The Panthers are looking at a total reset at their safety position in 2025.
The Panthers enter the 2025 Offseason looking to rebuild one of the worst statistical defenses in NFL history. And while the front seven, mainly defensive line, has become the focal point for many fans and analysts, the Panthers safety position might be in an even worse spot. Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller entered the season as the starters, with Nick Scott being a key backup and special teams ace Sam Franklin eventually returned to the lineup after starting the year on injured/reserve. All are set to hit free agency, leaving only UDFA Demani Richardson at the position, with depth safety Lonnie Johnson also joining said list of departing players. As you may know, most NFL defenses field two starting safeties, which means at the bare minimum the Panthers need to find a starter opposite Richardson, though there’s an argument to be made whether he should be a presumed starter in 2025 as well. So, where does the team go from here?
Free Agency
The Panthers currently have about $22 million in cap space for 2025, though they could easily restructure some contracts, sign extensions, or cut players to make that figure higher. Regardless, they aren’t sitting on a huge pile of money to address all of their needs for the regular season. Luckily, one of the positions they can address without shelling out top dollar is the safety position. In recent years, many starter caliber safeties sign pretty team friendly deals in the early goings of this phase of the off-season, or find themselves on the outside looking in for months until the preseason rolls around.
The Panthers could (and should) take advantage of the recent safety market to help shore up this position. After all, they need to add at least 3 safeties just to hit the bare minimum going into the regular season. Here’s a few options I think they should consider in free agency:
- Jevon Holland: At just 25 years old and providing versatility across the secondary, the former Dolphin should be the gem of free agency for any safety needy team. Carolina can be in the conversation, but I doubt the contract will be cheap.
- Tre’von Moehrig: Moehrig isn’t the best in pass coverage, but he’s young and provides upside as a pass rusher. I think he’d fit in as more of a box safety, but I’m not sure if Ejiro Evero’s defense would have the best role for him. After all, Jeremy Chinn apparently couldn’t fit into this defense and I think Moehrig has a similar skill set. That said, if you’re looking for a younger guy to bring in, Moehrig fits the bill.
- Justin Reid: The former Chief is slated to hit free agency, and slates in to be one of the top names at his position. His overall pass coverage grade and receptions allowed in 2024 are top of the league, and he’d certainly add value right away to this Panthers secondary. But, unless a team isn’t willing to give a long term contract, he could be another waiting for calls up until the preseason.
These are just a few of the names slated to hit free agency. The Panthers could add someone in their 30s to put a band-aid on the position as well, but aside from Holland and Reid, I don’t see them adding a top player at the position in free agency. But they’ll need to add at least two regardless.
The Draft
The Panthers are in a pretty good position to add defensive talent in the 2025 NFL Draft. Georgia safety Malaki Starks could be an option for them at pick # 8, or even if they manage to swing a trade down into the middle of the first round. Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts could very well fall to them in the second round. I’m a big fan of Penn State safeties Kevin Winston Jr and Jaylen Reed in the mid rounds, or the Oklahoma duo of Billy Bowman Jr and Robert Spears-Jennings. I think it would make a ton of sense to add two safeties who played together to this room that is basically starting from the ground up. Luckily, the Panthers have several 4th and 5th round selections to play with.
The bottom line, the Panthers absolutely have to add safety talent, even if they bring back guys like Sam Franklin with starter experience. Who would you like to see them add, Panthers fans?