Category: Panthers Free Agency

Report: Panthers meeting with free agent DE Chris Smith today

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, the Carolina Panthers are meeting with free agent defensive end Chris Smith today.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, the Carolina Panthers are meeting with free agent defensive end Chris Smith today.

Smith was a fifth-round pick by the Jaguars back in the 2014 NFL draft. He put in three years in Jacksonville, followed by one in Cincinnati. He’s played for the Browns the last two seasons.

In 60 games in the NFL, Smith has totaled 8.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Carolina probably sees him as a potential backup piece, as he’s only started twice in his career.

As for the rest of the team’s EDGE rotation, last year’s starters Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin are both 32 years old and are about to become free agents, so they probably won’t be coming back. Brian Burns will take one of their spots as a full-time starter in 2020, but there’s no clear No. 2 on the roster right now.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: WR Breshad Perriman

With that in mind, our latest potential 2020 free agent target profile is 27-year old Lions guard Graham Glasgow.

The Panthers wide receiver corps will need some fresh blood in 2020 after adding offensive coordinator Joe Brady and subtracting Jarius Wright.

This year’s draft class is deep at the position and Carolina should definitely pick one at some point. The front office might also consider going after a veteran receiver in free agency, preferably one who won’t break the bank and is still in their prime. With that in mind, our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is Breshad Perriman of the Buccaneers.

Career stats:

Perriman played college ball at Central Florida then got picked by the Ravens in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He missed his entire rookie year due to a knee injury on the first day of training camp, though. After that, he played two seasons in Baltimore, one in Cleveland and one in Tampa Bay, making appearances in 51 games. Perriman has caught 95 passes, totaling 1,561 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Pros:

Perriman just had a breakout season in Tampa, posting career highs in catches (36), yards (645) and touchdowns (six). The Panthers’ wide receiver corps needs more size and speed. Perriman offers a bit of both. He checks in at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and ran a 4.24-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Those qualities helped him average 17.9 yards per catch in 2019, the fourth-best average in the league. He seems to do his best work from the slot, which would be a plus in Wright’s absence.

Cons:

For a first-round pick, Perriman definitely hasn’t lived up to the hype. His relatively low catch rate is most concerning – it’s just 48.7% for his career and it’s not necessarily getting better. He only caught 36 of 69 targets from Jameis Winston last year. Injuries have also been an issue, as he has missed 29 games already.

Probability: Medium

More than anything, Perriman’s market will be hurt by his injury history and the deep 2020 wide receiver draft class. He’ll also likely have to compete with A.J. Green, Robby Anderson and Taylor Gabriel. That should make him just affordable enough for the Panthers to sign if they’re interested.

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Report: Panthers CB James Bradberry aiming for $15 million or more a year

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, Panthers cornerback and pending free agent James Bradberry is aiming to sign for $15 million or more per year on his next contract.

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, Panthers cornerback and pending free agent James Bradberry is aiming to sign for $15 million or more per year on his next contract.

That amount might sound high, but it’s fairly typical for what a player like Bradberry makes these days. The starting cornerbacks who have been extended or signed recently earn around $14 million per season. Xavien Howard of the Dolphins currently leads the position in yearly salary at just over $15 million, per Over the Cap.

Bradberry has developed into a solid, above-average starter for Carolina’s secondary. However, giving him what he wants would represent a massive investment in a defender who has been inconsistent at times during his career and has never made the Pro Bowl.

On the other hand, allowing Bradberry to walk and sign with another team could be disastrous. If he leaves, the Panthers would be left with Cole Luke and Donte Jackson as the only true corners on the roster, as Ross Cockrell and Javien Elliott are also both about to become free agents.

This is supposed to be a deep cornerback draft class, but letting Bradberry leave would still represent a huge risk.

This is definitely a difficult decision for general manager Marty Hurney. If he’s wary of agreeing to a long-term deal, he may decide to use the franchise tag.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: G Graham Glasgow

With that in mind, our latest potential 2020 free agent target profile is 27-year old Lions guard Graham Glasgow.

