who doesn’t like getting sacks?”
He finished the season with four sacks, tied for third-most among all defensive backs.
Boston had three interceptions in 2019, tied for the most on the team with Donte Jackson and James Bradberry. With his strong second stint with the Panthers, Boston has totaled 11 interceptions and 16 pass breakups combined over the last three years.
While not actually playing the safety position, special teams captain Colin Jones proved why he was the unit’s captain with his performance. He led the team in special teams tackles (nine) and is now tied for second in franchise history with 61 career special-teams tackles.
WHAT WENT WRONG IN 2019
While Boston has his positives, including being a strong locker-room presence, missed tackles continue to be an issue. He has missed 25 tackles over the last two years and 13 in 2019 alone, tied for most on the team with Jackson.
The Panthers’ run defense was a mess as a whole, allowing the league’s most rushing touchdowns (31) and the most yards per carry (5.2). One part of the reason the two safeties had so many tackles was because runners were able to reach the secondary on far too many occasions.
While Boston and Reid were solid, the Panthers’ defense was inconsistent as a whole over the entire season.
UNDER CONTRACT (6)
Eric Reid (Entering second year of 3-year, $22 million contract)
Reid showed off his dependability and versatility in 2019. His role will likely look different in Phil Snow’s defense, but he has proved he can help in a variety of areas.
Colin Jones (Entering second year of 2-year, $2.6 million contract)
The 2019 special teams captain will play a big role once again in 2020.
Natrell Jamerson (Entering second year of a 4-year, $2.7 million contract)
Jamerson was acquired off waivers from the Packers at the start of the 2019 season and played in five games, almost exclusively on special teams. He was then placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.
TJ Green (Entering second year of 2-year, $1.38 million contract)
Acquired off the Saints’ waivers in December, Green didn’t have much time to make any impact in 2020.
Quin Blanding (1-year, $510,000 contract)
Signed to a reserve future contract at the end of the season after spending 2019 on the team’s practice squad.
Cole Luke (1-year, $585,000 contract)
Luke spent the first half of the season on the practice squad in 2019, but he was elevated and played in the Panthers’ final eight games of the year. He mostly was just on special teams, but did record two defensive tackles in Green Bay.
FREE AGENTS (1)
Tre Boston
He has bounced around three different teams over the last three years and is looking for a more substantial deal this offseason. Boston has proven he can be a reliable defensive player overall, but he if returns for a third time to the Panthers, it will be for a more substantial deal.
OFFSEASON NEEDS
The Panthers can solve their need at safety by simply locking up Boston. He’s shown enough to prove that he’s worth a bigger contract and this team has more pressing issues on defense to figure out than making things complicated at safety. Boston fills a need at free safety and said at the end of the season that he was interested in staying in Carolina. The Panthers have tough decisions to make, but this doesn’t need to be one of them, especially with the safety free agent market not exploding with talent.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 1:24 PM.
