Because an NFL season is getting ready, it starts with an audit: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the workforce? Then, how to strengthen via the market and the draft. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the off-season of the 32 franchises. Today the Carolina Panthers.
After three struggling seasons under the yoke of Matt Rhule, the Panthers want to find some color with Frank Reich at their head. In a division under reconstruction, there is a place in the sun to be made.
The owners
1. Brian Burns (DE)
2. Derrick Brown (DT)
3. DJ Moore (WR)
At just 24 years old, Brian Burns has already established himself as the leader by example of the Panthers defense. Author of his best career season, with 12.5 sacks and a second selection in the Pro Bowl, the pass rusher arrives this season in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. Its extension must be a priority for the Panthers, as Burns is an essential element of the young defense of Carolina.
His line partner, Derrick Brown, also represents the future of the franchise. Like several other players in this squad (Frankie Luvu, Jaycee Horn), Brown is a young player full of talent, who has proven since his arrival in the league that he is a serious threat against the opposing running game.
On the other side of the ball, DJ Moore is still a safe bet. Admittedly, he is coming out of a worse season in statistical terms, but he has not been helped by the quarterback ball either. Since joining the Panthers, eight pitchers have started in five seasons, but Moore has continued to produce. With the more than likely arrival of a new quarterback, the presence of a safe target will not be too much, despite the non-negligible impact of his contract on the salary cap.
Undesirables
–Shaq Thompson (LB)
– Pat Elflein (C)
– Damien Wilson (LB)
If he remains on several good seasons, and that he is one of the leaders of the defense of the Panthers since his draft, in 2015, the future of Shaq Thompson in North Carolina has never seemed so vague. Many cut or transfer rumors have made noise on the Charlotte side, for a simple and good reason: cutting him would save $ 13.2 million in 2023. If his level of play is not put in cause, his contract is over, and if he doesn’t make a financial effort to stay, then the Panthers could part ways with him, especially since Carolina’s finances are in the red by $9.5 million. .
Same story for Pat Elflein and Damien Wilson, whose departure would save the franchise respectively 4.8 and 3.6 million dollars. If the Panthers manage to extend Bradley Bozeman, a departure from Elflein seems inevitable.
The summer man
Frank Reich (HC)
Yes, the site seems complex, but Frank Reich does not arrive on a completely fallow ground either. The squad has many promising young players who are already productive, especially in defence, and David Tepper and Scott Fitterer have given it quality coordinators, with Thomas Brown (OC, ex-Rams) and above all Ejiro Evero (DC, ex-Rams). Broncos), who was once advertised as a potential candidate for a head coach position in the league.
Also, unlike Jonathan Gannon, Shane Steichen and DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich is no rookie. For four and a half seasons, he was the coach of the Colts, with two appearances in the playoffs and three positive seasons to his credit despite the inconstancy at quarterback.
In addition, he arrives in a franchise he knows, having been in 1995 the very first starting quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, the new NFL franchise. A sign of fate for the one whose mission is to find the quarterback of the future and to revive a team which has not known the playoffs since 2017, an eternity on the scale of the NFL.
The main free agents
1. Bradley Bozeman (C)
2. D’Onta Foreman (RB)
3. Sam Darnold (QB)
4. Cory Littleton (LB)
5. Matthew Ioannidis (DT)
The others: Juston Burris (S), Cameron Erving (OT), Rashard Higgins (WR), JJ Jansen (LS), Eddy Piñeiro (K), Justin Layne (CB), Stephen Sullivan (TE), PJ Walker (QB) …
In addition to Brian Burns, two men currently at the end of the contract must be at the center of the Panthers’ priorities: Bradley Bozeman and D’Onta Foreman. In an attack that is clearly lacking in bosses, these two players absolutely need to be extended. Bozeman, who arrived from the Ravens last summer, proved in the second half of the season that he could become the center of the franchise’s future, and the one who will pass the ball to the Panthers’ future quarterback.
