Tag: free agency

Bleacher Report names 3 realistic free-agent targets for the Panthers

Bleacher Report’s scouting department listed three realistic free-agent options for the Panthers following the 2024 draft.

Even after what’s been a very busy offseason, the Carolina Panthers may not be done reconstructing their roster.

Bleacher Report’s scouting department recently ran down every NFL team’s biggest needs coming out of the 2024 draft. And while the Panthers got themselves a steal in the fourth round with University of Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, Robert Tonyan is listed as one of three realistic free-agent targets moving forward:

The Panthers still have questions at tight end, though, and taking a flier on Robert Tonyan Jr. would sense. Tonyan had a couple of productive years with the Green Bay Packers before largely disappearing in the Chicago Bears offense last season. He could provide competition for fourth-round rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders and shouldn’t drain Carolina’s limited remaining cap resources.

Tonyan’s best season for the Packers came in 2020, when he recorded career-highs in receiving yards (586) and touchdowns (11). But 2023—where he amassed just 11 catches for 112 yards and no scores—wouldn’t be nearly as kind.

The Panthers could also use some extra juice off the edge and at the cornerback position. So, veterans Markus Golden and Stephon Gilmore were also noted:

Defensively, the Panthers need to find more pieces to replace the production of Brian Burns, who was traded early in the offseason. Jadeveon Clowney will help, but consistency has never been his biggest asset.

Markus Golden, who produced four sacks with the Steelers last season, is another potential bargain option to consider.

In the trade to acquire Johnson from Pittsburgh, Carolina parted with cornerback Donte Jackson. The Panthers should keep pushing to bring back Stephon Gilmore as a replacement.

Gilmore, who has been connected to Carolina over the last month or so, recently told league insider Josina Anderson that he’s waiting for the right opportunity to find his next landing spot.

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Report: Chargers met with free agent Bud Dupree

The Chargers hosted the veteran pass rusher on a visit.

Free agent outside linebacker Bud Dupree concluded a visit with the Chargers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Dupree has also reportedly spoken to the Falcons and Steelers about potential returns.

Dupree isn’t the double-digit sack artist he was at his peak in 2019, but he’s still a solid contributor as a pass rusher. Over the last two seasons with Atlanta and Tennessee, he’s accumulated 60 pressures and 12 sacks.

Considering the Chargers didn’t draft or sign an edge defender so far this offseason, Dupree would be a natural fit to compete for the last roster spot. Currently, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Tuli Tuipulotu should be considered roster locks. Outside of that, it’s not difficult to see Dupree or a pass rusher signing pushing Chris Rumph’s spot as the fourth edge defender.

Whether with L.A. or another team, Dupree will probably go wherever he has the biggest role and the opportunity to realize potential production-related incentives tied to his contract. With the Chargers’ top-three rotation, that production could likely be elsewhere. But if they can convince him to take the EDGE4 role at the going rate, it would be a steal in terms of value.

After signing D.J. Chark earlier this week, the Chargers have two open spots for a 90-man roster count. They also reportedly met with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Monday. With OTAs less than two weeks away, it’s possible that those spots are filled sooner rather than later.

Steelers miss out on free-agent WR Tyler Boyd

The Steelers missed out on a big opportunity with WR Tyler Boyd.

On Tuesday, the news came out that the Tennessee Titans had agreed to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd. According to multiple sources, Boyd is signing a one-year contract with a potential value of $4.5 million.

Boyd is one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL during his career. Here’s how he ranks in Bengals history after eight seasons:

• 6,000 rec. yards (7th in franchise history)

• 513 receptions (4th in franchise history)

• 31 rec. touchdowns (11th in franchise history)

The Steelers were one of the teams in the mix to sign Boyd in the offseason and seeing how things played out it is really disappointing to see Boyd ended up with another team on such a reasonable contract. The rumor was the Steelers and Boyd couldn’t come together on a contract which really makes us wonder just how badly the front office tried to lowball him.

Pittsburgh traded away Diontae Johnson in the offseason and despite drafting Roman Wilson still needs to add talent at the position. Missing on Boyd really limits the Steelers options unless they work out a trade.

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Updated projections for 2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks

The 2025 NFL Draft isn’t for over 350 days but that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead with some projections when it comes to draft picks.

The 2025 NFL Draft isn’t for over 350 days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead with some projections when it comes to draft picks. The way the NFL gives compensatory picks can be tough to figure out but the folks over at Over the Cap have a formula that does a good job of predicting them.

It is important to remember, the picks we are about to discuss and the projections are just that, projections.

The NFL gives compensatory draft picks for various reasons, namely the loss of key players in free agency. In March, the team lost both Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter to free agency. Cousins went to Atlanta, and Hunter went to Houston.

The team is projected to receive a third-round pick for the loss of Cousins. They were also expected to receive a third-round pick for the loss of Hunter but the team signing Shaq Griffin loses that pick for them as Over the Cap explains.

“. . .3rd rounders for both Cousins and Hunter leaving were on the board…until they signed Shaquill Griffin to a one year, $4.55 million contract, leaving the Vikings with a net loss of only 1 CFA, giving the formula no choice but to cancel out Hunter’s contract with Griffin’s.”

Much goes into the formula and the projections, much more than most of us realize. Their projections are very well done and are a fun read for Viking and NFL fans alike. I strongly suggest you read their piece to further understand their reasoning for each pick being given out.

Are the Panthers projected to land any 2025 compensatory picks?

Should the Panthers be expecting some extra help in next year’s draft?

One team’s treasure is another team’s treasure.

With the 2024 NFL draft now in the books, we’re beyond the point of consideration for compensatory free agents. That means the loss of key free agents can no longer be thrown into the formula for 2025 compensatory picks.

So, Over The Cap contributor Nick Korte has cooked up some projections for those selections—and, unsurprisingly, the Carolina Panthers didn’t make the list.

Yeah, that’s typically what happens when you’re the top spenders of the offseason.

What also usually happens is restitution for the teams those top spenders took from. And boy, did the Panthers ever take.

According to Korte, four of Carolina’s free-agent signings should result in compensatory picks elsewhere. Those players, teams and projected rounds for the picks are as follows:

The Panthers kicked off their free-agent escapades by landing both Hunt and Lewis—who signed to a combined $153 million. They’d eventually follow up with two-year deals for Nijman and Clowney—whose pacts can be worth up to $15 million and $24 million, respectively.

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Commanders not projected to receive any compensatory picks in 2025 for free-agent losses this offseason

No surprise, the Commanders aren’t expected to receive any compensatory picks for 2025 after a busy offseason.

The Washington Commanders signed over 20 outside free agents this offseason and watched some former starters leave via free agency.

However, Washington signed much more than it lost, meaning the Commanders would not receive any compensatory selections in the 2025 NFL draft, per Over the Cap.

That’s not a surprise and something general manager Adam Peters knew before free agency. The Commanders had so many holes it would need to be aggressive in free agency just to field a competitive roster in 2024.

While Washington didn’t land any compensatory picks for 2025, three of its signings helped other teams land them. The Commanders’ signings of center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. give the Dallas Cowboys a pair of fifth-round selections.

Also, Washington’s signing of running back Austin Ekeler means the Los Angeles Chargers will receive a sixth-round pick.

The Commanders were busy in free agency but also added nine newcomers via the NFL draft and 11 more undrafted free agents. Washington will look like a completely different team in 2024, which should be encouraging news to the fans.