It is hardly a secret that the Panthers aren’t exactly flush with cash – in fact, only eight teams in the NFL have less cap space heading into the 2019 free agency signing period. As a result, the Panthers aren’t expected to be major players in free agency, with – at best – the ability to chase a second-tier star and then fill in the roster with lower signings the best Carolina fans could hope for. However, with that being said, the Panthers aren’t going to simply sit on the sidelines and watch, so which free agents might make sense for the Panthers?
Alfred Morris, RB San Francisco 49ers
Photo Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers have finally accepted that running Christian McCaffrey into the ground isn’t sustainable, and while I think that is probably something they’ll focus on in the middle rounds of the draft as well, they would do well not to go into the draft with no plan B. This is actually a very strong running back free agency class, and while the Panthers probably aren’t going to prioritize going after the top guys, it will likely mean that decent players are available for next to nothing.
While definitely past his prime at 30 years old, Morris was once again effective as a rotation piece in San Francisco, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 111 carries with a couple of scores and even a handful of receptions. Given that he is likely to be available for around the $790,000 figure he played for last season, what Morris offers is highly affordable depth. Additionally, he is a far better fit with McCaffrey than Artis-Payne was, as a more natural downhill runner, with the red zone offerings a natural path to carries behind CMC. This isn’t a signing that is likely to make a huge splash, but it would make a lot of sense.
Kevin White, WR Chicago Bears
Kevin White. Photo Credit: AP Photo/G-Jun Yam
Kevin White is a bust, there’s really not much getting around that. Sure, his early seasons were wrecked by injury but, even so, the Bears probably hoped the 2015 seventh overall pick would have managed to surpass 300 career receiving yards by now. However, just because he’s almost certainly never going to play like the top ten pick he was drafted as doesn’t mean he can’t add value to an NFL team.
The Panthers need some help in the red zone, having lost their only receiver over 6-1; one thing that White should still be able to do is offer an outside option in the red zone. Add to this that the athleticism that made him the seventh overall pick still offers some potential for development free from the expectations of being a star and, crucially, at a very reasonable price. If White can get $1m a year on the open market that would be something of a shock, and the Panthers do have a history of trying to develop former high-end receiver busts, as Stephen Hill had a real chance of making the roster before his knee completely exploded.
While there is a lot of buzz about Torrey Smith’s option being picked up, that option doesn’t preclude the team from finding a cheaper option and still releasing Smith with no cap penalty, just as they had that option last year – his $5m salary is still non-guaranteed.
Again, this isn’t a signing that will get people rushing to buy a jersey, but when it comes to the lower end of the roster, there is real value in specialism with upside attached.
Tyler Eifert, TE Cincinnati Bengals
Photo Credit: Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports
Greg Olsen is going to be in the Hall of Fame one day, and Ian Thomas showed a lot of promise and incredible development as a rookie, so why on earth would the Panthers want to sign another tight end, let alone one with as long an injury history as Eiffert?
Well, first, let’s look at the two tight ends above in a little more detail. Olsen might be one of the best tight ends of the past decade, but the past couple of seasons have been less spectacular, as three foot injuries have cost him significant game time and hampered his play when he was on the field. If Olsen stays healthy and plays like his healthy self, the Panthers have nothing to worry about, but betting on that seems foolish.
On the flip side, Ian Thomas has the potential to be a really good tight end – but as good as he was towards the end of last season, if the Panthers are forced to play with him as #1 TE for a prolonged periods of time, that is also likely to come with some growing pains. In an ideal world, the Panthers would look to add another tight end who can rotate in with the potential to take on a bigger role if Olsen gets hurt again.
Enter Eifert.
Eifert has been a legitimate star when healthy, but having signed a prove-it deal last year, he got hurt once again and is likely looking at having to take an even greater pay cut this time around. Add to this the fact that Eifert has the ability to play receiver in the red zone and this is a signing that would make a lot of sense for the right money. By rotating Eifert, Olsen and Thomas, the Panthers increase the odds of keeping both Olsen and Eifert healthy while also being able to tailor the amount of playing time they give Thomas in order to aid his development.
This would be a luxury signing, but sometimes you have to treat yourself.
Up Next: Defensive Options
