How the 2015 Carolina Panthers were built
Veteran wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was surprised to learn the Carolina Panthers began the season with the NFL’s second-oldest roster behind the Indianapolis Colts.
Then Cotchery took a glance at the 30-somethings around the locker room and did some quick math in his head.
“We’ve got a bunch of young guys on the team,” Cotchery, 33, said. “But I guess when you have a 33-year-old and a 34-year-old, those numbers add up. But I think they’ve created a good mixture of guys. That’s played a big role in our success.”
The average age of the Panthers’ Week 1 roster was nearly 27 years old, and included an NFL-low seven rookies or first-year players.
The NFL doesn’t track the average roster ages at the end of the regular season. But it’s close to a wash for the Panthers, who added three players 30 or over (DE Jared Allen, CB Cortland Finnegan and OL Fernanado Velasco) and signed three additional rookies or first-year players (DE Ryan Delaire, TE Scott Simonson and CB Lou Young).
Whatever the age range, it has worked.
“I never really thought of it as an old (roster),” said safety Kurt Coleman, who’s 27 and in his first year with the Panthers. “Obviously we have some older guys. But I really feel like it was a great blend of old and young and in between. Everyone’s bought into what we’re doing, the vision that we had from the very get-go.”
Cotchery and Coleman say general manager Dave Gettleman did a good job of bringing in talent, but also were mindful of acquiring what Coleman called “high-character guys.”
“Seriously, it’s a brotherhood in this locker room. You don’t find that every place. Everyone’s ego is dropped,” Coleman said. “There’s no one thinking about, let me get this for myself. It’s all about what is best for the team, and it really shows up on the field on Sundays.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he and Gettleman use the “glove theory” when discussing players they’re considering drafting or signing to free agent contracts.
“If all five fingers fit, it’s a perfect fit,” Rivera said. “If one of them doesn’t, you don’t have the fit.”
Two of Gettleman’s most talked-about moves since he took over for Marty Hurney before the 2013 season were his decisions to cut Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams, the franchise’s all-time receiving and rushing leaders, respectively.
Both had strong personalities and had clashed with teammates and/or the front office over the years.
Gettleman also inherited a challenging salary cap situation when he arrived, requiring him to convince a number of veteran players to restructure their contracts or, in some cases, take less money.
Gettleman also signed a series of veteran free agents to short-term, team-friendly contracts often described by the media as bargain-basement deals.
But as Rivera pointed out, “A lot of the guys that we brought in were guys that we liked.”
The fifth-year coach mentioned wideout Ted Ginn Jr., who returned to Carolina this season after his strong showing with the Panthers in 2013 earned him a lucrative deal with Arizona.
Rivera also pointed to left tackle Michael Oher, who has had a solid season after a disappointing one-year stint with Tennessee, and Coleman as two other under-the-radar moves that have paid dividends.
Gettleman watched nearly three seasons of game tape on Oher, whom Gettleman said proved to be the team’s biggest offseason move.
“You have to be honest with your evaluations. You have to be thorough,” Gettleman said. “If I told you how much film I watched on Michael Oher, you’d fall down. And that’s really what it’s about – being thorough and methodical.”
Despite recent injuries in the secondary and an inconsistent pass rush from the defensive ends, Gettleman believes the Panthers (15-1) are positioned to make a deep run in the playoffs.
“When you’re rolling along you say to yourself, ‘How far can we really go? Are we built for the long run?’ ” Gettleman said. “What I really like about this team is the balance that we have. There isn’t any position group that you say, ‘Oh gosh, this team could take advantage of that group. That team could take advantage.’ Because the NFL’s a matchup game.”
Joseph Person: 704-358-5123, @josephperson
A player-by-player look at how the Carolina Panthers roster was built:
2005 (1)
LB Thomas Davis
Draft pick, 1st round, 14th pick overall
Comment: A Pro Bowler after 11 seasons and three ACL surgeries.
