2025 NFL free agency: Shaq Thompson, Tommy Tremble among 21 Panthers to hit open market
The Carolina Panthers’ 2024 season is complete, following a thrilling 44-38 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dave Canales finished with a 5-12 record in his first year as the team’s head coach. While the first half of the campaign was bumpy, Canales’ crew relatively improved in the second half. Carolina won two of its final three games, and there is optimism for the future with Canales and general manager Dan Morgan leading the way.
Morgan, in particular, will have a lot of work to do this offseason. The defense needs substantial upgrades, and the offense shouldn’t be a finished product, either. Plus, all three specialists are set to hit free agency in March.
With an eye toward the future, the Panthers need to consider who they want to bring back for the next chapter of the Canales era. Given the number of one-year deals signed last year, there will be several tough decisions to make in the coming weeks and months.
Here is a breakdown of the pending 21 unrestricted, five restricted and one exclusive-rights free agents on the Panthers’ roster:
Panthers’ unrestricted free agents
Barring the use of the franchise tag, unrestricted free agents can negotiate contracts with other teams during the NFL’s legal tampering period and the official start of free agency in March.
C Austin Corbett
Corbett is coming off season-ending biceps surgery. Over the past two years, the veteran lineman has struggled with injuries, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been among the team’s top players. The Panthers moved Corbett to center this past season, and he excelled until going down with the biceps tear. The Panthers might be inclined to bring him back on a short-term deal.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal to compete for starting center job.
QB Andy Dalton
Dalton has a been a steady backup presence for Bryce Young over the past two years. He’s also started six games, throwing for 1,350 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions across two seasons. Dalton is set to turn 38 next season, but he clearly still wants to play. If the Panthers plan to roll with Young in 2025, it would make sense to bring Dalton back.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal before free agency.
S Xavier Woods
Woods led the Panthers with three interceptions this season. But the overall campaign was up and down for Woods, who played out his entire three-year contract with Carolina. He could look for a change of scenery after three years of losing, but he also could want to come back as an established leader in the locker room.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
C/G Brady Christensen
The Swiss Army knife of the offensive line was passed over for starting jobs multiple times in 2024 — including at right guard in the season finale against Atlanta. Capable of playing tackle, guard and center, Christensen should have plenty of value on the open market. The Panthers clearly prefer him at left tackle, but Ikem Ekwonu is obviously manning that spot right now.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
LB Shaq Thompson
Thompson has gone down in the first month of the season in back-to-back seasons. The longtime leader of the defense hasn’t been able to overcome his injury woes, and that’ll likely hurt his market on the wrong side of 30. Perhaps, he comes back on a discount, but there’s a more than decent chance that he’s played his last snap with the franchise.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
CB Mike Jackson
The Panthers landed Jackson in a trade toward the end of training camp in August. They dealt rookie linebacker Mike Barrett, a seventh-round draft pick, to Seattle for Jackson, who started all 17 games this season. Jackson was more than serviceable as the No. 2 cornerback on defense, and he should have a solid market as a result. It might make sense for the Panthers to get ahead of free agency to retain Jackson.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on long-term deal before free agency.
S Jordan Fuller
It was a really tough year for Fuller. After signing a one-year deal in free agency, Fuller dealt with a hamstring injury and a benching during his first season with the Panthers. Despite his familiarity with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Fuller failed to take advantage of his opportunity as a Week 1 starter.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
S Sam Franklin
The Panthers’ longtime special teams ace missed most of the first half of season with a foot injury. But when he returned to the lineup, he brought his typical fire to the special teams unit. The issue with Franklin is that he’s mostly limited to special teams. He will cost quite a bit for a special teams ace against the open market.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal after testing market.
P Johnny Hekker
Hekker is one of the best punters of his generation. Still, the veteran specialist is coming off one of the worst campaigns of his career. Getting up there in age, Hekker is probably looking for his last multi-year deal on the open market. The Panthers would still be wise to consider bringing him back if they can get him to sign a team-friendly deal.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal after testing market.
K Eddy Piñeiro
Piñeiro seems destined to head elsewhere after an uneven campaign in Carolina. The veteran kicker seemingly wanted a contract extension in the offseason and the front office didn’t budge. Piñeiro has proven to be somewhat limited at the position, as he’s not particularly consistent on kickoffs and is rarely tested on field goals beyond 49 yards. Still, he is very accurate in the 20- to 45-yard range and should draw penalty of interest as a first-time unrestricted free agent.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
LS JJ Jansen
The Panthers’ all-time leader in games played is about to hit free agency again. He rarely has a bad snap, and he has proven to be a great leader in the locker room. Jansen has essentially rivaled Sir Purr as the team’s most prominent mascot over the past several years. He’s good for the brand.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal.
TE Tommy Tremble
The 2021 third-round pick was primed for a career year as the top tight end on the roster in training camp. Unfortunately for Tremble, he dealt with hamstring and back injuries in the summer and fall. He still managed to put together a relatively compelling second half of the season. But his market is likely to take a hit because of his inconsistent production. It might make sense for Tremble and the Panthers to agree on a one-year deal due to familiarity.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal after testing market.
TE Ian Thomas
Thomas is one of the longest-tenured players on the roster. The longtime blocking tight end is set to hit the market for the first time after an injury riddled season. He caught just three passes for seven yards this season, so his market probably won’t be immediate in free agency.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
DB Nick Scott
Scott struggled on defense in his first season with the Panthers. While he’s probably best fit for a special teams-only role, his familiarity with Evero could give him a leg up on a new deal. If Evero stays in Carolina, Scott makes sense as a deep-depth option if necessary.
