Panthers free agency preview: Positions of need, impending free agents, best available
While the Carolina Panthers’ search for a new quarterback has been the focus of the franchise since new head coach Frank Reich was hired in January, the front office will now look to fill other notable holes as free agency gets underway, in earnest, on Wednesday at 4 p.m..
The league’s annual “legal tampering” period will begin at noon on Monday, and teams and impending free agents will be able to chat ahead of the opening of the floodgates later in the week. The two-day negotiating window should lead to a bevy of deals being announced at the start of free agency.
With all of that in mind, The Observer has constructed a handy, dandy free agency preview guide as the open market begins to develop.
Impending unrestricted free agents
Unrestricted free agents are players who have four or more years of NFL accrued experience. Those players are free to sign anywhere as of 4 p.m. on March 15. For Carolina:
QB Sam Darnold
RB D’Onta Foreman
C Bradley Bozeman
DT Matthew Ioannidis
K Eddy Piñeiro
OT Cam Erving
WR/KR Andre Roberts
WR Rashard Higgins
G Michael Jordan
LB Cory Littleton
S Sean Chandler
CB T.J. Carrie
DE Henry Anderson
S Juston Burris
LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Analysis: Offensive Free Agents | Defensive Free Agents
Impending restricted free agents
Restricted free agents are players with less than four seasons of accrued NFL experience. Restricted free agents are offered tenders that allow them to explore the market, while giving their original team the ability to match any offer.
There are four different tenders with different values attached to them. First- and second-round tenders can to be offered to restricted free agents, and players signing elsewhere would lead to a first- or second-pick being exchanged for that player from his new team. There are also original-round tenders that allow original teams to recoup value from a departing players based on their previous draft position.
However, the Panthers have three players who are set to test restricted free agency as former undrafted free agents. The Panthers can offer those players “right of first refusal” tenders, which still allow the Panthers to match any offer sheet on the market. However, compensation would not be given for that player if the Panthers decided not to match the offer sheet.
If the Panthers decide against offering a tender to an impending restricted free agent before the market opens, that player will then become an unrestricted free agent, and he can sign wherever he chooses without restraint. For Carolina:
QB PJ Walker
S Sam Franklin
S Myles Hartsfield
Analysis: What Panthers’ big trade with Bears means for current roster, free agency and draft
Panthers’ positions of need
QB (Analysis)
RB (Analysis)
TE (Analysis)
DL (Analysis)
EDGE (Analysis)
LB (Analysis)
CB (Analysis)
FS (Analysis)
Top QBs available
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland Browns
Teddy Bridgewater, Miami Dolphins
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
Analysis: Panthers need bridge QB to guide top pick: Who would be a good fit in free agency?
Top RBs available
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Analysis: External Free Agents with Ties to Panthers’ New Staff
Top WRs available
DJ Chark, Detroit Lions
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
Analysis: Panthers need wide receivers: A look at 10 free-agent options for Carolina on open market
Top TEs available
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
Mailbag: How are aggressive will the Panthers be at tight end in free agency?
Top DLs available
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles
Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
Dre’Mont Jones, Denver Broncos
Top EDGEs available
Frank Clark, Kansas City Chiefs (released)
Yannick Ngakoue, Indianapolis Colts
Arden Key, Jacksonville Jaguars
Samson Ekuban, San Francisco 49ers
Top LBs available
Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings (released)
Devin Bush, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bobby Okereke, Indianapolis Colts
Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills
Top CBs available
James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens
Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots
Cameron Sutton, Pittsburgh Steelers
Top FSs available
Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals
Jimmie Ward, San Francisco 49ers
Nick Scott, Los Angeles Rams
Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs
This story was originally published March 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
