We bring you answers to your fan questions in this week’s mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! This week, we got a ton of questions on free agent targets and strategy, and scenarios on what to do with pick #8. I can tell Panthers fans are chomping at the bit to see some action in free agency, as the Panthers appear to be gearing up to make some MOVES.
Let’s dive in and answer your questions!
DannyLimes: 2 part question from me.
What percentage would you give us on re-signing Andy Dalton as back up QB?
What do the panthers do with Taylor Moton; Extend, restructure or let the contract play out and get out of the restructuring and causing problems down the line?
- Later that day when this was asked, Andy Dalton was re-signed to a 2 year deal. Still, I wanted to highlight it because bringing Dalton back should signal one certainty: The Panthers QB room is set. They may look to replace Jack Plummer, but the 3rd QB and camp bodies shouldn’t be anything of consequence.
- I think the only two realistic options are to give Moton an extension, or to let him play out his contract. I don’t think restructuring makes any sense, when 1. he’s already on the last year of his deal and 2. the Panthers have already pushed cap space into the future in the form of void years. I think extending him now with one year left gives them more flexibility with the contract, whereas next year he’s hitting free agency, so you’re either matching a market offer or you need to replace your starting right tackle. Extending him should actually free up some space for them this season as well. So that’s my take.
MarloBarksdale99: If you had to choose 1 of these players to sign who would it be? Chris Godwin of Jevon Holland?
When do you think that Jaycee will get the re-up and also how much..?
Jevon Holland, without question, even with a top of the safety market contract. He’s younger, and Chris Godwin serves as another heavy slot type. His biggest benefit to me would be allowing him to work alongside Xavier Legette and teach him some things that would allow him more success in the NFL, where Holland would add a piece at either safety spot that Ejiro Evero’s defense desperately needs.
I think Jaycee gets the extension this off-season, if only because I think this is the right time. He’s coming off a good year, but on such a bad defense he wasn’t making a ton of the splash plays that get CBs paid. He’s probably looking at the neighborhood of $19-21 million on a per year basis just looking at the top contracts in the league right now. If the Panthers got him down to $15-18 million based on injury history, that’s a bargain in my opinion.
buckbeast: Do you feel the Panthers still need to overspend to get free agents to come to Charlotte or has the franchise turned that corner with the new front office and coaching staff?
This depends on your definition of “overspending”. All things considered, the top contracts they doled out to guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis look to be worth every penny, even if they were at a position not considered a premium spot. NFL Free Agency is a bidding war, so typically the top of their position players that test free agency get paid like the top players at their position. Such is the nature of the beast once 31 other teams can bid on your services. Somebody with a ton of cap space will always pay above what fans believe is “fair” for free agents. I think they are certainly a more attractive landing spot now that Dave Canales has shown some life and Bryce Young doesn’t look like the penultimate bust of 1st overall picks.
Fans will always do some hand wringing over contract values, but I wouldn’t think of 2025 as the team being in such dire straights as they were last Offseason.
Capitatethedj: Choose your edge rusher of choice this offseason:
Haason Reddick reunion (1 yr/$12 mil per year projected on Spotrac)
Josh Sweat darling of the SuperBowl (3 yr/$19mil)
Chase Young promising but often injured (4 yr/$17.5mil)
Probably Josh Sweat if you’re trying to hit on a long term option, but even he hasn’t been as impressive as you might think from a Super Bowl winning edge rusher. But I think for the money spent, he would have the best overall effect on this defense.
Deej_93: If you could choose 3 Free Agents for the Panthers to sign, who would you pick?
S Jevon Holland is an easy one, but he would solve so many problems on the back end for the Panthers. DL Osa Odigizuwa seems like someone the Panthers could sign to bolster their interior that badly needs reinforcements. And 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw for those thinking Shaq Thompson is done and aren’t sold on Trevin Wallace as a starter opposite Josey Jewell.
Good_Ol_Boy: Have you ever visited the HoF in Canton? If so, how was your experience? If not, are you planning on doing so in the future?
I have not, but as more Panthers get added to the Hall, I’m sure I’ll make time. Sound off below in the comments with your experiences!
brake 23rd: With the news of Tee Higgins getting another Franchise tag, do you think the Panthers go all out on defense during Free Agency and then pick Tetairoa McMillan at the number 8 pick?
They may not be out of the conversation for Tee Higgins just yet. #InOnEveryDeal. I do expect the majority of their moves to be on defense during the free agency period, and I think picking the best player available is a real option at 8, WR being one of them, even if they sign a veteran. If Tet is there at 8 and they take him, I wouldn’t bat an eye.
KeepPounding88: If you could trade for any player in the league right now, which do you think would help our team the most?
I think I could make an argument for LB Micah Parsons on defense and WR Jamarr Chase on offense. Both would boost the units immediately just with their presence. I’d go with Parsons myself though, he can do a lot of the things Evero wants out of both his linebackers and edge rushers, on both sides.
Marsha Jackalone: What is your pick for the marquee Panther free agent signing and what are the terms?
If the Eagles actually let it happen, I’d go with LB Zack Baun. And it wouldn’t be cheap. I’m thinking 5 years, $110 million, or whatever puts him pretty close to the top of the linebacker pay grade.
dayneB12: If the board doesn’t look good at #8, what teams could be options for a trade down?
I don’t see a way the board looks bad if two QBs go in the 7 picks before the Panthers, but that doesn’t mean a team wouldn’t want to jump up and grab someone. The 49ers are always pretty shrewd in the Draft and might make a jump from 11 to 8. I could see the Cardinals leaping up for a top D or O Lineman. However, in all these instances, is the player they take someone the Panthers wouldn’t want? Going to be fun to see the trade down scenarios over the next couple old months.
WakeToPanthers: ESPN best fit free agent list has us fitting with Tre’von Moehrig (S) and Darius Slayton (WR). Thoughts on adding these two?
Moehrig was already on my radar as someone the team could go after, so I am on board there all the way. Slayton would add some veteran leadership, which with David Moore set to hit free agency and Adam Thielen’s future up in the air, Slayton would be a fine addition as well. They need to add receiver talent one way or the other this off-season.
positivebob: use FA to find a starter or 2, or focus on filling out the depth chart a bit with more rotational signings?
I think the Panthers have to be aggressive getting starter level talent for the defense in free agency. They can’t afford to go into another season with a relatively weak starting group and expect to win games. There will be places to add depth, but I would think they should be in the market for pretty much any of the top free agents. Whether they sign them or not is a different story.
Keep Pounding everyone!