TheSpecialJuan

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6081684/2025/01/23/panthers-unrestricted-free-agent-rankings/

The Athletic asked three veteran personnel officials to rank the Panthers’ top 10 free agents and their responses were kind of all over the board, perhaps reflective of the group’s lack of star power. We combined their responses and took the averages to come up with these rankings, which reflect the level of interest the personnel vets anticipate the Panthers’ free agents would get on the open market. 1. (tie) S Xavier Woods Woods has been a mainstay on the back end of the Panthers’ defense since signing a three-year, $15.75 million contract in 2022. Despite starting 46 games over the past three seasons, Woods could be part of a mass exodus as Dave Canales and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero look to remake the safety room. Woods is the most accomplished of the five free-agent safeties (Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Sam Franklin and Lonnie Johnson are the others). The 29-year-old finished among the top four safeties in 2024 when he played every defensive snap and led Carolina in total tackles (119), solo tackles (72) and interceptions (three) 1. (tie) S Sam Franklin Franklin’s teammates voted him the special teams captain before the season when he was out with a broken foot. When Franklin returned in Week 8, he quickly resumed his place as a gunner and trusted special teams player. Franklin finished third on the team with eight special teams tackles despite missing seven games. He also was among the league leaders in a more dubious category. The emotional Franklin’s three unnecessary roughness penalties were tied for second in a group that also included Woods. One of the personnel executives called Franklin “a top-5 gunner” across the league. 3. TE Tommy Tremble Tremble, veteran Ian Thomas and special teams ace Feleipe Franks are all free agents. Thomas has seemingly had nine lives in the organization, but Tremble is four years younger than Thomas and the easy choice if the Panthers plan to retain one of the TEs. Tremble battled back issues for much of 2024 but still put up receiving numbers (23 catches on 32 targets for 234 yards and two TDs) nearly identical to those from his previous two seasons. Tremble may not be a Pro Bowler, but he can block and catch, works hard (and is Chuba Hubbard’s partner on the JUGS machine) and is worth bringing back to pair with Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Colin Cole alert

Fatboy

This explains why the Panthers are not retaining their passing game coordinator, Nathan Carroll, Pete's son

Jerrod Clark, 25, originally signed on with the LA Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Coastal Carolina in 2023. He was among Los Angeles’ final roster cuts as a rookie and re-signed to their practice squad. The Chargers signed him to a futures deal in January of last year but was among their final roster cuts, once again. He recently caught on with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades.

https://x.com/primetimecar/status/1882599056645771700?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

https://x.com/khamp177/status/1882585192294154622?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

His play is going to make Dane Jackson expendable in a few weeks

Another RB https://x.com/panthersbreakd/status/1882479082559910335?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

CORNERBACK Chau Smith-Wade, Carolina Panthers Snaps from Week 1-9: 130 | Grade from Week 1-9: 36.5 Snaps from Week 10-18: 171 | Grade from Week 10-18: 66.7 The Panthers’ rookie fifth-round pick saw his role grow in the second half of the season. Smith-Wade’s 67.6 coverage grade was 41st among cornerbacks from Week 10 onwards, and he allowed just nine catches in 110 coverage snaps, giving up just 71 receiving yards.

Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers Snaps from Week 1-9: 200 | Grade from Week 1-9: 46.1 Snaps from Week 10-18: 318 | Grade from Week 10-18: 61.4 Tremble missed time in the middle of the season due to a concussion and a back injury, but that didn’t stop him from improving upon his early season grade. The fourth-year tight end caught 14 of 17 targets thrown his way in the second half of the season for 162 yards and two touchdowns, and his 6.2 yards after the catch per reception was 19th among tight ends.

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers Snaps from Week 1-9: 109 | Grade from Week 1-9: 63.7 Snaps from Week 10-18: 320 | Grade from Week 10-18: 79.4 Thielen returned from injury with a bang in the second half of the season. After catching just eight passes in the first three games of the season, Thielen went on to catch 40 passes for 506 yards and four touchdowns from Week 10 onwards. His reception rate of 80.0% was seventh-highest of all receivers in the second half of the season.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers Snaps from Week 1-9: 228 | Grade from Week 1-9: 51.5 Snaps from Week 10-18: 500 | Grade from Week 10-18: 86.4 Young’s second-half resurgence was a shock to many. The former No. 1 overall pick looked dead and buried after being benched by the Panthers in the first two weeks of the season, but Young stepped back into the lineup following an injury to Andy Dalton and never looked back. Young had 22 big-time throws in the second half of the season, the second-most in the NFL, and he finished with the seventh-most in 2024 (27). https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-second-half-risers-5-most-improved-players-at-every-position-over-the-second-half-of-the-2024-season

Walker reminds me of Anthony Barr, more of an off-ball hybrid type.

Harrison Mevis was murdered by a famous serial killer last year

JJ Jansen and Johnny Hekker are also UFA's

https://x.com/panthersontap/status/1882187653229216181?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

and me

Per Mike Kaye

Exactly.

DE Josh Sweat Sweat, 27, is coming o an eight-sack season in his seventh year with the Eagles. Philadelphia has several notable players to re-sign (including All-Pro linebacker Zach Baun), and Sweat might hit the free-agent market solely due to a lack of cap resources. During his career, Sweat has produced 43 sacks, with the entirety being collected after his forgettable rookie campaign. Sweat was selected to the 2021 Pro Bowl and followed up that honor with an 11-sack season in 2022. The Panthers could use Sweat as a full-time starter opposite D.J. Wonnum and Jadeveon Clowney on the edge. The Chesapeake, Virginia, native grew up a big Clowney fan, and with his hometown not too far away, perhaps he’d be enticed to join a Panthers team that badly needs pass rusher help DT Milton Williams The Panthers badly need help in their front seven, and Williams can play nearly every position in that grouping. Williams, a versatile interior pass rusher, has established himself as a key contributor for the top defense left in the playos. The 2021 third-round pick is used in a powerful rotation that also features Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Charlotte native Jordan Davis. With the Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Josh Sweat (19) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline USA TODAY NETWORK Eagles needing to prioritize other positions, and Williams having a breakout year, the two sides are likely headed for a parting of the ways on the open market. WR Dyami Brown (Washington Commanders) DE Clelin Ferrell (Washington Commanders) S Justin Reid (KC Chiefs) OLB Joshua Uche (New England Patriots) S Damar Hamilin (Buffalo Bills) RB Ty Johnson (Buffalo Bills) https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article298508683.html