NFLTR: Panthers Cap Casualty Candidates

[TheSpecialJuan]

Carolina Panthers

·         OLB Jadeveon Clowney ($7.8M)

·         OLB D.J. Wonnum ($6.2M)

·         RB Miles Sanders ($5.3M)

·         DL A’Shawn Robinson ($5.5M)

·         OT Yosh Nijman ($3.7M)

·         CB Dane Jackson ($3.4M)

·         DT Shy Tuttle ($3.3M)

·         WR Adam Thielen ($3M)

 The Panthers don’t have nearly the amount of cap space you’d expect for a team lacking as much talent as they do. They don’t even have a high-priced quarterback deal gobbling up space, with former No. 1 pick Bryce Young making about $8.5 million a year on his deal. Carolina’s been active the past two years in free agency to try and fill out the roster and the bulk of their space is dedicated to those deals. The team has had to guarantee money into the second year of a lot of contracts to lure players, and fortunately for GM Dan Morgan, his hit rate is looking better than his predecessor. 

Clowney and Wonnum were both signed as Carolina rebuilt its edge rusher room nearly from scratch following the trade of DE Brian Burns to the Giants. Both players have been solid when they have been on the field, which took a while for Wonnum due to complications from a torn quad that ended his 2023 season. I don’t see the Panthers wanting to take a step back here even if they’ll almost certainly add to the room, and neither Clowney nor Wonnum are making salaries out of line with the market. 

 

Thielen has continued to be productive despite pushing into his mid-30s, so his chances of coming back look a lot better than they did a few months ago. Still, he’s due $6.75 million in 2025, and his status might depend on whether the Panthers are able to add more punch to their receiving corps. Second-round WR Xavier Legette and UDFA WR Jalen Coker have had intriguing rookie seasons but if Carolina took just that trio into 2025, it’d be uninspiring. Thielen’s salary is harder to justify if he’s fourth on the depth chart. A $1.5 million roster bonus is due March 17, which will push the Panthers to make a quick decision. He could also retire. 

Sanders might have been cut this past offseason had his salary not already been guaranteed, so even with the uncertainty in the team’s backfield behind incumbent RB Chuba Hubbard, it’s hard to see Sanders back. Nijman was signed as insurance at tackle, but wasn’t healthy enough to play when LT Ikem Ekwonu missed some time. Carolina wants to be strong up front but they’re paying Nijman a premium for a swing tackle right now. 

The status of Robinson and Tuttle could depend on how much DC Ejiro Evero changes things up. He’ll remain in Carolina despite a horrendous season and both players were signed the past two years because they fit his scheme. Yet in that span, the Panthers have had the worst rush defense in football. Robinson is probably safer than Tuttle.  

Jackson was benched after missing significant time with a hamstring injury. He has $1 million already guaranteed in 2025 but that might not be enough to save him from being cut. 

[BeenPounding]

Easy 15,7 off the books by cutting dead weight of Yosh, Dane, Sanders, Tuttle.  Restructure Brown and Hunt, sign Moten to a short extension with void years and we are in solid shape for free agency.  I'd be shopping for a DT, S, and WR.

Focusing on Slayton at WR, Moerhig at S and Milton Williams for our FA class would be superb and doable. Adding them to a healthy DB, Wallace, Horn, Robinson, would greatly benefit our defense.

[PNW_PantherMan]

bruh

[PNW_PantherMan]

A'Shawn Robinson is replacement level at best, and costs money.  I think he's gone.

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://x.com/panthersontap/status/1884582474602205255?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[mrcompletely11]

4 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

https://x.com/panthersontap/status/1884582474602205255?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Yeah, no

[theinstrumental]

Slayton would be nice. Thielen, Coker, and XL all seem good, they just need to be complemented with some speed. He’d be a good way to do it at an appropriate cost.

[Basbear]

1 hour ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

A'Shawn Robinson is replacement level at best, and costs money.  I think he's gone.

