Three players the Carolina Panthers should should keep in free agency, 9 guys to let go
There is one corner of the sports world that the coronavirus hasn’t messed with much yet — NFL free agency.
Somehow, the NFL’s fiscal year still begins on Wednesday, with free agents coming and going (in a virtual sense) from one team to another. The Panthers have a bunch of key players who are about to be able to test the market, like cornerback James Bradberry, safety Tre Boston and offensive guard Greg Van Roten.
Van Roten wrote me in a recent text message: “Considering everything I’ve been through in my career, I am fired up to see what’s next. It’s the first time I may get to choose where to play, whether that’s with the Panthers or elsewhere.”
That’s the way a lot of players feel around this time. This is one of the few chances in their relatively short careers that they can not only pick their team and but also make some serious money.
As for the Panthers, they’ve got some money to spend, but not that much. And before they spend it on outside free agents, they have to decide on which players they want to keep.
With that in mind, here are Carolina’s top dozen soon-to-be free agents — the three I would sign and the nine I would let walk.
In alphabetical order:
Mario Addison, EDGE: He will be 33 when the season starts, but Addison has been the Panthers’ most consistent edge rusher for years (at least nine sacks each of the past four seasons). The price needs to be right, but Addison is still productive. KEEP.
Tre Boston, S: Boston has attitude and speed, and he’s going to cash in during this free-agency period. On a better team, it would make more sense for Carolina to pay him. On this one, it probably doesn’t make sense. LET GO.
James Bradberry, CB: Unless you’re Deion Sanders, I don’t know that it’s worth it to pay the $15 million or so a top-tier corner costs. And while Bradberry is a good player and a great guy, he’s not Deion. I don’t think the Panthers should use a franchise tag on him. It will be painful, and he’s going to get a huge payday somewhere, but let him walk. LET GO.
Vernon Butler, DT: The writing was on the wall for this move when Carolina declined to pick up Butler’s fifth-year option last May. He went on to have his best season, but that’s not saying much. LET GO.
Ross Cockrell, CB: Nicknamed “Pro,” Cockrell is smart enough to play just about every position in the secondary. And he’s cost-effective. KEEP.
Javien Elliott, CB: Elliott was the Panthers’ nickel corner for much of 2019, but he wasn’t much of a difference-maker. LET GO.
Chris Hogan, WR: A knee injury hampered his one year with the Panthers, but even when Hogan played he was largely ineffective. LET GO.
Bruce Irvin, EDGE: He had 8.5 sacks in only 13 games, so his pass rush is still there. You probably only need one 32-year-old edge rusher, though, and I like Addison a little better. LET GO.
Kyle Love, DT: At 33, Love doesn’t seem quite as effective as a run-stuffer anymore. LET GO.
Gerald McCoy, DT: McCoy is still plenty good enough to get some money to play somewhere. However, he’d probably like to go to a contender, and the Panthers need to get younger at his position. LET GO.
Greg Van Roten, OG: Van Roten’s text to me went on to say: “If you told me in the spring of 2017 — after coming off a successful two years in the CFL, after signing with and then being cut by the Jaguars after the draft — that I would be in this position, I wouldn’t have believed you. I am grateful for everything I have achieved and excited for whatever lies ahead.” KEEP.
Hard to get a read from that as to where Van Roten is leaning, but he’s a reliable, durable guard that the Panthers should try to hang on to.
Daryl Williams, OL: Williams started at every offensive line position except center in 2019. That versatility is a plus, for sure, but I think the Panthers can do better. LET GO.
