5 former Panthers players who could be worth bringing back for 2020

Here are five free agents who used to play for the Panthers they should consider.

If it happens, the 2020 NFL season is going to be a unique one. Teams have been unable to hold any kind of offseason program to date except in a virtual setting and the league is looking at cancelling half of the preseason schedule. This means that teams with continuity and familiarity will have an advantage over those that don’t.

That’s bad news for the Carolina Panthers, who have lost more snaps from 2019 than any team in the league by a huge margin. Bringing back some familiar faces could help. Here are five free agents who used to play for the Panthers they should consider.

TE Ed Dickson

The loss of Greg Olsen hit the Panthers hard and they haven’t made any significant additions at tight end since. Especially after Seth DeValve was released due to a non football injury, the team could use more depth at this position. Dickson was never a star, but at the very least he would bring experience to a young and unproven tight end room that needs it. In 2018 with the Seahawks, Dickson scored three touchdowns and caught 12 of 13 targets from Russell Wilson. For the league minimum, he’s worth a look.

Pages: 12345

7 cornerbacks Giants could sign to replace DeAndre Baker

Here’s a look at seven cornerback the New York Giants could sign to replace DeAndre Baker, who is facing eight felony counts.

The New York Giants find themselves in an exceptionally difficult spot thanks to cornerback DeAndre Baker, who is facing eight serious counts after allegedly robbing a private party on Wednesday night with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar and a third party.

Baker has yet to turn himself in and neither the Giants nor the NFL have issued substantial comment, but expect a suspension or release in the coming hours or days.

Although the Giants have loaded up at the cornerback position over the past two seasons, their positional group will take a substantial hit without the presence of Baker, a first-round pick in 2019.

With that in mind, here’s a rough guide to seven players the Giants could sign to replace Baker.

Logan Ryan

Ryan is probably the most obvious choice for the Giants not only because he’s arguably the best cornerback remaining on the free agent market, but because he’s been connected to the team quite a bit this offseason.

Ryan recently praised head coach Joe Judge, while Giants Wire also listed him as an under-the-radar free agent to sign back in March.

The former Rutgers and New England Patriots star should be very high on the Giants’ shopping list. They need a veteran corner who knows the ropes and how to win and the connection to Joe Judge and Patrick Graham has to come into play here.

Pages: 1234567

1 pending free agent Dolphins should target from each NFC South team

The Dolphins will enter 2020 free agency window with 1 of the biggest cap totals in the league. Who should they target from the NFC South?

The Miami Dolphins are all set to enter 2020 free agency next month and continue the team’s ambitious plan to completely overhaul the roster. Yes, this team’s primary objective appears to be to build through the draft. But the Dolphins will have a mass surplus of cap space at their disposal and the environment in South Florida is one filled with optimism after the Dolphins finished 5-4 over their final nine games.

Looking across the NFL landscape, there’s a ton of potential contributors set to hit the market. Here’s one pending free agent from each team in the NFC South that the Dolphins should consider:

New Orleans Saints – Offensive Guard Andrus Peat

Peat might be one of the top targets for the Dolphins in the entire league. He’s got college experience at tackle, NFL experience at guard, he’s generally considered the 3rd best guard on the open market behind Washington’s Brandon Scherff and New England’s Joe Thuney and he’s the youngest of all three at 26-years old.

Peat also missed 6 games in 2019 with a broken arm and hasn’t played a full 16 games schedule once in 5 NFL seasons.

The players stacked above Peat and some modest injury questions could help keep him out of the $13- to $15M-per year expectation that Thuney and Scherff are looking at challenging in free agency.

If Miami signed him, Peat would instantly be the team’s best offensive lineman.

Pages: 1234

4 Panthers players who deserve contract extensions in 2020

The Carolina Panthers have at least a dozen difficult personnel decisions to make this year.

The Carolina Panthers have at least a dozen difficult personnel decisions to make this year. The hardest one may be what to do with starting outside cornerback James Bradberry, who is set to become a free agent in March. Bradberry is the team’s best cornerback but that’s a very low bar and keeping him around might cost a lot of salary cap space – and there’s not much to go around.

Bradberry’s fate is debatable. It might make sense to trade or franchise tag him. We honestly don’t know what direction the franchise will choose with Bradberry, especially with a new coaching staff coming in.

However, there are a few players who definitely deserve extensions this offseason. Here are four of them.

OT Taylor Moton

Carolina’s offensive line has been a mess more often than not over the last few years. The exception to that rule has been right tackle Taylor Moton, who has generally been the team’s most consistent lineman and is the best aside from Trai Turner. Moton is solid blocking for the run and protecting the quarterback. If the Panthers don’t pay him now and Moton performs well in 2020, his price tag could grow beyond their means.

Pages: 1234

Panthers CB Ross Cockrell ranked among top 5 DBs in this stat

One under-the-radar piece who’s worth keeping around is cornerback Ross Cockrell.

The Panthers defense is going to look much different next year than it did this season. That doesn’t mean everyone should be thrown overboard, though. One under-the-radar piece who’s worth keeping around is cornerback Ross Cockrell.

According to Next Gen Stats, Cockrell only allowed 6.3 yards per target. That tied him with Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis for the fourth-lowest average in the league among defensive backs.

Cockrell appeared in 14 games in 2019 and started 11. He posted 48 solo tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups.

His coverage wasn’t perfect – Pro Football Focus gave him a 61.3 coverage grade – but he did a good job of limiting yards after the catch. Cockrell was also solid in run support.

Starting him 11 games is probably not ideal. He is worth considering as a backup, though. Cockrell’s contract expires at the end of this season, so the Panthers will have to pay him if he’s in their long-term plans.