2025 prediction: Re-signs to compete for special teams/backup role.
WR David Moore
Canales’ longtime pupil played well this season. Moore was a veteran presence that Young could count on, and he made some big plays in the passing game when his number was called. Moore can play special teams, and he is a mentor to Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. The Panthers could do much worse than having Moore return as a fourth or fifth wideout in 2025.
2025 prediction: Re-signs one-year deal after testing market.
DB Lonnie Johnson
Like Franklin and Scott, Johnson is a special teams-only standout. Johnson did a nice job of bringing energy and aggressiveness to the unit. Given his background with special teams coordinator Tracy Smith, Johnson be a primed for a return on a team-friendly contract.
2025 prediction: Re-signs only if Franklin and/or Scott don’t return.
OLB Cam Gill
Gill bounced on and off the Panthers’ roster in 2024. The veteran special teamer rotated into the defense as a pass rusher at times this season. He could be back later in the offseason if he doesn’t find any takers elsewhere.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
TE Feleipe Franks
Franks earned the respect of his peers this season, as he was voted the 2024 special teams MVP by the Panthers’ locker room. Smith clearly loves what he brings to the unit, and the Panthers would probably like to have Franks be a centerpiece of their third phase for years to come.
2025 prediction: Re-signs a long-term deal for a prominent role on special teams.
CB Caleb Farley
The Maiden native started the year on the practice squad. However, he quickly earned a promotion to the main roster, and he played relatively well as a depth piece at cornerback. He likely could be retained on a team-friendly deal.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal to compete for a job.
RB Mike Boone
Boone bounced on and off the practice squad this year. Despite there being multiple injuries at running back, Boone never became a mainstay of the offense. Despite his notable experience, Boone never appeared to grab the brass ring when given the opportunity.
2025 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
DE DeShawn Williams
The veteran journeyman bounced on and off the roster in his second season with the team. He was promoted to the 53-man roster for the finale against the Falcons and played quite a bit. He could be back to compete in a camp as a defender with experience in the scheme.
2025 prediction: Re-signs on one-year deal to compete in training camp.
Panthers’ restricted free agents
The Panthers have the option of tendering their pending restricted free agents to gain control of their rights. If the Panthers offer a first-, second- or original-round tender to a restricted free agent, that player will need to obtain an offer sheet from an opposing team to leave Carolina. The Panthers will have the right to match the offer sheet and retain the player. If the Panthers choose not to match the offer sheet, the opposing team will obtain the player but will be forced to give up the value of the tender to the Panthers.
For instance, if a restricted free agent entered the league as a fifth-round pick, and the Panthers offered an original-round tender, the team signing the player would need to give Carolina a fifth-round pick in return for not matching the offer sheet. If the Panthers give an original-round tender to a former undrafted free agent, the tender becomes a “right of first refusal” tag, which only offers Carolina the opportunity to match an offer sheet without the benefit of compensation if it declines.
The first-, second- and original-round tenders all come with different one-year contract offers attached to them. The player can avoid restricted free agency and sign his tender at any time after it is extended. Teams can rescind offer sheets at any time as long as they aren’t signed as contracts.
C Cade Mays
Mays was a pleasant surprise at center this season. He started the summer with the Panthers but was waived in September and spent a few weeks with the New York Giants’ practice squad. When Corbett sustained his season-ending injury, the Panthers brought Mays back, and he started at center in eight of the final nine games, playing well as a fill-in. He should be back, whether on a restricted tender or a team-friendly deal.
2025 prediction: Original-round tender (sixth-round pick), returns to compete for starting center job.
RB Raheem Blackshear
No one returned more kickoffs this season than Blackshear. The fiery returner played all but one week of the season, and he was a special teams mainstay. Unfortunately for him, Blackshear was rarely used on offense before Week 16. The lack of offensive touches could hurt Blackshear’s negotiating outlook.
2025 prediction: Not tendered, heads elsewhere.
WR Deven Thompkins
While Thompkins didn’t put up pretty numbers, the Panthers clearly like his shiftiness and return ability. He will probably get an offer from Carolina to return, although it probably won’t be in the form of a restricted tender.
2025 prediction: Not tendered, heads elsewhere.
RB Velus Jones Jr.
Jones was brought to Carolina as an emergency backup at running back. The former third-round pick is converting from wideout to running back, and he could be seen as a long-term project for the Panthers. He won’t receive a restricted tender, but he could still return down the road.
2025 prediction: Not tendered, only returns for depth if needed before OTAs.
WR Dan Chisena
Known for his special teams work, Chisena received a promotion to the main roster in Week 16. After playing in a handful of games for the Panthers down the stretch, the journeyman could be an option for a return. Similar to Thompkins and Jones, Chisena probably won’t be tendered. But he still could be in the Panthers’ plans for 2025.
2025 prediction: Returns without a restricted tendered, competes for job.
Panthers’ exclusive-rights free agents
Exclusive-rights free agents can only negotiate with their current teams. If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere.
DE LaBryan Ray
Ray has played a lot for the Panthers over the past two years. Similar to last offseason, it’s not hard to see him returning on a minimum-salary deal. Ray is a favorite of the coaching staff.
2025 prediction: Re-signs for backup role
This story was originally published January 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM.