The Panthers offensive line will improve most in 2020 by having a new coach in Pat Meyer who hopefully will bring a more balanced approach than former OL coach John Matsko.

As far as the personnel on the field goes, Taylor Moton and Trai Turner aren’t going anywhere on the right side. Given the structure of his contract, the team is stuck with center Matt Paradis for at least another year, so they have to hope he bounces back. At left tackle, Greg Little is a potential long-term starter who deserves more time to develop.

That means left guard may be the only position they really need to upgrade this offseason. With that in mind, our latest potential 2020 free agent target profile is 27-year old Lions guard Graham Glasgow.

Career stats:

After playing his college ball at Michigan, Detroit picked Glasgow (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He’s played in 62 games since, earning 58 starts. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.1 overall grade for last season.

Pros:

Glasgow has experience at both the left guard and center positions. That’s an obvious plus for the Panthers, who may be concerned about a repeat disappointing performance from Paradis in 2020. Adding Glasgow plugs the hole at left guard and offers another option at center. He’s only missed two games in his career while playing a relatively high offensive snap count and helping out on special teams.

Cons:

There’s a reason why Glasgow flies under the radar. His play for Detroit has been respectable but never spectacular. Penalties have been an issue at times, as well. His rookie year he committed four false starts (six total penalties), followed by four holds in 2017. Glasgow has cleaned it up recently, though.

Probability: Medium

For teams who are bargain hunting for interior offensive linemen, Glasgow is a strong option. He won’t cost as much as signing either Joe Thuney or Brandon Scherff and should be well within Carolina’s price range.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: TE Austin Hooper

Let’s take a closer look at Hooper, who should be considered the top tight end on the board this year.

The Panthers have another roster hole to fill at tight end thanks to the release of long-time veteran Greg Olsen, who has now signed with the Seahawks. Fortunately, there are some good players at the position who are about to hit the market next month.

For example, we learned today from Ian Rapoport at NFL Network that the Falcons plan to let both Austin Hooper and De’Vondre Campbell test free agency. Let’s take a closer look at Hooper, who should be considered the top tight end on the board this year.

Career stats:

Atlanta picked Hooper in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. His production has steadily increased every season since. In 59 games, Hooper has been targeted 277 times. He’s caught an impressive 214 of them (77.3% catch rate), totaling 2,244 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He has been a legitimate Pro Bowler each of the last two years.

Pros:

Carolina will likely draft or sign a tight end at some point this offseason. Hooper is the only one who would qualify as a guaranteed upgrade, though. Like Olsen, Hooper has sticky hands and he’s at least as athletic and explosive now as No. 88 was in his prime. He’s also reliable. In his career, Hooper has only dropped five passes and has never fumbled. He’s also a superb option in the end zone and is still in his prime at just 25 years old.

Cons:

Hooper has missed a handful of games here and there (five games in four years) but hasn’t suffered a significant injury yet. Once again, the potential downside for the Panthers here is his price-tag, which will be considerable. While tight end should be addressed, there are several other positions that need to be prioritized first. Signing Hooper might be a luxury they simply can’t afford.

Probability: Low

As the best tight end on the market, adding Hooper won’t come cheap for the Panthers or anybody else. General manager Marty Hurney can probably sign someone like Eric Ebron or perhaps Hunter Henry for less.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: WR Taylor Gabriel

Our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is the underrated Taylor Gabriel, who was just released by the Bears.

The Panthers have an excellent one-two punch at wide receiver with D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady used a lot of four and five receiver sets at LSU though and the team could use a boost to the bottom end of the depth chart.

This year’s draft class is deep at wide receiver, so expect them to pick up a prospect there. Carolina might also consider signing a veteran who could qualify as a steal. Our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is the underrated Taylor Gabriel, who was just released by the Bears.

