We bring you part two of this week’s fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! This week, many of the questions surrounded who the Panthers should try to retain in the upcoming wave of free agency in March. There’s still plenty of time to make that happen, but we’ll take an early stab at some ideas. To recap, Brian Answers is the second part two our weekly fan mailbag, where you can ask your questions, whether they are Panthers related, football related, or even completely off topic! Let’s dive in!
WanderingGnome: One player we should bring back, but won’t..
One player we won’t bring back, but should..
The phrasing is a little confusing, since in both instances, it means said player is someone we’d like re-signed, but don’t. But anyway, I’ll give it a shot.
- C/OL Brady Christensen. The Panthers absolutely should bring him back being he’s a key piece of depth, and theoretically could/should compete for the starting center position. However, for Lord knows what reason, Carolina won’t commit to him as a starter. If I’m in Christensen’s camp, I’m testing free agency for the team that will 1. sign him to play at a singular position, as the starter, and 2. will pay him starter level money for that role. Carolina SHOULD bring him back and just give him the reigns at center, but I’m not sure the coaching staff thinks he’s a center. Everywhere else, he’s a backup.
- S Sam Franklin. Carolina is currently facing every safety but 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson back for 2025 as far as players who played meaningful snaps at the position. I think Franklin walks in free agency to go test the waters elsewhere, but in theory Carolina SHOULD bring him back as a high end special teams player and a guy with starting experience, as a worst-case-scenario fallback option to start at safety if the cards don’t land the way they want in the Draft. I’m sure they’ll sign a free agent or two at safety, but Franklin’s value as a special teams player make me think he should be brought back as safety 4/5.
bringo!: If we go for alot of defense (specifically edge and DT in free agnecy) do you see us going with Tet or even Starks?
I do believe the Panthers will invest heavily in the trenches on defense this off-season, though how far that rope goes depends on how flexible with future cap Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis are. But theoretically, you set up the Draft by addressing enough needs prior to it so you don’t have to draft based on need. So I could absolutely see and support them taking WR Tetairoa McMillan or S Malachai Starks at 8 if that’s how the board lands there. In the end, you want to walk away with an impact player that high in the first, so even if it isn’t defense, one of the best wide receivers in the Draft or a high end safety will help this team.
Bruce Guild: What do you enjoy the most about the offseason? Does the mix of those visiting change much? Traffic spike during the draft and free agency compared to during the season?
I enjoy free agency the most during the off-season. While the Draft is always fun, free agency can be pretty unpredictable, and for those couple of weeks after open, you’re checking your phone constantly as a fan for updates. I enjoy nights one and two of the Draft as well, though it can be a long watch and half the time we’re not really sure about the day two picks when we wake up on Saturday. Comment traffic always spikes during these two times, and its because we’re getting the Christmas of the NFL Offseason. Even if it comes with the heavy scrutiny of contract money dealt and draft position taken.
dayneb12: WIll this be the year the Panthers finally draft a Clemson player?
LB Barrett Carter might slot in well alongside Trevin Wallace if the Panthers pull the trigger on an interior LB in the mid rounds.
Im0pen: I am wondering….it would make sense for the Panthers to throw out Tet’s name a lot ….as bait for a trade down…..because you know there are teams that really want “the highest rated WR”.
If none of the top defensive players are there at 8….I can see this as a backup strategy.
If I’m sitting at 8 with the best defensive prospects for the Panthers off the board, it would be hard to convince me taking McMillan is a bad selection. That said, he’s also the kind of player that a team might actually trade up for. Always lost in the talks of trading down is the necessary factor of having a team that actually wants to move up. For the Panthers, short of a QB being available at 8, there aren’t many players that could be there at 8 where it makes sense for the Panthers to trade down instead of just take them. McMillan might be one of those players, depending on how you feel about the WR room. We won’t know how a trade like that shakes out until after the Draft.
MtndancerSr: Do you follow the USFL?
I loved the 80s version of the USFL. I lived outside Philly at the time and the Stars were a great team (Then they moved to Baltimore. I feel for you Colts fans.) I remember ESPN would have replays of all the games after midnight throughout the week and I would watch.
I do not follow the USFL. But I do root for the Houston Roughnecks from afar. But, in seriousness, the dropoff of play from the NFL and even preseason NFL to the USFL is just drastic. If you’re fiending for some football, it’ll get you there. But for me, as a guy who really appreciates defense, its pretty close to unwatchable at times. Maybe they’ll change my mind in 2025.
RebuildingSince95: Which Defensive players would you like to see us keep?
Where is the best BBQ in Charlotte?
I think CB Mike Jackson is an easy answer to the list. I’d really like to see how he fairs opposite Jaycee Horn if the Panthers can manage to scrap together a top 15 or even 20 front seven on defense. I think the coaching staff did well with him despite the personnel limitations around him. I also think giving Shaq Thompson one last hurrah as a Panther on a cheap one year deal would be good. Currently, the defensive line needs so much help that the Panthers are going to end up neglecting positions elsewhere in the defense. Having Josey Jewell and some combination of Shaq/Trevin Wallace/rookie ILB wouldn’t be the worst thing.
You’ll need to share the best BBQ in Charlotte, as I’ve only actually been to the city twice. Both times it was to see a Panthers game and couldn’t stay much longer. Share your picks in the comments!
Join us next week in Brian Asks for another chance to have your burning Offseason questions answered, and KEEP POUNDING!