We bring you all your answers to fans burning questions in part two of this week’s mailbag.
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re heading into the appetizers of the off-season, as the NFL Combine is taking place as we speak and free agency looms in the coming weeks. Fan speculation is high about players the Panthers could be targeting on the open market, or via trade. So, this week’s topic of the week was “What free agency rumors would you like to hear regarding the Panthers?” So before we get into the questions, I’ll highlight the answers to this week’s topic!
GooseCreek: I’m hoping to hear that the Panthers are being active on the defensive side of the free agent market. Being competitive in acquiring impact players like Jevon Holland (Safety) or Nick Bolton (Linebacker) would tell me they are setting up for a BPA heavy draft. Even bringing in a lesser talent like a Paulson Adebo (Cornerback) or a reclaimation project like Chase Young (Edge) would allow the Panthers to cast a wider net during the draft.
I think the Panthers are all but outright saying they’ll be in the market for this year’s top defensive prospects. I’ve been banging the drum for Jevon Holland myself for weeks. Nick Bolton would definitely add some veteran talent with real stakes playoff experience on defense as well. Personally, I agree that the Panthers could and will go after tons of talent, even lesser talents, just to round out a really week defense.
ericbuck: I want to see the Panthers make a push for Jevon Holland
Robert Hunt can recruit him as a former teammate and Chuba Hubbard can recruit him as a fellow Canadian.
Our resident Canadian agrees. Go get Jevon Holland, stat! Get on the phone Chuba!
And now, I’ll answer the questions we got as part of the mailbag. To recap, this piece is part two of our weekly fan mailbag, where you can ask your burning questions in the comments of the weekly “Brian Asks” piece, and see them answered in this follow up. Let’s dive in.
GooseCreek: Also, why are they waiting to resign a solid roster addition like Sam Franklin, Jr.? He is valuable as both a special teams asset plus providing a back-up slot. Is he asking for a big bump in salary?
I think Franklin will at least dip his toes in the waters as far as the free agent market goes. Franklin returned to the Panthers on a one year deal last season, and his first contract was a UDFA rookie deal basically. He’s proven to be an extremely valuable special teams asset, and has managed to make some plays when called into action as a defensive player. I wouldn’t blame him at all for not locking himself in as a Panther right away, unless they’re bringing him in with the opportunity to start, something the Panthers didn’t do last season. I want to see him back, but testing the market makes sense.
Snarky_Comet: With the Panthers moving on from Shaq, who becomes the leader in the linebacker room? Jewell? He was a great addition to our team last year, but is he the vet we need to command that group?
Who are some FAs that fit that mold that could help us strengthen the linebacker squad? Just feel like this is a position we really shouldn’t sleep on this offseason, even with all the other needs we have elsewhere.
I think Josey Jewell makes a ton of sense as both a veteran presence and someone familiar with Ejiro Evero’s defense as a former Bronco. I don’t see this current batch of LBs outside of him taking that mantle up right away, though I’m definitely excited to see what Trevin Wallace does to progress in year two as a Panther.
The aforementioned Nick Bolton would certainly add a jolt of leadership to this linebacker. I’ve mentioned Dre Greenlaw in the past, and Zack Baun is vying for the top of the top of the free agent market. There’s definitely room to spend at this position to solidify it.
KeepPounding88: Who is the FA we’ll miss out on because they’ll choose to take less money to sign with a contender?
Jevon Holland would sadly be my pick, the Dolphins haven’t exactly been great consistently, and the safety position tends to get low balled anyway on the free agent market. EDGE Khalil Mack is likely looking to go to a team with Super Bowl aspirations, CB DJ Reed may do the same. Many of the CBs hitting the open market will likely go help teams that can make a playoff push, including CB Mike Jackson. I wouldn’t be surprised if we are underwhelmed by that position specifically following free agency’s first wave.
PantherBlueBlood: How much additional cap money do we have since Shaq won’t be resigned?
Shaq Thompson didn’t have any impact on the cap space situation, as he was scheduled to be a free agent anyway going into this off-season. The Panthers likely announced he wouldn’t be back so he could properly prepare to see what his market looks like without thinking Carolina might fall back on him. And to give him a proper send off as one of the last remnants of the 2015 Super Bowl squad.
dayneB12: How do you think Dan Morgan plans to address the kicker and punter positions?
Bringing back kicker Matthew Wright on a futures contract was certainly one way. He’s bounced around the league quite a bit and has two past (small) stints as a Panther in recent years. I think they’ll sign a punter for sure, but they could very easily wait and see what happens with Eddy Pineiro, or draft a kicker to compete with Wright. They do have some money to spend, but we may not see them address the kicker position until after they’ve added some defensive talent and see where things fall following the first or second wave of free agency.
Chefin ain’t easy: I have a “Man, I hope we don’t throw a lot of money at this player” (Javon Kinlaw) Do you have a player that you would NOT like to see us sign in FA?
I’ve seen people mention a reunion with EDGE Haason Reddick and I’m just not down with that after his stints with the Eagles and Jets. Not that I didn’t like him when he played for the Panthers, but I’m not expecting the Panthers to turn it all the way around in one Offseason, so having a guy like him they spent top dollar on in free agency being mentioned as a trade deadline guy if things don’t go super well would suck in 2025.
Deeper down the list, CB Asante Samuel Jr. I’d love to add a ballhawk to this secondary, but after the Panthers struggles with the run in 2024 and just overall needing to add some physicality, a guy who famously struggles with tackling isn’t someone I want right now. And I think he would be a poor fit for Evero’s defense, but feel free to dispute that in the comments.
DBelt: How will the Panthers balance playing time after signing Chase Young, Kalil Mack, Haason Reddick, and Josh Sweat and trading a conditional 7th for Myles Garrett?
Simple, trade Derrick Brown, and don’t bother with any safeties. Who needs those kind of players when you can send 4 high end pass rushers on any given snap?
That’s all this week, Panthers fans! Join us next week for another edition of the mailbag, and KEEP POUNDING!