2007 (2)
C Ryan Kalil
Draft pick, 2nd round, 59th pick overall
Comment: Five Pro Bowls tied for most in team history.
DE Charles Johnson
Draft pick, 3rd round, 83rd pick overall
Comment: Panthers’ second-highest paid player has 1 sack in nine games.
2008 (1)
RB Jonathan Stewart
Draft pick, 1st round, 13th pick overall
Comment: Eleven yards shy of 1,000 after missing last three games with foot injury.
2009 (1)
LS J.J. Jansen
Acquired via trade with Green Bay
Comment: Hasn’t had a bad snap since Week 1 in 2010.
2011 (3)
QB Cam Newton
Draft pick, 1st round, 1st pick overall
Comment: The presumptive MVP winner put it all together in ‘15.
QB Derek Anderson
Free agent
Comment: Won two games vs. Tampa Bay in 2014 with Newton out.
TE Greg Olsen
Acquired via trade with Chicago
Comment: Sending 3rd-rounder to Bears for Olsen was best trade in team history.
2012 (11)
LB Luke Kuechly
Draft pick, 1st round, 9th pick overall
Comment: Finished 13th in NFL in tackles despite missing 3 1/2 games.
CB Josh Norman
Draft pick, 5th round, 143rd pick overall
Comment: Pro Bowl season could bring a franchise tag this offseason.
P Brad Nortman
Draft pick, 6th round, 207th pick overall
Comment: Steady, big-legged punter in final year of rookie deal.
K Graham Gano
Free agent
Comment: His 146 points were a single-season team record.
DT Dwan Edwards
Free agent
Comment: Has one sack in what might be final season of his career.
RB Mike Tolbert
Unrestricted free agent, from San Diego
Comment: Voted to his second Pro Bowl this season.
S Colin Jones
Acquired via trade with San Francisco
Comment: Solid special teams player struggled at nickel this season.
DE Mario Addison
Free agent
Comment: Six sacks second on the team and first among DEs.
OT Nate Chandler (IR)
Free agent
Comment: Former starter has been unable to stay healthy.
G Amini Silatolu (IR)
Draft pick, 2nd round, 40th pick overall
Comment: Career sidetracked by series of leg injuries.
DE Frank Alexander (suspended)
Draft pick, 4th round, 103rd pick overall
Comment: Out until at least November after third drug-related suspension.
2013 (5)
DT Star Lotulelei
Draft pick, 1st round, 14th pick overall
Comment: Has been overshadowed by fellow ‘13 DT Kawann Short.
DT Kawann Short
Draft pick, 2nd round, 44th pick overall
Comment: Getting Short signed to a long-term deal an offseason priority.
LB A.J. Klein
Draft pick, 5th round, 148th pick overall
Comment: Played well when Kuechly was out with concussion.
WR Brenton Bersin
Free agent
Comment: Sure-handed wideout has nine catches in eight games this season.
LB Ben Jacobs
Free agent
Comment: Special teams regular was undrafted out of Fresno State.
2014 (16)
WR Kelvin Benjamin (IR)
Draft pick, 1st round, 28th pick overall
Comment: Hard to believe Panthers are 15-1 without Benjamin.
DE Kony Ealy
Draft pick, 2nd round, 60th pick overall
Comment: Didn’t have a sack the final five regular-season games.
G Trai Turner
Draft pick, 3rd round, 92nd pick overall
Comment: Great blocker in space voted to Pro Bowl in second season.
S Tre Boston
Draft pick, 4th round, 128th pick overall
Comment: Mostly a special teams player this season with Kurt Coleman’s emergence.
CB Bene’ Benwikere (IR)
Draft pick, fifth round, 148th pick overall
Comment: Starter was lost for the season when he broke his leg in Week 14.
S Roman Harper
Unrestricted free agent, from New Orleans
Comment: One of only three Panthers players with a Super Bowl ring.
