Tag: Panthers

B/R writer sees little cause for quarterback panic from the Saints

Bleacher Report isn’t a believer in Derek Carr, so why do they feel the Saints’ panic level at quarterback is low? What about the rest of the NFC South?

Should New Orleans Saints fans feel panic about their quarterback? Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon broke down how concerned each team should be about their current quarterback situation. The levels on his “Panic Meter” ranged from nonexistent to red alert.

Derek Carr is a polarizing figure among the Who Dat Nation, so answers would vary depending on who you ask. But Gagnon puts the concern at a low level for the Saints, writing:

New Orleans Saints: Low

This rating is mainly because they’re sort of stuck with Derek Carr financially for at least two more years. It could get ugly real soon, though.

The assurance of Carr’s future keeps Gagnon from panicking. If Carr doesn’t deliver this season, the Saints could draft a replacement and sit him at the start of the 2025 season. Derek Carr is not a horrible quarterback. He’s an average quarterback. If New Orleans wants to elevate, he probably won’t be the leader. They could do much worse, but it’s tough to see the Saints doing much better without making big changes.

Logically, Gagnon says the Atlanta Falcons find themselves with the lowest panic level in the division. Kirk Cousins is a solid quarterback and should lead the team for a few years at least. The Carolina Panthers do find themselves with a higher concern level than New Orleans though. Gagnon is already looking at potentially moving on from Bryce Young. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are treading water after extending Baker Mayfield. Will all four quarterbacks still be in place this time next year? In two years? Three? We’ll have to wait and see.

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Saints are third in the NFC South win total over/unders

The Atlanta Falcons are the new NFC South front-runners while the Saints find themselves at third in the division, according to the latest odds:

We have a better idea of where each NFL team stands going into 2024, and so do oddsmakers. DraftKings Sportsbook has released their lines for wins in the 2024 season. Similar to power rankings, it is still a very early prediction. Teams have yet to go through the NFL draft, and those selections often play a pivotal part in how teams are viewed heading into the season.

The New Orleans Saints are currently set at over/under 7.5 victories. There are only eight teams that have a lower win projection. Once again, this falls in line with power rankings that had the Saints in the bottom eight of the NFL.

So this means the Saints will likely be viewed like this going into next season unless they have a highly regarded draft class. They have to earn stronger expectations after underperforming in two years with Dennis Allen at head coach. Finishes at 7-10 and 9-7 haven’t been good enough to reach their stated goal: the playoffs.

New Orleans’ win projection ranks third in the division. The addition of Kirk Cousins has skyrocketed the view of the Atlanta Falcons. They are tied for the second-highest over/under in the NFC (10.5). Tampa Bay finds themselves slightly above New Orleans at 8.5. The slight difference between the two is reflective of how last year played out. The only team in the division the Saints are ahead of is the Carolina Panthers, whose over/under is set at 4.5.

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Chargers sign LB Denzel Perryman

The Chargers are bringing back a familiar face.

The Chargers signed linebacker Denzel Perryman, the team announced on Monday.

Perryman, 31, spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Chargers. In 69 total games (51 starts), he amassed 349 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, five sacks, eight quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

During the 2021 offseason, Perryman was signed by the Panthers before being traded to the Raiders a few months later. He had the best season of his career, racking up 154 tackles, and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.

After two seasons with Las Vegas, Perryman was signed by the Texans last offseason. In 13 games, Perryman recorded 76 tackles, six tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and three passes defensed.

Perryman has been hit with injuries throughout his lengthy NFL career. But when he is on the field, he provides the defense with a physical and hard-hitting presence when coming downhill.

Panthers signing former Jaguars first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson

K’Lavon Chaisson, the No. 20 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, is joining the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers are signing former Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to one-year deal worth as much as $5 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Chaisson, 24, was the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft joining cornerback C.J. Henderson as one of two first-round picks for the Jaguars. The pick that was used to select Chaisson was acquired in a trade that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. Henderson, the No. 9 pick in the draft, was traded to the Panthers during the 2021 season.

