With the Panthers having the second-highest salary cap number that will be paid out to defensive tackles in 2019, one would think that they won’t be in the market for anyone along the big bodies up front – but should the team elect to forego resigning Kyle Love, they’ll likely need someone to pair with Vernon Butler on the second pair rotating behind Dontari Poe and Kawann Short. While we’ve taken a look at some of those available through the draft – Jerry Tillery, Daylon Mack or Rashan Gary would certainly help the Panthers run defense, albeit at a high draft price – before we take a look at some of the lower-level options, have a listen to our weekly breakdown of each position on the field, this week focusing on the Panthers needs along the interior defensive line:
Should the Panthers dip into the free agency market, don’t expect them to have recognizable names like Sheldon Richardson or Ndamukong Suh on their contact list – with Short due to make $17m and Poe on the books for $9m this season, the big money has already been accounted for. But the Panthers will need a fourth DT, and they might even want to bring in a fifth to compete in training camp with Vernon Butler, who was inactive for two games last season and will be in the last year of his rookie deal.
Mike Pennel. Photo Credit: Steven Ryan/Getty Images
- Mike Pennel (NYJ): In a surprising move, the Jets declined to pick up the former undrafted free agent’s $1m option, leaving him to become an unrestricted free agent. Should he come at the right price, Pennel has value as an interior penetrator, especially against the run where he excelled in 2018 with 19 run stops. At 27 years old, Pennel still has room to improve as 2018 was certainly a step in the right direction – Pennel has the skills and size to play the 0-tech and could succeed in three-man fronts, as the prevailing opinion was that he was released because he doesn’t fit easily into a 4-3 defense, which the Jets will be moving towards under Gregg Williams in 2019. If the team is serious about a hybrid scheme with three-man fronts, Pennel will get a long look.
- Henry Anderson (NYJ): Not to raid the entire Jets defensive front, but Anderson might be a good value fit for the Panthers as well – the 6-6 lineman who had seven sacks in 2018 can play multiple positions along the defensive line and if the team is serious about showing more 3-4 looks, don’t be surprised if they go out and sign someone who has experience playing in the 3-4.
- Ricky Jean-Francois (DET): While the 30-year old vet wants to return to Detroit, where he started 11 of 16 games and had 30 tackles and two sacks, that may not be an option in a room that has players like ‘Snacks’ Harrison and Da’Shawn Hand ready to be young leaders – the veteran who has played who has played with six teams over ten seasons might be a fit in the same mold that Kyle Love was when he came to the team in 2014.
- Brent Urban (BAL): After suffering a Lisfranc injury in 2017, Urban was given a one-year prove-it deal in Baltimore and was a strong contributor on one of the best defenses in the league – the 6-7 former fourth-round pick could be in line for another short-term deal, where he could make the most of limited snaps in Carolina and be someone who pushes Butler for the third DT spot – he’s got the size and skillset to be successful, it’s just a matter of staying healthy and putting it all together for the 27-year old.
Other Names To Consider: Corey Liuget (SD), Tyeler Davison (NO), Angelo Blackson (HOU), Christian Covington (HOU), Margus Hunt (IND)
While the expectation is that the 32-year old Love, who had the best season of his career in 2018, will return on a team-friendly deal this offseason, the expectation is not always the outcome – should the team not feel like Love can fit into some of the hybrid concepts the team is expected to use or if they simply feel like Love’s best days are behind him, they may be ready to move on and bring in a slightly younger player to occupy that rotational role, not to mention the possibility of another team liking what they saw in Love’s play last season and pricing him out of the Panthers comfort zone.
