Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Who let these dawgs out in Carolina?
In what will assuredly become a thing amongst Carolina Panthers fans in 2024, new president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan put the call out for some dawgs this past Thursday. Heck, it may already be a thing—as his partner in crime and new head coach Dave Canales just answered said call with an actual canine.
But before Morgan and Canales go search for more, let’s identify and rank the roster’s current dawgs following the 2023 campaign.
After over a decade of passivity, will Jerry and Stephen Jones actually be players on the free agent market? If so, here’s a collection of top talent that fits the Cowboys’ roster holes. | From @KDDrummondNFL
The Dallas Cowboys are going all in, allegedly. That’s what owner Jerry Jones said from Mobile Alabama as the team’s brass is attending the week of Senior Bowl workouts. Now, there’s a lot of wiggle room to what that could mean. With the team staring at three cornerstone pieces ripe for new contracts, Jones’ statement doesn’t have to necessarily refer to bringing in outside talent.
Based on his inglorious track record of double talk, Jones could easily clarify his statement after the first wave of free agency by referring to new deals for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons as going all in. But let’s pretend that for the first time in over a decade, Dallas decides to be actual players in that first wave and compete for some of the bigger names to hit the open market.
Who has a chance to hit the open market? Who are some of the fits? Here’s a list of the top free agents of 2024 at the positions where Dallas could use an influx of more talent. This is a Cowboys-curated version of Pro Football Focus’ list of top free agents.
A pair of Panthers defenders made ESPN’s list of the top 50 free agents for 2024.
The Carolina Panthers could play the role of buyer this offseason, but they may want to start by playing keeper.
Former NFL safety and current ESPN staff writer Matt Bowen just ranked his top 50 free agents of 2024. Included on the list are two Panthers, beginning with outside linebacker Brian Burns at No. 6.
Bowen, who has the two-time Pro Bowler positioned as his second-highest edge defender, writes:
Burns had 12.5 sacks in 2022 and followed it up with eight more this season. His 21.7% pass rush win rate also ranked seventh in the NFL. Burns is just now entering his prime playing years, and he has high-end edge-rushing traits, including the speed, explosive power and lower-body flexibility to consistently create pocket disruption.
The 25-year-old didn’t have his most productive campaign in 2023. Burns amassed 8.0 sacks, the fewest since his rookie year in 2019.
Nonetheless, he remains one of the game’s top pass rushers and the Panthers—who may just franchise tag Burns if a long-term deal is not reached—are well aware.
Joining Burns is fellow backer Frankie Luvu, who comes in at No. 42. Bowen adds:
Luvu posted career-best numbers this past season in Carolina, totaling 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He can be schemed off interior blitzes and has enough range to track the ball on the edges.
Luvu’s versatility could be quite valuable, for whoever his defensive coordinator is in 2024 . . .
[lawrence-related id=690102,690085,688985]
The Panthers currently have 26 players slated for free agency in 2024.
Things have changed a bit since the last time we brought you this free agent list.
A few weeks back, the Carolina Panthers held on to a few of their own—re-signing tight end Stephen Sullivan and defensive linemen Nick Thurman LaBryan Ray to fresh deals.
So, let’s take an updated look at the team’s pending 2024 free agents.
PFF’s best and worst grades for the Carolina Panthers in 2023
Pencils down, players!
With the 2023 test officially over, let’s see which Carolina Panthers received the highest and lowest grades from Pro Football Focus.
Final stats leaders from the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 season
Well, the Carolina Panthers produced all kinds of numbers throughout their 2023 season. But unfortunately, almost all of those kinds fell under one category—bad.
Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the team’s final stat leaders from the 2-15 campaign:
2024 Carolina Panthers free agents
Now that the 2023 season is finally over, let’s take a look at the pending free agents for the Carolina Panthers:
Derrick Brown was a big stud in a season full of duds for the 2023 Carolina Panthers.
Who shined and who struggled in the final game of the season?
Here are the studs and duds from the Carolina Panthers’ 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Week 18 may mark the end of an era for a few Carolina Panthers players.
Sunday will not only represent the end of a brutal 2023 season for the Carolina Panthers, but it may also mark the end of a few eras.
Here are 23 pending free agents who could be playing their last game for the Panthers in Week 18:
*List excludes pending free agents who are on the practice squad, who are on injured reserve and who have been ruled out
Panthers OLB Brian Burns got back in the sack column with his team-leading seventh takedown of the season.
Once again, there weren’t too many numbers for the Carolina Panthers to count this week. In fact, they didn’t have to count anything when it came to the scoreboard.
Nonetheless, let’s look at the team’s statistical leaders heading into the 18th and final week of their season.