In four seasons with the Jaguars, Chaisson notched only five career sacks. While coaches complimented his work ethic and called him a valuable contributor on special teams, the lack of contributions on defense led the team to decline his fifth-year option last year and allow him to walk into free agency this offseason.

While the base value of the contract hasn’t yet been revealed, it may be enough to factor into the formula for compensatory selections. For now, the Jaguars are not projected to get a compensatory pick in 2025.

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Former second overall draft pick Chase Young visiting Saints

Former second-overall draft pick Chase Young is visiting the Saints on Friday. He might be the best pass rusher remaining in free agency:

The New Orleans Saints have scheduled a big free agent visit on Friday with Chase Young coming to town, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Young might be the best pass rusher still on the market after bagging 7.5 sacks last season with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders (with another sack in the playoffs). He was picked second overall in the 2020 draft right after Joe Burrow, having played college football at Ohio State.

And Young is a highly sought-after player. He already met with the Carolina Panthers and has lined up another free agent visit with the Tennessee Titans. There’s a good chance he meets with Saints brass, hears what they have to offer, and then heads out to continue gauging his value around the league. He’ll turn 25 next month and has a big decision in front of him.

We’ll see if the Saints can keep him from ever setting out for Nashville. They badly need a high-end pass rusher in the rotation who can replace Cameron Jordan on third downs and in obvious passing situations. The Saints tied for the fourth-fewest sacks last season, and Young could do a lot to help them. As with many things, though, this is going to come down to money.

Update: Young’s visit has been rescheduled, Underhill reports. Fans shouldn’t read into this one way or another until we have more information. It could be as simple as Young’s flight getting canceled. Either way, this story isn’t going to wrap up quickly.

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Report: Saints to host DE Chase Young on free agent visit

NFL Network reports the New Orleans Saints plan to host Chase Young on a free agent visit, but he’ll meet with the Carolina Panthers first:

This could be a good pickup. The New Orleans Saints plan to host former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young on a free agent visit this week, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, but there’s a catch: the Carolina Panthers will meet with him first. Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport says Young has added a visit with the Tennessee Titans to his tour schedule.

Young, 24, was the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft and won recognition as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts rushing the quarterback. He didn’t sustain that production, though, and was traded to the 49ers at last season’s deadline; where he drew criticism for showing poor effort on some critical plays.

But when he’s on, there are few players who can match Young’s combination speed and agility around the edge. The Saints have to be desperate to improve their pass rush after sacking the quarterback just 34 times in 17 games last season, which tied for the fourth-fewest total around the league. But the Panthers were even worse with an NFL-low 27 sacks, and they just traded their best pass rusher by sending Brian Burns to the New York Giants (who, coincidentally, were the team the Saints tied in sacks).

Carolina can outspend New Orleans here, and there’s some risk in signing a player with a bad reputation for taking plays off, so this isn’t necessarily a sure thing. Stay tuned.

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Report: 49ers to sign former Panthers DE Yetur Gross-Matos to 2-year deal

The former second-round pick recorded 4.5 sacks last season with the Panthers.

After reportedly signing veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd earlier on Monday, the San Francisco 49ers weren’t done adding to their defensive line.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 49ers are signing former Panthers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos to a two-year contract worth $18 million.

Via @RapSheet on Twitter:

Gross-Matos spent his first four seasons with the Panthers after being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Penn State. In four seasons, Gross-Matos has racked up 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Panthers cutting former Saints safety Vonn Bell

The new Panthers GM is cutting many of his predecessor’s free agent signings, including former Saints safety Vonn Bell. Would a reunion make sense?

The Carolina Panthers are releasing veteran safety Vonn Bell, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who they just signed a year ago. Depending on whether or not the Panthers are designating Bell a post-June 1 cut, they’ll be paying $7.9 million to $9.8 million in dead money while Bell is playing elsewhere.

Could he return to the New Orleans Saints? Bell, who turned 29 in December, has developed into a well-rounded safety with better ball skills than he showed in his four years with the Saints. After intercepting just one pass (and breaking up 14 others) in his first 61 games, all in New Orleans, Bell has picked off opposing quarterbacks 6 times with 23 pass deflections in his last 61 games, all starts for the Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Bell clearly knows the system Dennis Allen is running very well. He just had the misfortune of being stuck in Carolina during the middle of a regime change with new general manager Dan Morgan torching many of the contracts his predecessor handed out, including Bell’s. The Saints have to be looking for a replacement at free safety after deciding to release Marcus Maye, or at least competition for second-year pro Jordan Howden. Bell would fit the bill.

