Offseason Outlook: The Panthers Top 5 Needs/Wants
Offseason Outlook: The Panthers Top 5 Needs/Wants
TThe Panthers for the second season in a row went on a losing streak to end out the year and it not only hurt the team, but lost Ron Riveria his job and Cam Newton’s career with the Panthers is now up in the air. They did have a bright spot in all this though, Christian McCaffery. He was named to two 1st team All-Pro positions, he had both a 1,000 yards rushing and receiving on the year, he was a Pro Bowl selection, he recorded over 100 receptions in back to back seasons, and lead the league in all-purpose yards on the season with 2,392 total yards. If the new management and new head coach Matt Rhule can start to build this team, they need to start around their superstar running back. While also looking for their next Luke Kuechly after losing him to retirement this past season.
Carolina Panthers
Wants
Offensive Line
Cornerback
Safety
Tight end
Quarterback
Needs
Figure out what their plan is for Cam Newton
Figure out their heir for Luke Kuechly
Get secondary help to Eric Reid and Donte Jackson
Add more pass rush either for the interior or edge
Find a good lineup for the offensive line
Cornerback
The cornerback room in Carolina has been starting to come together the last two years. They had an established guy in James Bradberry and then went out and got Donte Jackson to man the other side. They even added in veterans like Ross Cockrell and Captain Munnerlyn the past two seasons. The Munnerlyn pickup didn’t work as well, but the Panthers have been trying to address the need and understand that in a division with great wide receivers like Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the great Julio Jones, you need to have multiple great corners to throw at them. Now, this offseason might once again be like in 2015 when the Panthers cornerback room had to revamp the whole thing. Cockrell can be cut, Bradberry is a free agent and the only solid cornerback that is guaranteed to come back is Jackson.
The Panthers need to make some moves in this department. The first can be to decide whether or not to keep Bradberry. Next, they can add a solid veteran in free agency or via trade. If they go the free agency, I suggest them to go after a younger guy like Trae Waynes or grab a battle-tested experienced vet like Jimmy Smith. Waynes gives you upside for the future while solidifying one side for the corner spot. Smith gives you a proven veteran and a good mentor for a rookie and Jackson to learn from. Speaking of rookies, this rookie cornerback class is one of the deepest in recent years and can have many great guys fall from the first round due to the abundance at the position. The Panthers can possibly get a guy like Jaylon Johnson or Trevon Diggs in the second round. Both guys can play on the outside and inside and allow the cornerbacks with a good setup to move the guys they have around. This will give them versatile pieces to throw at the best of the best in the NFC south.
Quarterback
If they decide to do what most people are thinking they will in trading or releasing Cam Newton, then the quarterback spot jumps up to number one of the wishlist for the Panthers. If they pull the trigger on such a deal, you would have to assume they get either a late first-rounder or early second-rounder at the least for the former NFL MVP. Now with two seconds in the first or second, they can go after guys like Herbert or Love as their heir apparent to the throne. Yet, if some rumors are to be believed and Tua Tagovailoa drops into the mid-teens then the Panthers shouldn’t wait to scoop him up and team him up with McCaffrey and their young core of offensive pieces. In the event that it doesn’t happen like that, Herbert is most likely the best choice for the team. Herbert has an excellent mix of power and accuracy arm strength, plus a rushing ability that can be used in a somewhat similar style as Newton. He can come in right away and take this team over.
Figure out their heir to Luke Kuechly
Everyone in the league was surprised when Luke Kuechly announced his retirement from the NFL at age 28. Whether it was a combination of injuries the last few years or just a concerted effort to prevent any long-term damage to his brain, Kuechly retired earlier than anyone in this league expected. He was a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro. He had seven Pro Bowl nods and five 1st team All-Pro nods to his resume. Yet, he also got two 2nd team All-Pro nods as well to go along with DROY and DPOY awards in 2012 and 2013. He led the NFL in tackles twice and was always among the top 5 in tackles every year. He ended his magical career with 1,092 tackles (most in an eight-year span), 12.5 sacks, 18 interceptions (most by an ILB since he entered the league), 67 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, nine fumbles recovered and two defensive touchdowns. He retired a first-ballot Hall of Famer after only eight seasons.
The biggest question now is, who will the Panthers get to try to replace him? They can try to have Shaq Thompson do it. He is a former first-round pick but doesn’t have the same football IQ as Kuechly. He is as athletic as Kuechly or possibly more, but this task is not suited for just one person to replace him. It will be a group effort and the Panthers will need to draft a great choice this upcoming draft. In the last two offseason, they lost Kuechly and Davis, two of their most iconic linebackers since the last decade. If they can get a guy like Kenneth Murray in the second round and pair him with Thompson, they can form a great tandem on the inside. The only question will be can they replace what Kuechly and Davis did for the Panthers?
-By: Darren Braxton
Writer/Interviewer