Carolina Panthers mailbag: Potential edge rusher options before training camp?
The Carolina Panthers are less than a month away from training camp in Charlotte, and their defense has some clear weaknesses heading into the annual string of summer practices.
Following the March trade of Brian Burns to the New York Giants, Carolina has an edge rusher depth chart that features Rock Hill, S.C., native Jadeveon Clowney and a bunch of question marks. Similarly, the cornerback depth chart features fellow former South Carolina Gamecock, Jaycee Horn, and not much else in the way of proven, top-tier talent.
So, naturally, Panthers have questions about the defense heading into the second year of Ejiro Evero’s tenure. That’s why The Charlotte Observer has brought back the Panthers mailbag to answer the Carolina faithful’s questions.
Here are three standout questions from social media:
Carolina Panthers mailbag: Pass rusher help on the way?
Jeremy asks: With Edge/OLB so thin, any chance they take a vet minimum run or incentive-based pay for guys like Emmauel Ogbah, Shaq Lawson or Yannick Ngakoue? Slim pickings this late but if any of these guys can come in and give 4 to 6 sacks that would be a huge bump. Do you think they’ll add to the Edge room?
Mike Kaye: I’d be genuinely surprised if Ogbah, Lawson, or Ngakoue would be open to a veteran minimum deal. If that were the case, my assumption would be that they would have signed before or immediately after the draft. That said, that trio is essentially the top of the funnel on the market right now.
Of the trio, Ngakoue, who played last year with the Bears, is the youngest (turned 29 in March) and most productive (69 career sacks and 21 forced fumbles). While Ngakoue has a background with defensive line coach Todd Wash, the team passed on adding him last offseason. Granted, Ngakoue signed for more than $10 million on a one-year deal last summer. The Panthers, instead, signed Justin Houston for $5 million in attempt to fix their pass rusher void opposite Burns. That solution didn’t work out, to say the least.
Still, even with a clean slate, Ngakoue doesn’t seem like a great fit for Evero’s defense. The coordinator clearly favors run-stopping ability with his pass rushers, and Ngakoue is known largely as a pass-rushing specialist. Maybe the Panthers adjust their approach for the sake of need, but at the moment, it doesn’t seem like the team is in a rush to sign Ngakoue or anyone else.
Lawson, who played last year with the Bills, has produced just 5.5 sacks over the past three seasons. He’s already 30 and probably better fit for a 4-3 scheme as a defensive end. Ogbah, a Dolphin last year, is a more productive player than Lawson from a sack standpoint, but he’s also probably a better fit in an even front as a down lineman and over the age of 30. Also, like Ngakoue, neither is particularly sturdy against the run.
If the Panthers were to go to the free-agent market for a band-aid veteran to fill out the group, the option that perhaps makes the most sense is former first-round pick Charles Harris. Wash worked with Harris in Detroit for two years, and while he has never lived up to his draft pedigree, the outside linebacker has experience in multiple attacks and has 16.5 career sacks.
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The former Lions defender’s best season came in 2021 when he worked with Wash and produced 7.5 sacks as a starting outside linebacker. Harris had just 2.5 combined sacks over the past two seasons when used as a defensive end. He could view a move back to a 3-4 front as an opportunity to bounce back before he turns 30 in 2025. He also would probably be relatively cost-effective at this point.
Another name that could make sense is former Panthers pass rusher Marquis Haynes, who remains a free-agent. After an injury riddled campaign in 2023, Haynes could simply be looking to keep his NFL career alive.
What better way to do that then joining up with a defense he already knows? While Haynes is already 31, taking a one-year flier on him is logical for Carolina, as he know the defensive staff and the system.
If the Panthers pass on Harris, Haynes and the rest of the bunch, they’ll likely focus on the waiver wire for pass rusher upgrades, as Carolina has the top priority on the wire this summer.
Watching the waiver wire
Rob asks: Mike, it seems like the Panthers are going to take the best corner or edge available after cut day since they have limited depth for both and concerning injuries at edge. Is this the plan and who are cut candidates from other teams?
Rob, your assumption is mine as well. The Panthers know they can’t totally rebuild their roster in one offseason, and their eye toward the future could make their pursuit of upgrades somewhat complicated.