Career stats

Gabriel went undrafted after playing his college career at Abilene Christian. Since coming into the NFL, he’s spent two years each with the Browns, Falcons and Bears. In 83 games, he has totaled 228 catches, 2,860 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

Pros

When the speedy Gabriel has worked with a solid quarterback and offensive coordinator (namely Matt Ryan and Kyle Shanahan) he’s produced. His best year came in 2016 when he caught a career-high six touchdowns. Gabriel has an excellent catch rate for a deep threat and rarely drops passes. Adding him to the mix would give Brady another weapon to stretch the field. He’s also a legitimate special teams contributor and has some experience as a kick returner, totaling 96 yards on four attempts.

Cons

Gabriel just turned 29 years old a week ago and he missed half of the 2019 season for Chicago due to injuries. His relatively small frame for a pro receiver (5-foot-7, 168 pounds) is a bit of a concern. This will be his seventh year in the league and he only has 31 starts to his name.

Probability: Medium

Cleveland, Atlanta, Green Bay and San Francisco all have connections with Gabriel. However, the market for his services probably won’t be too active given the upcoming deep WR draft class and his age. If Carolina can sign him at a reasonable price, it would be an excellent under-the-radar kind of move.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: DE Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue (6-foot-2, 246 pounds) is about as disruptive as defensive linemen come.

The Panthers pass rush improved a great deal last season. In the end, the team finished with 53 sacks, second most in the league behind the Steelers. However, several key players up front are set to become free agents, including starting EDGE defenders Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin.

Finding another young OLB/DE to pair with Brian Burns for the long run should be on the team’s to-do list this offseason. In that spirit, our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is Yannick Ngakoue.

Career stats

After playing college ball at Maryland, the Jaguars picked Ngakoue in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He’s posted some eye-popping numbers in the four years since, including 37.5 sacks, 85 quarterback hits, 42 tackles for a loss, 14 forced fumbles, two interceptions, nine pass breakups and a defensive touchdown. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017.

Pros

Ngakoue (6-foot-2, 246 pounds) is about as disruptive as defensive linemen come. His ability to wreak havoc in opposing backfields makes him arguably the top free agent EDGE in his class. The numbers he’s posted since coming into the league are truly freakish and he’s only 24 years old. He’s also missed only one game since he was drafted.

Cons

Like Jadeveon Clowney and every other star pass rusher out there, Ngakoue is likely going to be out of Carolina’s price range. Jacksonville should re-sign or franchise tag him. If they don’t, then teams like the Giants, Falcons and Bills might all be in the mix trying to sign him. Adding Ngakoue would no doubt improve the front seven, but it might also affect their ability to field a more complete roster.

Probability: Low

It would be a coup if the Panthers are somehow able to sign Ngakoue. However, they’ll need to free up a lot more cap space for that to be a feasible scenario. At the moment, they only have around $32 million to play with and they have to re-sign several critical free agents of their own.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: G Joe Thuney

After a successful college career at North Carolina State, the Patriots picked Thuney in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.

The Panthers offensive line will improve most under the guidance of new coach Pat Meyer, at least in theory. While some fans seem to want a total overhaul of the front five, it’s possible we will only see one position turn over from 2019.

Greg Van Roten (a pending free agent) is a great run blocker, but his pass protection has become too much of a liability. It’s time for Carolina to invest more resources at this spot and plug the biggest hole in the trenches by finding a new starting left guard.

Unfortunately, there’s only a couple of names worth considering in free agency this year. We have already previously profiled Washington’s Brandon Scherff. Today, let’s take a look at New England’s Joe Thuney.

Career stats:

After a successful college career at North Carolina State, the Patriots picked Thuney in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was named to the All-Rookie team that year after starting all 16 games, a streak he’s since pushed to 64 straight starts. In 2019, Thuney made second-team All-Pro.

Pros:

Scherff is a fine lineman in his own right. However, Thuney (6-foot-5, 308 pounds) is easily the best interior lineman who will hit the market in March. It’s somewhat rare even for pro OL to excel in pass protection and run blocking. Thuney holds up well in both, though. He is also disciplined. Thuney was only one of three offensive linemen who played over 600 snaps and didn’t commit a single penalty last season.

