[ad_1]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The official start to free agency Wednesday was a bit anticlimactic for the Carolina Panthers and a lot of other teams following the avalanche of deals that were agreed to during the two-day, legal tampering window that preceded it.
For the Panthers, Wednesday was about finalizing and making official the team’s two trades — including the one involving Brian Burns, whom they held on to 16 months too long — and the release of three veteran players.
But while the team was cutting ties with Bradley Bozeman, Hayden Hurst and Vonn Bell three days before all were due roster bonuses, behind the scenes general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales and salary cap and contracts executive Brandt Tilis were preparing to make a final push during this first wave of free agency.
Though the Panthers didn’t get enough of a return from the New York Giants for Burns, Morgan has done a nice job filling a couple holes on defense and giving Bryce Young some interior protectors and a receiver who can separate.
But with a couple of glaring holes remaining on the depth chart, The Athletic looks at how Morgan might go about filling them and what the Panthers have left in terms of resources.
Live updates: Free-agent news from across the NFL
FA tracker: New teams and contract details for the top 150 free agents
Best available players: Who’s still on the market?
Grades: Best and worst of free-agent deals
So who has the edge among the edge targets?
Thursday is setting up to be a big day for the Panthers’ new regime, which will host three proven pass rushers — Jadeveon Clowney, Chase Young and D.J. Wonnum, according to league sources with knowledge of the visits. With Burns in New York and Yetur Gross-Matos signing with the San Francisco 49ers, the Panthers would love to sign two of the three guys coming in.
But there are several factors that will determine if that’s doable, including the players’ contract demands to whether their physicals reveal any red flags. Young missed 22 of 34 games after tearing his ACL in 2022 during his third season in Washington. Wonnum is recovering from a partially torn quad, while the 31-year-old Clowney has dealt with various health issues over his 10-year career.
After a disappointing season with Cleveland in 2022, Clowney enjoyed a resurgence in Baltimore, tying a career high with 9 1/2 sacks. The Panthers signed a veteran, ex-Baltimore pass rusher last summer and that didn’t turn out so well. Clowney is four years younger than Justin Houston, but the Panthers have to make sure the Rock Hill, S.C., native and 2014 first overall pick has something left.
The 25-year-old Young was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in ’21 before tearing up his knee. After Washington traded him to San Francisco last season, Young ranked 24th out of 43 qualifying edge rushers in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush productivity rankings. But Young had a strong showing in the Super Bowl, with a sack and two hits on Patrick Mahomes.
Wonnum, who played at South Carolina, had a pair of eight-sack seasons during his four years with the Vikings. The 26-year-old has excellent length and size (6-5, 258) and scored his first career touchdown on a 51-yard return of a Young fumble against the Panthers last season.
Chaos. Absolute chaos.@HarriSmith22 @DWonnum
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/0UWZB1Afxj
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 1, 2023
What other positions are the Panthers targeting?
Morgan needs to find a safety after moving on from Bell after just one season. Keep an eye on Jordan Fuller, the former Los Angeles Rams safety who is set to visit the Panthers this week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Fuller’s time with the Rams overlapped with that of Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and secondary coach Jonathan Cooley. The Panthers seem to be putting a premium on players whom Evero is familiar with. Two of their early free-agent agreements came with defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson and linebacker Josey Jewell, both of whom had their best seasons under Ejero at L.A. and Denver, respectively.
Fuller, a sixth-round pick in 2020 from Ohio State, started 17 games last season and was around the ball a lot. In addition to his 94 tackles, Fuller picked off three passes (tying his career best) and forced a career-high three fumbles.
Evero also has a background with free-agent safety Justin Simmons, a second-team All-Pro in four of the past five seasons in Denver. The Titans are reportedly targeting Simmons, who has 30 career interceptions and will command a bigger contract than Fuller.
Jordan Fuller had 94 tackles, three interceptions and broke up eight passes last season in L.A. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
What about another cornerback, a tight end and one more receiver to go with Diontae Johnson?
The Panthers agreed to terms Wednesday with former Buffalo Bills corner Dane Jackson, whom the Bills drafted in the seventh round in 2020 at Morgan’s urging. Jackson is considered a dependable backup and core special teams player who will be given a chance to compete in Carolina. But Morgan should add another corner — either through the draft or free agency — after trading Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh.
GO DEEPER
Person: Panthers take risk in acquiring Diontae Johnson, but his upside is undeniable
As for bringing in another playmaker, it would likely have to be a tight end and/or receiver on a team-friendly deal later in free agency. It’s hard to say exactly where the Panthers are relative to the salary cap because not all of the transactions have processed. But they’ll be close to tapped out after signing one (or more) of the edge rushers, a safety and maybe a corner.
(Top photos of Jadeveon Clowney, Chase Young and D.J. Wonnum: Ian Johnson, Michael Owens, Bailey Hillesheim / Getty Images)
[ad_2]
Source link