As of this weekend, Over the Cap projects the Panthers to have just $6.04 million in cap space. Obviously, the front office could rework some contracts and potentially cut some players to add to that space, but they’re unlikely to experience a surplus in spending ability ahead of Week 1.
The Panthers will realistically want to contend in 2025 and 2026 — when they’ll have a boatload of cash to spend — but they need to be prudent with using future funds as they continue this rebuild under GM Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales. With that in mind, look for them to somewhat cut corners on upgrading the depth chart this summer.
Rob mentioned the injuries at pass rusher, and they are worrisome right now.
D.J. Wonnom (quad), Eku Leota (calf) and Amare Barno (ACL) were all sidelined during portions of the offseason program with injuries. Wonnum and Barno are coming off major surgeries and could begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. If that were to happen, the group at edge rusher would be limited to Clowney, D.J. Johnson, Cam Gill, K’Lavon Chaisson, Luiji Vilain and a couple of undrafted rookies.
That’s not ideal, even in a competition climate, so the Panthers need to scan the market for help. If they choose to pass on the veteran options above, they’ll need to figure out trades or waiver claims from other teams.
Regarding potential waiver claims from other teams, cornerback and edge rusher are going to be tough asks. Remember, players only hit the wavier wire if they aren’t vested veterans, meaning they need to have less than four seasons of accrued experience entering the cut deadline.
At cornerback, two young players to watch out for are Darnay Holmes of the Giants and Eli Ricks of the Philadelphia Eagles. Both NFC East defensive backs are facing heavy competition this summer, and either would make sense as a fourth or fifth corner in Carolina. The Eagles, in particular, have several young corners battling for jobs this summer, as Ricks is facing off against Zech McPhearson and Josh Jobe to stick around at the bottom of the depth chart.
At outside linebacker, the pickings are even slimmer. Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Viliami Fehoko Jr. is an interesting fit for new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. After failing to play as a rookie due to injury, the 2023 fourth-round pick might have to fight for a spot this summer with a system change. Mattieu Betts of the Lions is a CFL add-on who could get lost in the shuffle for a playoff contender.
As far as trade options go, those typically become apparent with the preseason underway. Obviously, teams with heavy pass-rusher depth will be worth checking out this summer, especially ones with 3-4 fronts or players with ties to the staff.
All eyes on the backfield
Deuces asks: What’s the plan at running back if we were to keep Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, and Miles Sanders (I’m already assuming Raheem Blackshear is here for special teams)? I’m assuming Brooks is gonna play when he’s healthy.
Well, based on The Observer’s post-mandatory mini-camp 53-man roster projection, those four running backs are the likely keepers of the bunch.
Hubbard is the favorite to land the top job. His work ethic and ability to create consistent positive-yardage plays in the backfield has earned him the respect of his peers.
Hubbard might not be flashy, but he’s grown into a reliable carrier of the ball, and he offers enough production in the passing game to warrant the top spot of the totem pole for the time being.
Sanders is going to be paid his $4 million base salary whether he’s on the roster or not. That means that barring an abysmal summer, he will be in process blue this year.
Sanders might not be viewed as a three-down back anymore, but he certainly can help in the passing game, where he is an above-average receiver at the position. Sanders and Hubbard complement each other with their strengths, and at least early on in Canales’ first season, they make sense as a central tandem.
Obviously, Brooks — the team’s second-round pick — is the future of the position. However, as he is coming off ACL surgery, the Panthers would be wise to ease him into the on-boarding process on the field. Brooks offers flash that Sanders and Hubbard don’t necessarily possess, and once he’s healthy, the rookie should have a substantial role.
With Hubbard taking early down work, Sanders being used on third down and in change-of pace situations, and Brooks bobbing and weaving out of the backfield when appropriate, Blackshear — one of the team’s likely kick returners — should be relegated to gadget work and special teams.
The team also has Rashaad Penny, Mike Boone and undrafted rookie Jaden Shirden on the roster. Penny is likely to take on the bulk of Brooks’ reps until the rookie is cleared to practice. Boone could push Blackshear on special teams, especially as a returner. Shirden is likely competing for a spot on the practice squad after starring at Monmouth University.
This story was originally published July 8, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
