CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday with the start of the new league year, and the Carolina Panthers will be among the teams looking to make some moves to improve their roster for next season.
After a successful 2017 campaign that saw Carolina reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five years with an 11-5 record, the Panthers will have a few gaps to fill before the NFL Draft next month. Here are the five biggest needs by position for the Panthers this offseason.
Defensive Line
Technically, there are two positions on the defensive line, but for simplicity’s sake (and with the loss of a major player at defensive tackle), we’ll keep the entire unit in one section. Tuesday it was reported that defensive tackle and former first-round draft choice Star Lotulelei would leave Carolina to join former defensive coordinator Sean McDermott in Buffalo. Lotulelei is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Bills when free agency opens.
The Panthers got a piece of good news Wednesday when veteran defensive end Julius Peppers re-signed with the team. The 38-year-old is coming off surgery to repair his shoulder, but getting him back is a huge coup for general manager Marty Hurney. At 37, Peppers still wreaked havoc, piling up 11 sacks, adding to his soon-to-be Hall of Fame career.
The news of Peppers' re-signing will give the team some wiggle room when it comes to replacing defensive end Charles Johnson, who was cut in February.
With Lotulelei’s departure, it appears even more likely that Carolina will need to invest a top draft pick in the defensive line. Luckily for them, this year’s draft class is extremely deep at defensive tackle and several quality defensive ends are entering this year’s draft. Third-year tackle Vernon Butler could step in and provide the Panthers with a much-needed boost on the defensive interior.
Pending free agents: DT Star Lotulelei, DT Amini Silatolu, DE Julius Peppers.
Running Back
I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t the Panthers just draft Christian McCaffrey? Yes, but with longtime back Jonathan Stewart being cut and likely joining former GM Dave Gettleman in New York, Carolina will need to find another workhorse. It’s unknown if Cameron Artis-Payne or Fozzy Whittaker can stand in place of Stewart, who struggled last season, averaging a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry.
McCaffrey, whose versatility made him worth spending a first-round pick in last year’s draft, also struggled to run the ball consistently, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry with two touchdowns on 117 carries.
Safety
Last month, the Panthers made news when they cut veteran safety Kurt Coleman. Coleman had two years left on his contract that was signed before the 2016 season. The move allowed the Panthers to clear some cap space with several other holes to fill. As a whole, Carolina’s secondary struggled last season.
“Kurt came in and brought leadership and direction to our young secondary,” Ron Rivera told Panthers.com. “He was a huge contributor to the growth and development of that unit. He carried himself and represented this organization very well.”
After being cut, Coleman agreed to a three-year deal with New Orleans. There could be a trade of sorts with New Orleans, as Kenny Vaccaro is a free agent, as is former Panther Tre Boston.
On Tuesday, news broke that the Panthers would bolster the secondary by signing cornerback Bashaud Breeland, a four-year pro of the Washington Redskins.
Wide Receiver
After trading Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo last season, the Panthers called on Devin Funchess to step in as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. Funchess responded with the best season of his career, hauling in 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns. But the Panthers’ receivers still need help, even with the return of second-year speedster Curtis Samuel after suffering a leg injury last year.
Aside from Funchess, Cam Newton’s wide receivers only caught 55 receptions last year when you remove Benjamin’s stats. A number of high-profile free agents are reportedly off the board, including former first-round pick Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry.
The Panthers are also reportedly trading cornerback Daryl Worley for veteran wideout Torrey Smith. With many free agent receivers getting major deals, look for the Panthers to find a more affordable veteran option or draft the guy they hope will be their next great receiver.
Pending free agents: Brenton Bersin, Charles Johnson, Kaelin Clay (restricted)
Tight End
Greg Olsen has been nothing short of sensational since joining the Panthers in 2011. Entering 2017, Olsen hadn’t missed a game since 2011 and became the first tight end in NFL history to top 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons.
But even the great Greg Olsen can’t do it alone. With fellow tight end Ed Dickson reportedly drawing interest from several teams, the Panthers could be in need of a second tight end this offseason. With major player Jimmy Graham already off the board, the Panthers could turn to a lesser-known name should Dickson sign with another team.
The draft class doesn’t appear great at the position, but with Greg Olsen turning 33 earlier this month, it’s not too soon for the Panthers to look to the future.
Pending free agents: Ed Dickson, Scott Simonson (restricted)