 

Personally I thought he played great the first 9 or so games, I swear I thought dbrown was still playing at times. Then he fell off each passing week, I don't know if injury related or what. 

For me its super hard to know how to judge these D players, the LB room was down to street FAs at seasons end. For me Id keep Arob around with the hope Dr Brown plus other talent allow Arob to have a full season of greatness. 

[rayzor]

Paste as plain text and everyone can see.

[Jay Roosevelt]

Tuttle, Jackson, Nijman and Sanders should all be no-brainers.

I'd hesitate to cut Clowney and/or Wonnum until after the draft and free agency when we know we can actually upgrade on one or both of them. Robinson is 50/50 as well.

Thielen should absolutely stay.

[SCO96]

I'd keep Clowney (LB) and Robinson (DE). Each guy had 5.5 sacks to lead the team. No other DL had more than 3 sacks. We had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last season. No way I'm letting my two best pass rushers go and depend on the rookie or low/middle tier FA to replace them. Those numbers "may have been a little higher" if D. Brown had not been injured all last season. 

Then again Brown only has 8 sacks in 4 seasons. I don't know if he really would have made much of any impact on our sack totals. I'd target at least 2-3 pass rushing lineman in the 2025 draft to fortify the pass rush and run defense.

Wonnum (LB) only played in 8 games but his 4 sacks still ranked 2nd on the team. Over the course of a 17 games that would average to almost a double digit sack total. It would be hard for me to cut him. 

There's no way I'd cut Thielen. He's our most reliable WR. I'd have to say adios to Sanders, Nijman, and probably Tuttle (although his salary is really not that high). As someone pointed out, restructuring some deals could clear up more cap space.

Morgan really does have his work cut out for him this off-season.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/car/table//sort/sacks/dir/desc (2024 Panther Stats)

[Jon Snow]

13 minutes ago, SCO96 said:

I'd keep Clowney (LB) and Robinson (DE). Each guy had 5.5 sacks to lead the team. No other DL had more than 3 sacks. We had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last season. No way I'm letting my two best pass rushers go and depend on the rookie or low/middle tier FA to replace them. Those numbers "may have been a little higher" if D. Brown had not been injured all last season. 

Then again Brown only has 8 sacks in 4 seasons. I don't know if he really would have made much of any impact on our sack totals. I'd target at least 2-3 pass rushing lineman in the 2025 draft to fortify the pass rush and run defense.

Wonnum (LB) only played in 8 games but his 4 sacks still ranked 2nd on the team. Over the course of a 17 games that would average to almost a double digit sack total. It would be hard for me to cut him. 

There's no way I'd cut Thielen. He's our most reliable WR. I'd have to say adios to Sanders, Nijman, and probably Tuttle (although his salary is really not that high). As someone pointed out, restructuring some deals could clear up more cap space.

Morgan really does have his work cut out for him this off-season.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/car/table//sort/sacks/dir/desc (2024 Panther Stats)

Browns job is to clog up the middle and stop the run. He is exceptional at doing that. He needs a partner in crime to help him collapse the pocket so the edge guys can feast. 

[MHS831]

18 hours ago, Basbear said:

 

Personally I thought he played great the first 9 or so games, I swear I thought dbrown was still playing at times. Then he fell off each passing week, I don't know if injury related or what. 

For me its super hard to know how to judge these D players, the LB room was down to street FAs at seasons end. For me Id keep Arob around with the hope Dr Brown plus other talent allow Arob to have a full season of greatness. 

Yeah, they seemed to quit up front--going through the motions.  I think A. Robinson could have been impacted by poor Tuttle/Ray play as well--they def. need to go.  But saving 5.5m and losing a DE with his experience and ability is a bit stupid.  We are likely to draft a NT/DT and a DE, so rookies will need help.  I also think A Rob will be better with Brown in the rotation.

[countryboi]

I don’t think it’s anyway you can cut any D linemen/edge rusher on an already weak unit, unless you have their replacement in the bag. A guy like AShawn was our best interior lineman on a piss poor unit that five mill is cheap.