WR Jerricho Cotchery
Unrestricted free agent, from Pittsburgh
Comment: All he does is catch third-down coversions (and TDs).
TE Ed Dickson
Unrestricted free agent, from Baltimore
Comment: Dependable backup can block and catch.
QB/WR Joe Webb
Unrestricted free agent, from Minnesota
Comment: Special teams mainstay is Panthers’ most versatile player.
DT Kyle Love
Free agent
Comment: Started for Patriots in Super Bowl loss to Giants after ‘11 season.
WR Philly Brown
Free agent
Comment: Tied with Devin Funchess as fourth-leading receiver with 31 catches.
G Andrew Norwell
Free agent
Comment: Like Brown, became a starter after going undrafted out of Ohio State.
OT Mike Remmers
Free agent
Comment: Signed off St. Louis practice squad and found a home on right side.
RB Fozzy Whittaker
Free agent
Comment: Change-of-pace back’s status for playoffs in question with ankle sprain.
OL Chris Scott
Free agent
Comment: Backup adds depth to line with ability to play guard and center.
WR Stephen Hill (IR)
Free agent
Comment: Lost for season after tearing his ACL at training camp.
2015 (21)
LB Shaq Thompson
Draft pick, 1st round, 25th overall pick.
Comment: Has 10 starts but limited reps because of Kuechly and Davis.
WR Devin Funchess
Draft pick, 2nd round, 41st pick overall
Comment: 120 rec. yards vs. Bucs second-most by CAR rookie behind David Gettis (125).
OL Daryl Williams
Draft pick, 4th round, 102nd pick overall
Comment: Comes in as third tackle in Panthers’ short-yardage sets.
LB David Mayo
Draft pick, 5th round, 169nd pick overall
Comment: Ranks among team leaders in special teams tackles.
RB Cameron Artis-Payne
Draft pick, 5th round, 174th pick overall
Comment: Scored first career TD on 11-yard run vs. Tampa Bay in Week 17.
CB Charles Tillman (IR)
Unrestricted free agent, from Chicago
Comment: Tore his ACL in regular-season finale vs. Tampa Bay.
S Kurt Coleman
Unrestricted free agent, from Kansas City
Comment: His seven interceptions tied for third-most in NFL.
OT Michael Oher
Free agent
Comment: Has quietly and effectively protected Newton’s blind side.
WR Ted Ginn
Free agent
Comment: He’s dropped a couple TD passes, but he’s also caught 10.
DE Jared Allen
Acquired via trade with Chicago.
Comment: NFL’s active sacks leader had only two in 12 games with Panthers.
CB Cortland Finnegan
Free agent
Comment: Starting nickel was semi-retired in Nashville when Panthers called in November.
CB Robert McClain
Free agent
Comment: Worked out for 10 teams before Panthers signed him in December.
G Fernando Velasco
Free agent
Comment: Veteran started at center vs. Colts when Kalil was hurt.
CB Teddy Williams
Free agent
Comment: Former track standout has been solid on special teams.
TE Scott Simonson
Free agent
Comment: No. 3 tight end has one catch for 10 yards.
DE Ryan Delaire
Free agent
Comment: Had two sacks in Week 4 debut and has been scarcely heard from since.
WR Kevin Norwood
Acquired via trade with Seattle
Comment: Inactive for 15 of 16 regular-season games after Panthers traded for him.
CB Lou Young
Practice squad signing
Comment: Added to the active roster this week after Tillman injury.
S Dean Marlowe
Undrafted rookie
Comment: Big hitter from James Madison was on active roster all season.
RB Brandon Wegher
Undrafted rookie
Comment: Active for the first time vs. Tampa Bay in Week 17.
DE Arthur Miley (IR)
Undrafted rookie
Comment: Was having a good training camp before injuring his knee.
This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:00 AM with the headline "How the 2015 Carolina Panthers were built."