Mailbag: How can Carolina Panthers improve at wide receiver in free agency or the draft?
The Carolina Panthers are moving on to 2025.
Following the conclusion of a 5-12 campaign, general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales are plotting out their squad’s future, which should come with quite a bit of roster churn. So, naturally, Panthers fans have questions about the team’s outlook for the future.
The Observer is bringing back the Panthers mailbag to offer insight and analysis for those fan inquiries.
Here are four standout questions collected from emails and social media this week:
GM for a day: Fun with roster decisions
Rob asks: If you could play GM for a day, what decisions would make on impending free agents, Ickey Ekwonu’s fifth-year option, Jaycee Horn’s next deal, and restructures or cuts to save salary to guys like Taylor Moton and Miles Sanders?
That’s a lot to unpack, Rob. But since you’re such an avid and loyal reader of the Access Panthers newsletter, let’s give this roller coaster a whirl.
▪ Ekwonu: Picking up the fifth-year option gives the team control of his rights for an extra year at a cost-controlled rate. It’s a worthwhile gamble to bet on him improving next season after a pretty solid 2024 under a new coaching staff. Maybe more important than anything, the fifth-year option gives the front office negotiating leverage on any potential contract extension for Ekwonu. He’s played well enough that the resource allocation is palatable. It feels like the obvious move to make.
▪ Horn: Signing Horn to a contract extension is a no-brainer. He’s always had elite upside, but it was a matter of him proving that he could remain durable and available in the defense. The Pro Bowl cornerback did miss the final two games with a hip injury, but that isn’t related to his previous ailments. He has improved as a run defender and his offseason muscle gain has helped him retain his physicality late in games. The Panthers should and, I think, will get ahead of the fifth-year option, as they did with Derrick Brown last year.
▪ Restructures and cuts: The Panthers can save $12.7 million by cutting right tackle Taylor Moton, according to Over The Cap. The team can also save $13 million in cap space by signing the 30-year-old lineman to a contract extension. While he’s getting up there in age, Moton has been one of the more reliable players on the entire team during owner David Tepper’s tenure. Signing him to a two-year extension seems plausible if not advantageous for both parties.
In regard to Sanders, he’s probably going to need to take a pay cut to stick around. While his season-finale performance was an excellent sign, his mostly miserable two seasons here have left a lot to be desired. The organization and the player both take blame for those woes. But given the amount of needs the team has, taking a pay cut is probably the only way to justify Sanders’ return. Given the bumpy road in Carolina thus far, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sanders balk at that demand.
▪ Impending free agents: If this beat writer was in Brady Christensen’s shoes, I’d look to head elsewhere for better pay and a guaranteed starting job. But if he can’t find that opportunity, the Panthers getting him back would be a huge boost for the offensive line. Otherwise, the rest of the re-signing options are pretty much toss-ups.
Long snapper JJ Jansen and punter Johnny Hekker have value beyond their job titles. Cornerback Mike Jackson, tight end Tommy Tremble and wide receiver David Moore really fit in well with the culture, and all three played well in pretty big spots this season. Andy Dalton wants to return, and with Bryce Young in the QB1 seat, keeping that room together makes sense. Feleipe Franks and Sam Franklin are logical targets for re-signing because of their value on special teams.
Re-signing Austin Corbett and Cade Mays to compete at center is a logical, cost-effective strategy that seems to align with the way the Panthers will approach their already expensive trench group.
Approach to improving wide receiver
Nick asks: As of right now, how do you think this team plans to approach the WR position? Someone I’m keeping an eye on is Chris Godwin.
The Panthers will add a wide receiver (or two) this offseason without question.
While fans on social media are clamoring for Tee Higgins, he will probably price himself out of the Panthers’ pay range. That outcome could lead to some angst, but it’s clear the Panthers know they need to revamp the defense, and that approach will take up the bulk of their cap space.
Garrett Wilson, the New York Jets’ top-notch receiver, recently complimented Young in a reply to a highlight post on “X”, formerly known as Twitter. Panthers fans got really excited about that endorsement, and rightfully so, but the immediate desire for the trade for Wilson should to be met with reality and logic.