So this is something to watch in the days ahead. Bell is several years younger than Malcolm Jenkins was when he reunited with the Saints after a successful run on the Philadelphia Eagles, and he may still have something left in the tank. We’ll see if any interest materializes.

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Atlanta Falcons bring Kirk Cousins to the NFC South

Kirk Cousins is joining the NFC South as an Atlanta Falcon. The starting quarterbacks in the division are now set.

Kirk Cousins is coming to Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons have an agreement in principle with the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback on a four-year contract valued at $180 million, averaging out to $45 million year with $100 million guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Cousins departing Minnesota was a bubbling offseason story, and Atlanta was always the predicted alternate destination given the similar offense that new play caller Zac Robinson is installing.

Now the quarterbacks in the NFC South are set:

  • Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins
  • Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young
  • New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

Raheem Morris has said he wouldn’t be the head coach right now if quarterback play had been better in 2023, and Cousins provides a clear upgrade over every recent option the Falcons have had at quarterback. Their weapons entered the league with promise but are largely unaccomplished. How much will Kirk Cousins improve the Falcons passing attack will be one of their biggest storylines of 2024.

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Franchise tag unlikely to be an option for the Saints in 2024

The franchise tag is unlikely to be an option for the Saints in 2024, but it carries heavy implications for some of their division rivals:

Never say never, but fans shouldn’t expect the New Orleans Saints to use the franchise tag in 2024. The team did a good jump last summer getting a jump on their upcoming free agents: players like defensive end Carl Granderson,  right guard Cesar Ruiz, and defensive end Cameron Jordan all signed extensions before they would have hit the open market this spring. They lack players the tag’s heavy price tag would justify keeping.

On top of that, they’re so far in the red that they need as many cap-friendly contracts as possible, and the franchise tag is a lead weight on that scale. Once handed out it cannot be restructured, reduced, or otherwise manipulated.

But the tag could make life difficult for some of New Orleans’ division rivals, specifically the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has three key candidates headed for free agency in All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., firebrand quarterback Baker Mayfield, as well as amateur boxer and wide receiver Mike Evans.

Of the three, Winfield is likeliest to receive the tag. It shouldn’t be hard for the Bucs to hammer out an extension with Mayfield. Evans is a different story. His contract voids on Monday, Feb. 19, accelerating $7.4 million onto their salary cap in dead money, and tagging him isn’t an option. He’s a rare case. If the NFL-estimated cap hit (for wide receivers this year, about $21.6 million) is lower than 120% of last year’s cap number, the team would have to pay the higher amount. In this case, that would be a fully-guaranteed $28.4 million, and the Bucs would have to balk at that.

Another team to watch: the Carolina Panthers. Spendthrift owner David Tepper has managed his money poorly and has been unable to sign pass rusher Brian Burns to a long-term extension, but he’s paid millions of dollars to multiple head coaches he’s fired (Matt Rhule, Frank Reich, and soon, history suggests, Dave Canales). The Panthers balked at both a multiyear deal with Burns and lucrative trade offers from other teams last year, then changed his position listing from defensive end to linebacker with a move to a 3-4 defense.

It means tagging Burns costs a little less (about $1.3 million), which could buy the Panthers more time to work on a longer deal. However, Burns could take them to arbitration arguing he’s a defensive end (with an estimated $23.3 million tag), not an outside linebacker (about $22 million), just as Jimmy Graham did with the Saints back in the day.

Burns will likely be staying in Carolina (largely against his will), but there’s a good chance Evans could be moving on as a free agent, catching passes and starting fights elsewhere around the league. Of course it’s possible the Buccaneers could hammer out an extension with him. They’re just going to have one less tool in their toolbox to negotiate with. The NFL’s two-week window to use the franchise tag opens on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and closes Tuesday, March 5.

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