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The Carolina Panthers still have a lot of money and they seem like they’re afraid to use it . . . or are they?
As we head out of this year’s edition of mandatory minicamp, the Panthers are currently sitting on approximately $26.4 million of salary cap space—the second-most in the NFL. So, with a rookie quarterback contract in tow and the monetary resources readily available to build around it, what are they waiting for?
In his minicamp wrap-up, Joe Person of The Athletic writes of the team’s current need for another pass-rushing option:
If they’re good with a sixth-year player who has improved each year, then maybe pairing Marquis Haynes with Yetur Gross-Matos, who’s solid enough in setting the edge, could work.
Haynes spent most of the past two days knifing into the backfield and generally making a mess of the offense’s plans. Haynes had what might have been three sacks on [Bryce] Young, had these been actual games (and if Young had not eluded him). The 6-2, 235-pound Haynes looks thicker this year, and it could be playing in space in a 3-4 suits him better than lining up in a three-point stance.
The sense here is the Panthers will sign another edge rusher before Sept. 10, but Haynes got Young’s attention.
The free-agent market for the position got a tad thinner recently—as Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark found new homes in Buffalo and Denver, respectively. A few of the top names remaining include Yannick Ngakoue, Jadeveon Clowney and Carlos Dunlap.
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