Updated list of Panthers’ free agents: Carolina doesn’t tender PJ Walker before deadline

PJ Walker is now an unrestricted free agent.

The Carolina Panthers declined to offer Walker, who was set to become a restricted free agent, a tender ahead of the launch of the new league year. Walker, a former undrafted free agent, was eligible for the “right of first refusal” tender, but the Panthers decided to pass on offering him the one-year, $2.62 million salary that comes along with it.

Walker started five games last season for the Panthers. He led Carolina to a 2-3 record and threw for 731 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Panthers also decided to pass on offering a tender to safety Myles Hartsfield. The defensive back appeared in 15 games (10 starts) for Carolina last season. He collected 59 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble during a career year.

Sam Franklin, the team’s primary special teams ace, was the lone restricted free agent to receive a tender. On Monday, the Panthers gave Franklin the “right of first refusal” tender.

Here is an updated look at the Panthers’ business season after the two-day “legal tampering period”:

Internal free agents

▪ RB D’Onta Foreman

▪ K Eddy Piñeiro

▪ S Sam Franklin (RFA)

▪ S Myles Hartsfield

▪ DT Matthew Ioannidis

▪ QB PJ Walker

▪ DE Henry Anderson

▪ WR Rashard Higgins

▪ S Juston Burris

▪ CB T.J. Carrie

▪ S Sean Chandler

▪ OT Cameron Erving

▪ LB Cory Littleton

▪ WR Andre Roberts

▪ LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

▪ G Michael Jordan

Re-signed

▪ C Bradley Bozeman

▪ LS JJ Jansen

▪ TE Giovanni Ricci

▪ TE Stephen Sullivan

Headed elsewhere

▪ QB Sam Darnold (to 49ers)

▪ QB PJ Walker (to Bears)

Agreed to terms

▪ S Vonn Bell (from Bengals)

▪ DT Shy Tuttle (from Saints)

▪ QB Andy Dalton (from Saints)

▪ TE Hayden Hurst (from Bengals)

▪ RB Miles Sanders (from Eagles)

▪ DT DeShawn Williams (from Broncos)

Released

▪ C Pat Elflein

▪ LB Damien Wilson

Restructured

▪ OT Taylor Moton

▪ G Austin Corbett

▪ S Xavier Woods

▪ P Johnny Hekker

Traded

▪ WR DJ Moore

Extended

▪ LB Shaq Thompson

This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 3:55 PM.

Mike Kaye

The Charlotte Observer

Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription