Six free agents the Carolina Panthers should target during 2026 free agency
By Alex Zietlow and
Mike Kaye
Free agency begins next week, and that means the Carolina Panthers have a few questions directly in front of them.
Who are some free agents they should “attack” with full force?
Who are some that are reasonable and within their projected salary cap range?
And which positions should the Panthers not pursue in this year’s free agency?
This trio of questions, and much more, are addressed by Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow in the latest episode of Processing Blue, a podcast about all-things-Panthers. The two Observer reporters go deep on six free agents they love a few days before roster movement begins. Those six: LB Devin Lloyd, S Kam Curl, EDGE Joseph Ossai, C Connor McGovern, LB Kaden Elliss, RB Rachaad White.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai during the third quarter during the game at Huntington Bank Field on September 07, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Jason Miller Getty Images
They also discuss who the Panthers should sign prior to free agency beginning, and which positions they should stay away from.
The league’s legal tampering period begins Monday, March 9. The deals that get agreed to in principle will then be made official Wednesday, March 11.
Listen to the latest podcast episode at the embed in this story, or download it on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out the show on YouTube.
This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.Support my work with a digital subscription
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
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