Tag: dontari poe

Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: DT Javon Hargrave

During his 63-game career, Hargrave has totaled 168 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.

It’s no secret the 2019 Carolina Panthers defense struggled. The transition from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 base did not work out as planned, in part because defensive tackles Kawann Short and Dontari Poe were injured. Looking ahead, Gerald McCoy, Kyle Love and Vernon Butler are all set to become free agents. Poe is also a team option for 2020.

Due to those circumstances, the Panthes will likely need to reload at the position this offseason. So, our third 2020 potential free agent target profile is Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (6-foot-2, 305 pounds), a product of South Carolina State University.

Career stats

Hargrave is just 26 years old and has been a solid, productive and consistent defender for Pittsburgh since being picked No. 89 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. During his 63-game career, Hargrave has totaled 168 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.

Pros

Hargrave is fresh off of his best year as a Steeler. He played a career-high 62.9% of the team’s defensive snaps and racked up 60 tackles. He was ranked the eighth-best interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus. He’s been a force at nose tackle for a Steelers defense that has ranked in the top 15 against the run since 2016. Hargraves’ strength, tenacity and a low center of gravity makes him a perfect fit for a team that struggled immensely against the run last year. He’s also a threat to get to the quarterback. He finished with a 14.2% pressure rate in 2019. That put him third behind Aaron Donald and Chris Jones among all interior linemen.

Cons

Hargrave only played 62.9% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps last year and that was a career-high. The question is if he can handle more playing time. If Hargrave wants top money, he will need to prove he can stay on the field more often. Also, this is a strong DT free agent market, so Carolina can probably find an alternative at a cheaper price. This is Hargrave’s first opportunity to get a lucrative contract and chances are he won’t be taking a discount.

Probability: Medium

If the Panthers bring back Poe it would not make much sense to add another nose tackle. However, if they decide to let Poe walk, Hargrave would fit in well next to Short in the interior DL rotation. The decision on whether or not to spend money on Hargrave ultimately boils down to the team-building philosophy of coach Matt Rhule and to-be-named defensive coordinator Phil Snow.

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Report: Panthers signing former Raiders, Redskins DT Stacy McGee

The Panthers are signing former Redskins and Raiders defensive tackle Stacy McGee, according to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN.

The Panthers are signing former Redskins and Raiders defensive tackle Stacy McGee, according to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN.

The team needed more interior defensive line depth with Dontari Poe suffering a quad injury in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. Josina Anderson has reported Poe had surgery scheduled for this morning, which would end his 2019 season.

McGee (6-foot-3, 339 pounds) played his college football at Oklahoma then got picked by Oakland in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four years with the Raiders, he moved on to Washington, where he played the last two seasons.

In 75 career games (29 starts), McGee has totaled four sacks, 14 quarterback hits and six tackles for a loss.

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Report: Panthers fear DT Dontari Poe tore his quad vs. Saints

According to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, it’s feared that Poe tore his quad, which would put him out for the rest of the season.

Panthers defensive tackle Dontari Poe suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Saints. According to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, it’s feared that Poe tore his quad, which would put him out for the rest of the season. He will undergo an MRI to confirm.

Carolina came into this year with as much interior defensive line depth as any team in the league. Injuries have depleted the group, though. Superstar Kawann Short only played two games early on before he was put on the injured reserve list with a shoulder issue.

While the Panthers still have solid DTs on the roster like Gerald McCoy, Vernon Butler and Kyle Love, none of them are really suited to take over for Poe at nose tackle. So, expect the team to pick somebody up this week if Poe is indeed done for the year.

Looking ahead, Poe has one year left on his contract. Carolina can save $10 million in cap room by cutting him before June 1, so there’s a decent chance we have seen him play his last game in a Panthers uniform.

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Ron Rivera says Panthers will consider kicker tryouts this week

Panthers kicker Joey Slye had the worst game of his young career on Sunday against the Saints.

Panthers kicker Joey Slye had the worst game of his young career on Sunday against the Saints. He missed two extra point attempts and then a 28-yard field goal at the two-minute warning that might have changed the end result.

Now, coach Ron Rivera says the team will consider bringing in some kickers to tryout this week, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

Slye is now 19/26 on the season on his field goal attempts. That’s just 73.1%. He’s also only made just 22 of 26 extra point kicks (84.6%).

Kicker isn’t Carolina’s only problem, though.

Defensive tackle Dontari Poe and left guard Greg Van Roten both suffered what appeared to be serious injuries in Sunday’s game. Van Roten isn’t terribly difficult to replace, but there’s no ready-made second nose tackle on the roster, so there’s a good chance they’ll be hitting up the free agent market in the coming days to address that.

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Panthers injury updates: DT Dontari Poe carted off the field vs. Saints

Panthers injury updates: DT Dontari Poe helped off field by his teammates against the Saints.

One of our keys for today’s game was the Panthers getting interior pressure on Saints quarterback Drew Brees. This isn’t going to help.

Defensive tackle Dontari Poe just had to be helped off the field by his teammates. He was seen limping badly and not putting much weight at all on his left leg.

Poe was eventually carted off to the locker room by the training staff.

The Saints have also been bit by the injury bug in this matchup. Left tackle Terron Armstead is questionable to return with an ankle issue.

The Saints lead 17-6 early in the second quarter.

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