[lawrence-related id=617746]

[vertical-gallery id=617718]

Panthers vs. Saints: 6 stories to follow for the last game of 2019

Here are six stories we will be following tomorrow.

On Sunday the Panthers finish out the 2019 season at home against the Saints, who are favored to win by almost two touchdowns.

Given the way things have gone during this seven-game losing streak, expecting an upset is unrealistic. However, there are plenty of other reasons to watch aside from who wins and loses. Here are six stories we will be following tomorrow.

Will Grier’s deep ball

Two games isn’t nearly enough time to properly evaluate a quarterback prospect. The Panthers should have started Grier a month earlier than they did, but it’s too late to take that back now. Grier’s best asset is the touch he flashes on his deep ball. Several times last week against the Colts he just barely missed receivers on long routes. A little more accuracy and consistency would go a long way for Grier in this area. Especially with D.J. Moore ruled out, Grier should be looking for Curtis Samuel and letting it loose.

Pages: 123456

Perry Fewell says Ross Cockrell will start over Donte Jackson again

As he has all season, Cockrell did well for himself against the Colts.

Carolina Panthers interim head coach Perry Fewell made a notable change on defense last week, starting Ross Cockrell opposite James Bradberry rather than Donte Jackson. Jackson has had issues in coverage all season and didn’t help his case by criticizing Fewell’s defensive play-calling a couple weeks ago, so benching him is an understandable decision.

As he has all season, Cockrell did well for himself against the Colts. He played every defensive snap (64) and posted a team-high 10 tackles. This week, Fewell says Cockrell will start over Jackson again, but he won’t get every rep, according to Joe Person at the Athletic.

Fewell says Ross Cockrell will start again at CB, but Donte Jackson should get some reps. (He played zero on defense last week.)

— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 26, 2019

Cockrell missed the entire 2018 season due to a serious leg injury. He’s bounced back well though and should be considered for an extension.

Even if Cockrell does come back and Bradberry also re-signs, the Panthers could still use more depth at corner. In a new mock at Draft Wire, they take Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah at No. 8 overall.

[lawrence-related id=616239]

[vertical-gallery id=616218]

Panthers injury updates: 3 players questionable vs. Saints

The Panthers have not ruled anybody out for Sunday’s game. Three players are listed as questionable.

Here’s a phrase we haven’t heard in a while. The Panthers have not ruled anybody out for Sunday’s game. Three players are listed as questionable.

Cornerback Ross Cockrell was limited earlier this week with his quad injury. However, he joined the team on the field today and it sounds like they’re expecting him to suit up against the Saints. The other two questionables are rookie offensive tackles Dennis Daley and Greg Little.

No Panthers are out Sunday. Ross Cockrell, Dennis Daley and Greg Little are questionable.

Rivera says Cockrell had "steady progression" this week. Hoping he has a good Saturday and pregame on Sunday.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 22, 2019

For what its worth, yesterday coach Ron Rivera told reporters he anticipates Little will get the start at left tackle.

There are some notable exceptions (chiefly Cam Newton and Kawann Short both being on injured reserve and out for the year) but aside from that this is the healthiest Carolina has been all season.

It’s good timing, too. They’ll need all the help they can get in New Orleans, where they will be nearly double-digit underdogs.

[lawrence-related id=614401]

[vertical-gallery id=614498]

Panthers Week 11 inactives: Donte Jackson will play vs. Falcons

Injuries have been a problem for the Panthers all year.

Injuries have been a problem for the Panthers all year. Coming into today’s game with the Falcons, they have their starting quarterback and best defensive lineman on injured reserve. They’re also a little bit short-handed at the cornerback position.

Here’s a look at their inactive list for Week 11.

CB Ross Cockrell
OT Dennis Daley
LB Jordan Kunaszyk
WR Brandon Zylstra
DT Kyle Love
RB Mike Davis
OLB Christian Miller

Donte Jackson was listed as questionable but the hip injury will not hold him out. Missing both him and Cockrell this week could have been devastating for Carolina’s defense.

Daley has been playing well at left tackle this year, so losing him is a blow. However, the Panthers are getting second-round pick Greg Little back in the lineup. He’s spent most of the season in the concussion protocol and has only played two games. In his limited action, Little has held his own.

As for the Falcons, they’re missing a couple of big weapons. Tight end Austin Hooper and running back Devonta Freeman are both out.

[lawrence-related id=614193]

[vertical-gallery id=613865]

Panthers injury updates: Ross Cockrell out, Donte Jackson questionable vs. Falcons

The Panthers will be down at least one man at cornerback in Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Out: CB Ross Cockrell

Doubtful: OT Dennis Daley

Questionable: CB Donte Jackson

— Max Henson (@PanthersMax) November 15, 2019

The Panthers will be down at least one man at cornerback in Sunday’s game against the Falcons. James Bradberry is going to play, but Ross Cockrell has been ruled out this week with a quad injury. Donte Jackson is listed as questionable, per Max Henson.

On offense, it looks like Carolina will miss left tackle Dennis Daley, who is listed as doubtful. However, they’ll be getting second-round pick Greg Little back. He has finally cleared the concussion protocol. Coach Ron Rivera told reporters today he could play as many as 60 snaps despite missing the last five games.

If Jackson is ruled out, it could but serious strain on the rest of the Panthers’ secondary outside of Bradberry’s matchup with Julio Jones. Calvin Ridley was a problem last season and is in prime position for a larger target share with Austin Hooper out for a month.

Everyone else is healthy and should be ready to go.

[lawrence-related id=614124]

[vertical-gallery id=613865]