Cons:

Thuney has no significant injury history and he’s only 27 years old, so he should have plenty of good years ahead of him. The problem is it’ll likely be extremely difficult for Carolina general manager Marty Hurney to sign him.

Probability: Low

Bill Belichick will probably be happy take a comp pick rather than pay Thuney, but the competition for his services once he becomes a free agent could be fierce given the lock of options. Unless the Panthers find a way to create a lot more cap space, signing Thuney is pretty unlikely.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: DT D.J. Reader

Our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is Tony Jefferson.

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule plans to overhaul his new team’s defense first. At least that’s what he told reporters after his introductory press conference.

The front line would be a good place to begin rebuilding in the post-Luke Kuechly era. Inside, Gerald McCoy, Vernon Butler and Kyle Love are all pending free agents and Dontari Poe could be a salary cap casualty. That means they’ll likely need to find at least one more starting-caliber defensive tackle before next season begins.

With that in mind, our next potential 2020 free agent target is Houston defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who played his college ball at Clemson.

Career stats:

The Texans got an absolute steal when they picked Reader in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Since then, he’s played 61 games (52 starts), totaling 154 combined tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and 24 QB hits.

Pros:

If the Panthers are going to move on from the 29-year old Poe this offseason, Reader is the absolute best candidate to replace him. Like Poe, he is a true nose tackle and is also about the same size (6-foot-3, 347 pounds). He’s primarily known as a run stopper but he can also get after the quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted 36 pressures last season and had the second-highest grade (87.6 overall) for AFC interior defenders. Reader is also just 25 years old.

Cons:

As far as what he can do on the field, there’s nothing not to like about Reader’s game. The issue is a familiar one for Carolina fans: we don’t know if they’ll be able to afford him or any other name free agents this year.

Probability: Low

The Texans are a poorly run franchise, but re-signing Reader to a long-term deal seems like a no-brainer kind of decision, even for Bill O’Brien. He knows if he allows Reader to test the market, there’s a strong chance he will regret it. For what it’s worth, Reader wants to stay in Houston.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: S Tony Jefferson

Our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is Tony Jefferson.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule has turned around two college programs. Both of Rhule’s teams at Temple and Baylor improved dramatically and became conference contenders in just two years. If he’s going to pull off another quick turnaround for a Carolina team that just went 5-11, he’ll need to find versatile athletes who can fill multiple roles, especially on defense.

Yesterday, the Ravens released one such defender, adding an intriguing name to the market of street free agents. Our next potential 2020 free agent target profile is Tony Jefferson.

Career stats:

In seven seasons split between Baltimore and Arizona, Jefferson has totaled four interceptions, 22 pass breakups, 8.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 345 solo tackles, 33 tackles for a loss, eight forced fumbles and a touchdown.

Pros:

Like Clemson’s star “linebacker” Isaiah Simmons, Jefferson’s best asset is his ability to play several different spots. While he’s generally known as a strong safety, he has extensive experience at free safety and can also play linebacker. Jefferson is known as a reliable locker room leader, which is another quality Rhule is going to need during his rebuild. He just turned 28 years old, but he already has 98 games and 66 starts under his belt.

Cons:

If the front office is planning on replacing Eric Reid, Jefferson is an excellent option. However, if they want to keep Reid around, signing him doesn’t make much sense. Jefferson also only played five games last season due to a serious knee injury. It wasn’t his best five games, either. He had issues covering tight ends and his tackling came under criticism, as well.

Probability: Low

While he’s a strong option when he’s 100% healthy, it’s difficult to say what kind of money Jefferson can command due to the ACL. Then again, there are only a couple of other good safeties on the market this year and this isn’t supposed to be a deep draft class at the position, either. Offering Jefferson a one-year, prove-it kind of deal seems prudent if the Panthers are interested.

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