Five things to watch as the Carolina Panthers head into the offseason
As the Carolina Panthers finished with another five-win season, it became clear Monday that this offseason will be the most important one of Matt Rhule’s tenure.
Rhule survived what’s known as Black Monday in the NFL, but every decision he makes will be under a microscope moving forward. The Panthers know what they need to address, and Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer said as much in press conferences Monday.
“At the end of the day we’re the 30th ranked offense in the National Football League with the second ranked defense in a league in time when you have to score points,” Rhule said. “We know what we need to do to win.”
Here are five things to watch this offseason:
1. Offensive line is top priority
After fully focusing mainly on defense in the 2020 and 2021 NFL drafts, the Panthers plan to address offensive line.
“Absolutely,” Fitterer said, when asked if offensive line was the top priority this offseason. “Both sides of the ball, but offensive line, that’s how you build a team.”
Carolina allowed 52 sacks this season, fifth-most in the NFL. In Weeks 16 and 17 alone, the Panthers allowed 14 sacks combined. Neither Sam Darnold nor Cam Newton had much time to make throws, and it resulted in a bad offense.
“Until we can control the line of scrimmage, it will be hard to win,” Rhule said.
The 2022 NFL draft is expected to be rich with talented offensive linemen. The Panthers pick No. 6 overall and will have a number of players they can likely pick from, including N.C. State’s Ikem Ekwonu, who is projected as both an offensive tackle and a guard; Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross; and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.
2. Offensive coordinator search
The Panthers hope to hire a new offensive coordinator in the next few weeks to replace Joe Brady, who was fired during the team’s bye week in Week 13.
Brady was calling plays for the first time in his career when he arrived at Carolina in January 2020. And though he had some success in his first season, he struggled in Year 2.
One of their biggest issues was establishing an identity, and that’s what Rhule hopes to have in a new offensive coordinator. Rhule, who will lead the process, said he plans to interview a lot of candidates both internally and externally.
“I’d like to have someone who has experience having done it, having been a (NFL) coordinator,” Rhule said. “It’s one thing to have suggestions and all those things, it’s another thing to make the call and have had success, not had success, learn from your success.
“Having someone that’s done it before, that doesn’t have to be it, but it’s something I’m going to look at.”
Rhule wants the Panthers to be a team that can run the ball, and he hopes the offensive coordinator can help improve the quarterback play.
The Panthers finished the season ranked 29th in the NFL in points per game at 17.9, and 30th in total offensive (297.8 yards per game).
“I want someone that can walk into that room and make sure all the coaches and all the players are on the same page,” Rhule said.
3. Panthers have no plans to trade McCaffrey, but will listen
Fitterer said he had a conversation with running back Christian McCaffrey on Monday morning for about 30 minutes. They talked about reports that have surfaced about trade rumors.
“There was a report back in November that we were actively trying to trade him, and I told him that was not true,’‘ Scott Fitterer said Monday of his exit interview with McCaffrey following the Panthers’ 5-12 season. “What I did tell him was, ‘Hey, listen, as a GM, I will take any call. Call and make any offer you want.’
“’That doesn’t mean we’ll do it. That doesn’t mean we’re shopping you. I’ll listen.’ I look at Christian as a foundation piece on this team. We’re a better team when he’s on the field. He’s one of the elite players in the NFL.’‘
McCaffrey hasn’t been able to stay healthy in the past two seasons. He has missed 23 of the possible 33 games over the past two years as he’s dealt with various injuries. He missed seven games this season.
But McCaffrey is clearly the Panthers’ best player and his absence was felt when he’s out.
“If somebody calls and offers something crazy, yeah, you look at it. But there are no intentions right now of trading Christian McCaffrey.”
Rhule said Brady talked to McCaffrey prior to the season about using him more at slot receiver, perhaps to preserve his health and limit the type of hits he has taken.
McCaffrey didn’t seem interested in a possible conversion. When asked whether playing slot would help him healthwise, McCaffrey said “no.”
4. Team not giving up on Darnold
The Panthers aren’t giving up on Darnold despite his struggles at quarterback this season. Darnold is owed $18.9 million next season after the Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on his contract.
While Rhule and Fitterer acknowledge his issues with turning the ball over, they also said the offensive line played a part in his struggles.
“I think Sam is still developing,” Fitterer said. “We have to help him. Everybody looks at the quarterback position as the individual. There are so many other factors that go into it. He had a lot of leakage. He had a lot of pressure in his face.”
Darnold had one of his better games in Week 18, but it was still not enough. He was 29-of-42 passing for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also had a fumble.
But he was also constantly under pressure. He was sacked 12 times total in Weeks 16, 17 and 18.
“The story’s not written on Sam,” Fitterer said. “He’s still developing. It’ll be interested to see with the new OC, a rebuilt offensive line, what it’s going to look like.”
5. Panthers won’t be able to pay everyone
Caroline does have a number of key free agents heading into the 2022 offseason.
Cornerbacks Donte Jackson, Stephon Gilmore, linebacker Haason Reddick and Cam Newton are among them. While Fitterer said he’d love to keep all of those players, that is not realistic.
The Panthers will enter free agency with about $28 million to spend. Fitterer said they have money set aside for all of their key players, including Donte Jackson, but it’s a matter of how much those players will be looking for.
Earlier in the day, both Jackson and Reddick indicated that they wanted to return. Fitterer also said he would like to have them back.
“We have a limited amount of money we can spend,” Fitterer said, adding that the first priority with be solidifying offensive and defensive lines.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