Wilson, not yet 25, still has two years of club control left on his rookie deal (including his fifth-year option), and he is coming off a 1,100-yard, seven-touchdown season in his third year. A new GM and new head coach will arrive in New Jersey ready to work with Wilson. It’d be hard to see the Jets dealing him away, instead of building the offense around him. That said, the Panthers should absolutely have interest if he does become available. The Jets’ price should start at a top-10 pick and more.
Remember, the Tennessee Titans trading away A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles (for the 18th and 101st overall picks) in 2022 basically got their former GM fired.
Godwin, though, does make sense from familiarity and productivity standpoints. We all saw what David Moore, a journeyman wideout with experience in Canales’ offense, did with his built-in familiarity.
Godwin has been a 1B wide receiver for the bulk of his career, and the Panthers could present him with the opportunity to be the top guy for once. Unfortunately, he’s coming off a season-ending ankle injury. He also had ACL surgery a couple of years ago. One would think that the Panthers might shy away from injury risks after what happened with Jonathon Brooks this year. If not, Godwin is about as good of a non-Higgins option on the free-agent market.
There might be some logic to waiting for the draft if the Panthers can elevate the floor of their depth chart. If they pass on Higgins and Godwin, they could look for enhanced role players. For instance, options like Elijah Moore or Tutu Atwell could bring much needed downfield speed to the bunch. Signing a speedster like Moore (or Atwell) and then using a first-round pick on a wideout like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan or Missouri’s Luther Burden III, could make a big difference.
For what it’s worth, Xavier Legette seems best fit as a No. 2 passing option. Adam Thielen — who is entering the final year of his deal — has also shown no signs of slowing down, and the Panthers seemingly want him back in the fold next season. Jalen Coker’s upside is fun to think about, and he should have a prominent role next year as well.
The guess here is a double-tap of sorts to sure-up the group. They’ll bring in a couple of guys via the draft and/or free agency, and likely bring back David Moore and/or Dan Chisena. A strong six-man group could be a better outlook than just overpaying one guy, in theory.
Changes coming to the defense, one way or another
CJ asks: I like defensive coordinator Ejio Evero personally, but we heard from media how our defense was deft of NFL caliber talent, making it hard for the average fan to see growth. Anticipating a change of scheme in offseason to match personnel or change personnel to match scheme?
Sam asks: Australian fan, so go gently on me! Seems like the offense is OK with growth since (Andy Dalton) hurt his thumb. What do we need, defense or in front office, to win the NFC South?
Let’s combine these two questions because they largely bring out the same answer.
On Monday, Morgan essentially fell on his sword with the defense. He noted that the defense was lacking the proper talent to operate Evero’s complex scheme. So, in turn, Morgan acknowledged the desire to revamp the defense to fit Evero’s approach.
The Panthers frankly need to improve every rung of this defense.
They need to add an upgrade over Shy Tuttle between Brown and A’Shawn Robinson. They need to bring in a couple of inside linebackers to improve depth, and draft or sign a couple of edge rushers to give them rotational help behind or in front of DJ Wonnum and Jadeveon Clowney.
If they re-sign Mike Jackson, the cornerback group is fine. Horn and Jackson, with Chau Smith-Wade at nickel, is a strong trio. They also have a bunch of developing talent on the cornerback depth chart behind those guys.
The safety group needs to be completely reworked — and certainly will be — after position coach Bert Watts was let go this week. Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott and Franklin are all pending free agents, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see all of them walk on the open market. Scott and Franklin might return as special teamers, but neither should have roles on defense. Expect the Panthers to be aggressive in upgrading that position.
Once the Panthers upgrade their defense, the offensive line is largely set. Tight end, running back and wideout could all use some upgraded depth, and the Panthers will probably be active in the draft at those spots.
If the defense can get figured out and the offense can continue to improve, the Panthers will be in the conversation for the NFC South division crown in 2025 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
