The Carolina Panthers are on the cusp of a rebuilding period, whether they want to admit it or not.
2020 was always going to be a fork in the road given the way the team was structured. Now, after so many personnel losses most analysts are expecting a brutal road ahead. According to a projection by Football Outsiders, the Panthers will finish this coming season with the worst record in the league.
Their biggest problem is a defense that might be the worst in the NFL this year. Turning that unit around is going to require a lot of work. Even if defensive coordinator Phil Snow turns out to be a schematic genius, at some point they’re going to have to add more talent.
Carolina can get a head-start by acquiring a player like Jamal Adams, who is in a contract dispute with the Jets. According to beat writer Gary Myers, a trade is “very possible” and half the teams in the league are expected to call.
Sources told me today Jets have given no indication will sign All-Pro S Jamal Adams to new contract in offseason. Want to wait to make decision. He wants contract now. Stalemate has caused friction & sources said trade very possible. It's expected half the teams will call Jets.
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) May 21, 2020
The Panthers don’t have much salary cap room left and any trade for Adams would cost a ton of draft capital. They should call the Jets anyway.
Adams is arguably the best safety in the league right now. At worst he’s second next to Derwin James. His ability to impact the passing game in multiple ways offers sensational value for whatever team he plays for. For one thing, Adams is superb in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he had an elite 87.3 pass coverage grade last season. He is also a fantastic pass rusher for a defensive back – he earned an 89.9 pass rush grade and has totaled 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hits over the last two seasons.
Watch Adams bully Saquon Barkley into the backfield, then strip Daniel Jones and return the ball for a touchdown.
Jamal Adams when compared to other safeties in 2019:
-10 TFLs (1st)
-6.5 sacks (1st)
-13 QB hits (1st)
-2 forced fumbles (T-5th)Pretty good! #NFL | #NFLTwitter | #NYJets pic.twitter.com/ygPEBUe8hD
— Focus Up Sports Radio (@FocusUpSports) May 22, 2020
Defenders who can make plays like that are extremely rare and worth paying a high price for, even first-round picks.
As for the price tag, the Panthers can free some money up by taking Luke Kuechly off the books and cutting players like Mike Davis.
Adding Adams to the mix would give Snow a weapon unlike any currently on the roster and allow him to try all kinds of interesting things schematically. One particularly intriguing possibility is a three deep safety look. The Riot Report and Pro Football Focus have both taken a dive into this trend recently. Some teams have tried putting three safeties on the field at the same time, but if Snow commits to it as a true structural change he’ll be the first pro defensive coordinator to do so. It’s worth trying, at least.
One of the reasons we’re more bullish about this Carolina team than most is the coaching staff bringing in new ideas – if Matt Rhule, Joe Brady and Snow are really willing to try different things it could go a long way towards erasing their talent disadvantage within the division.
Even if it doesn’t happen, embracing schematic changes like three-deep safety looks and trading for dynamic players like Adams are exactly the kind of bold moves this team needs to become relevant again.
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