Like him, D’Onta Foreman exploded in the second half of the season, after the dismissal of Matt Rhule and the transfer of Christian McCaffrey. With five games over 100 yards, including one with three touchdowns, he showed he could take the reins of Carolina’s ground game in the long run.
The Sam Darnold question is more complex. It is obvious that he in no way represents the future of the franchise at quarterback. However, depending on the player who arrives, the Panthers could be tempted to keep him while the new player learns the job. This could be his only chance to start at least a few games this season.
For the others, unless they accept the minimum, they should have to move, as the wage margin seems reduced.
Top 5 Needs
1. Quarterback
2. Linebacker
3.Guard
4. Tight end
5. Wide receiver
The Panthers’ number one need is clear, clean, precise and obvious: the quarterback position. Baker Mayfield is no longer there, Sam Darnold and PJ Walker are free agents, and anyway these three men had by no means convinced. There remains the question mark around Matt Corral, drafted in the 3rd round, injured in preseason and who did not take the slightest snap with Carolina. All the rumors suggest that Frank Reich and his general manager Scott Fitterer will select a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft, now remains to know which one.
With Shaq Thompson and Damien Wilson potentially cut, and Cory Littleton out of contract, Frankie Luvu is going to need help at linebacker. If the rest of the defense seems rather filled, this team lacks a real boss in the center of the field, as a middle linebacker.
Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett are decent guards, but they aren’t comprehensive insurance either. A young quarterback will need a solid line if he wants to develop in the NFL at best.
Since the retirement of Greg Olsen, the Panthers are looking for the position of tight end. Certainly, Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble are good blockers, but they lack quality when it comes to catching balls. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed, whether through the draft or through the free agent market. A young quarterback will need a talented receiving tight end to progress in the NFL.
Alongside DJ Moore, he is probably missing a number 2 receiver, see 1 bis. Terrace Marshall Jr. has shown snippets of talent, but not enough yet, and Laviska Shenault is a great gimmick, but doesn’t seem like a real fix as a starter. Thus, the Panthers could be tempted to go for a good experienced receiver.
Target
Mike Gesicki (TE – Dolphins)
To remedy the recurring problem in the position of tight end, two options are available to the Panthers: the draft or the free agency. If the draft is full of young talents who could, in the long term, become viable solutions, the problem seems too urgent not to think about it from the free agent market.
Several tight end receivers who have proven their value will be available during the offseason: Dalton Schultz, Evan Engram, Mike Gesicki, Robert Tonyan or even Irv Smith Jr. However, the name of Gesicki seems the most interesting.
The former Dolphins tight end certainly does not come out of such a successful season with Schultz or Engram, but he has proven since the start of his NFL career that he is a more than correct solution at the reception, with two seasons to go. more than 700 yards, and three seasons with more than five touchdowns. Additionally, his relatively low-key 2022 season has lowered his rating, and the Panthers could sign him on the cheap. Overall, good value for money.
The new blood
Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)
The Panthers will take a quarterback in the first round, remains to be seen which one. Their good end to the season had beneficial effects on the group’s confidence for the future, but also had the effect of bringing them down in the draft. They have the 9th choice, and could potentially go up to get one of the two favorites, Bryce Young (Alabama) or CJ Stroud (Ohio State). However, many teams are in the same situation of need (Texans, Colts, Raiders, Jets, Commanders).
They could thus fall back on a man with particular culinary tastes and a cannon arm: Will Levis (Kentucky). If he is used to putting mayonnaise in his coffee, he also has the habit of throwing long balls deep. A highly sought-after quality in the NFL, and which could make the Panthers salivate.
If he is a leader at heart with NFL measurements and a non-negligible ability to come out of his pocket, he will have to solve a small problem of interception if he wishes to become the face of the franchise.
Other choices: Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida), CJ Stroud (QB – Ohio State)…
