What to expect from the Panthers as NFL free agency is scheduled to begin this week
Around the NFL, this week couldn’t be bigger.
The players are getting two extra days to vote on the new CBA, and so the deadline to use the franchise tag has been pushed back to Monday — just before organizations are allowed to discuss potential deals with free agents who played last year with a different team. The new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m., assuming nothing changes in response to the coronavirus.
The Panthers are expected to have plenty of holes to fill with seven defensive starters scheduled to hit free agency, and also guard Greg Van Roten.
Many players will be given the opportunity to test the free agency market, with Carolina likely to try and retain at least a couple, such as Van Roten. But it’s unlikely they’ll get into expensive bidding wars. There aren’t many players the Panthers are willing to pay big money to, especially with possible extensions for running back Christian McCaffrey and offensive tackle Taylor Moton on the horizon this offseason.
How will the Panthers fill their holes? Let’s break down positions they may emphasize in free agency and/or the draft:
Defensive back: Free agency/draft
The Panthers will likely address defensive back in the draft to add depth no matter what, but for weeks we’ve been writing how it makes sense for the team to retain a few of their key free agents in the secondary. Safety Tre Boston put together a good year in 2019 despite joining the team in training camp and would be logical to re-sign. He might go for more than the Panthers are willing to pay.
Another player the Panthers should consider is Ross Cockrell. Not only did he show an ability to fit in a variety of spots in 2019, but he is a good leader in the locker room. With James Bradberry likely on the way out, it would be good for the Panthers to have some leadership in the secondary and use the draft as an opportunity to find some depth, even if they look outside of the organization in free agency.
Defensive line: Free agency/draft
Well, they are going to have to address it somehow. There has been interest expressed on both sides in Mario Addison staying in Carolina, per sources, but even he might get too expensive for the Panthers.
Even if they bring back Addison, Carolina will need to fill the holes of several defensive free agents on the way out. With many teams likely to place franchise tags on defensive lineman, the price for signing or trading for one in free agency will likely be high. This seems like an area that would make a lot of sense to address in both free agency and the draft.
Players like Auburn’s Derrick Brown or South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw could both fit what they are looking for at seventh overall, and there are players later in the draft as well. This is one of the position groups that Carolina will be looking to build the most.
Offensive line: Free agency/draft
The Panthers already started changing the offensive line for 2020 with the trade earlier this month of guard Trai Turner for left tackle Russell Okung.
Now the Panthers need to figure out what’s next at guard. With Turner in Los Angeles, it would make a lot of sense for the team to try and re-sign Van Roten, as he is set to hit free agency. Even if they do choose to go that route, offensive line is a unit that makes sense to look at during the draft. Okung only has one year left on his deal. The Panthers may have drafted two offensive lineman last year, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered.
Linebacker: Free agency/draft
This is an interesting one. The Panthers could very well address the hole Luke Kuechly left behind in the draft, especially if a certain Clemson defensive player is available at seventh overall, but there’s also a chance they look for a middle linebacker in free agency. But even if Isaiah Simmons is gone before the Panthers pick, there are plenty of other interesting middle linebacker prospects in the draft, such as Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, whose Pro Day general manager Marty Hurney and other Panthers personnel attended.
There are directions that the Panthers can go in free agency as well. Rams linebacker Cory Littleton could be a fit, as well as Browns linebacker Joe Schobert. The problem with middle linebacker or finding a player to somewhat fit what Kuechly did is that it is an important task, no matter what base Phil Snow’s defense ends up having. Not any free agent will do. The decision will surely be impacted by how much these middle linebackers are going for on the market, because Carolina has given no indication it’s spending an exorbitant amount on anyone.
Wide receiver-Tight end: Draft
After letting Greg Olsen go, it doesn’t make sense for the Panthers to sign a high-priced tight end. It just doesn’t fit. If there’s a cheaper, reliable option, Carolina could sign one in free agency, but it seems more likely a position it fills through the draft.
Wide receiver is a little different. The Panthers could definitely use depth at the position with Chris Hogan becoming a free agent, DeAndrew White likely becoming a restricted free agent, in addition to the team appearing to move on from Jarius Wright. This wide receiver draft class is considered among the most talented in some time, so it’s hard to see the Panthers giving any wideout a considerable amount of money. The one potential exception? Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, who was coached by Matt Rhule at Temple. But even that seems unlikely based on the price of his contract.
Quarterback: Draft/free agency
Carolina could do something in free agency at quarterback, but at this moment it’s seeming more and more unlikely. A trade of Cam Newton is not going to be easy, and if the team is in fact going the rebuilding route, drafting a quarterback could make sense, even if Newton were to remain for 2020.
If the Panthers fall in love with a quarterback for the future in this year’s draft, then it makes sense to go all in on that player. There are so many unknowns surrounding the Newton situation long-term, outside of Rhule “wanting” him in Carolina, that we will have to wait and see.
Positions the Panthers are least likely to address: Running back, Special teams
The Panthers are in good places at both of these positions, assuming things stay as they are. They have much bigger concerns throughout the roster, both in terms of starters and building depth at key spots, especially on defense.
