NFL free agency is off and going and the Carolina Panthers have been fairly reserved. GM Dave Gettleman has focused on retaining key free agents from last year's team, as well as signing OT Michael Oher (2 years, $7 million) and bringing back WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr (2 years, $4.2 million) from hiatus. All has been quiet otherwise, despite murmurs about former Tennessee Titans OLB/DE Derrick Morgan.
In my unqualified opinion, the Panthers needs entering this offseason were (in no particular order):
- Left Tackle
- FA - Michael Oher
- Outside Wide Receiver
- Speed Wide Receiver
- FA - Ted Ginn Jr
- Backup Tight End
- RE - Ed Dickson (3 years, $6.8 million)
- Kick Returner
- FA - Ted Ginn Jr
- Defensive End
- Defensive Tackle Depth
- RE - Dwan Edwards (2 years, $4 million)
- RE - Colin Cole (1 year, $1.05 million)
- Linebacker Depth
- Outside Cornerback
- Safety
As you can see, Gettleman has done a solid job of addressing many of these needs already (though I know most Panthers fans would agree that Michael Oher is not what we or Cam had in mind). There are still a couple of moves that Gettleman could make to increase space against the salary cap (restructuring / extending Charles Johnson, Ryan Kalil, and Thomas Davis), which could lead to a couple more minor free agent signings. I have identified a few free agents still available that I think could make sense based on how Gettleman likes to operate.
WR Hakeem Nicks - Indianapolis Colts
There were talks that Nicks might have returned to Charlotte last year, and after a mediocre year in Indianapolis (who just signed Andre Johnson), he could look for another 1 year contract at age 27 hoping to have a career resurgence. If he could produce like his final year in New York (56 catches, 896 yards), Nicks would provide an ample third target to compliment Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen at a low cost.
Suggested contract: 1 year, $2,250,00 total with $750,000 signing bonus
DE Derrick Morgan - Tennessee Titans
This has already been rumored (via a screenshot of Morgan's SnapChat mentioning Carolina), but I really think that Derrick Morgan would be a great fit with the Panthers. He was miscast in Tennessee last year as a 3-4 OLB and still managed 63 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 16 QB hurries - good for 19th in the NFL. For reference purposes Charles Johnson was 9th with 20, and the next highest Panther was Mario Addison at 76th with 9. A 3 year contract would allow Morgan to have one more contract before turning 30, and he could thrive with better pass rushers around him.
Suggested contract: 3 years, $11,000,000 total with $2,000,000 signing bonus
CB Patrick Robinson - New Orleans Saints
I know he has been a bust thus far as a first round pick, but he could come into training camp as part of a numbers game to fill the starting position opposite of Josh Norman. He looked better last year than he had previously, and he could be worth a shot on a minimally guaranteed contract.
Suggested contract: 2 years, $2,000,000 total with $150,000 signing bonus
That's all for Lesson 1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Homework - Leave a comment!
If you could have the Panthers sign one free agent (that is still unsigned), who would you choose?
0 Responses:
Post a Comment