REPORT: Panthers going after SAF Jevon Holland

[Davidson Deac II]

30 minutes ago, Stingray3030 said:

That would be 22%, not half - there are 2 safeties.  14 make more than $10M a year which is only 14 out of 64.  Icege posted a screenshot.

But I think you are right - the market for a top 25-yr old safety is $15-20M a year.  My question is more "is he really a top 5 safety?"  He had a great year, PFF ranked him 6th as a safety last year, but is that enough to pay him top 3 money?  Not sure I could justify more than $15M....and certainly not a high % of guaranteed money.

Yeah, I said that before morning coffee.  You are correct.  

My point was though that the market for safeties is higher than it use to be.  And will soon go higher.  I would gladly see the team pay more than 10 million for Jesse Bates.  

Whether this fellow is worth it, I have no idea.  

[MHS831]

These guys would probably cost much less:

[kungfoodude]

4 hours ago, Icege said:

Bring him to Sir Purr

Some of y'all gotta update your budget spreadsheets. $10M for a safety is not as insane as folks want it to sound:

Keep in mind, these numbers were BEFORE the recent salary cap increase. As the cap increases, so does pay on average.

Of course, to be fair, Holland's best season was his second one. His most recent two weren't very good, but in 2023 he missed five games (x1 concussion, x4 sprained MCL) and he then missed two games in 2024 (broken left hand).

Might be some wiggle room in negotiations...

I think the issue is that with not a ton of cap space and arguably the most roster holes in the entire NFL, we have to be fairly selective about overpaying for guys.

I would say overpaying at safety for a guy that has an above average chance of underperforming is not a great idea without a very clear plan on overhauling the front 7.

Generally you do want to build from the inside out on the defense or offense. Or at least that is my preference, anyway.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Lots of smoke with us to Holland 

[frankw]

3 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I think the issue is that with not a ton of cap space and arguably the most roster holes in the entire NFL, we have to be fairly selective about overpaying for guys.

I would say overpaying at safety for a guy that has an above average chance of underperforming is not a great idea without a very clear plan on overhauling the front 7.

Generally you do want to build from the inside out on the defense or offense. Or at least that is my preference, anyway.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Lots of smoke with us to Holland 

I'm with you on building from the inside out and if we are making reasonable attempts to do that without overpaying then that's all I can ask for the time being until we see results.

But it always makes me laugh to log on here and see some people mocking others for being apprehensive as if this org hasn't had the worst win % in professional sports.

Until proven otherwise the onus is on Morgan and the rest of the front office to show they actually know how to build a winning roster.

Edited March 6, 2025 by frankw

[shaqattaq]

7 hours ago, CPF4LIFE said:

Lawd have mercy. 

Like my drunk uncle used to say' "If she's too thicc, you ain't got enough dicc"!

[Basbear]

15-20 million, NO THANKS!!

 

Safety get cut all the time, good ones. 

 

I think 6million per is about the limit for me for paying safety.

 

I'd prefer Talanoa Hufanga, a smart team is going to sign him...

[Loyalty4Life]

Evero runs a 2 high safety shell defense similar to Vic Fangio.  The safety position is much, much, much, much, much more valuable in this defense as they have much more responsibility and are asked to do a ton more than a traditional safety.  The position can be a lynchpin to this type of defense.   Bad safety play was almost as horrible as our run defense.

Javon Holland would be a great fit and I don't see a problem paying him the money it would take to sign him.

A safety like Fitz or Justin Simmons with a high football IQ, can play deep, match up in coverage and excel is run support would elevate the entire defense. 

[BlazeCarolina]

1 hour ago, Basbear said:

15-20 million, NO THANKS!!

 

Safety get cut all the time, good ones. 

 

I think 6million per is about the limit for me for paying safety.

 

I'd prefer Talanoa Hufanga, a smart team is going to sign him...

While I agree on not spending heavy on a safety, as I have always been a Panthers fan, and it seems to be our preference.

The market HAS changed.  6 mill gets you the bottom safeties in the league with the previous salary cap.  Chart shows you would only be able to buy guys below 25.

We are going to have to adjust our mental budget a bit.  20 mill still way too much imo.

Edited March 6, 2025 by BlazeCarolina

[TheSpecialJuan]

1 hour ago, Loyalty4Life said:

Evero runs a 2 high safety shell defense similar to Vic Fangio.  The safety position is much, much, much, much, much more valuable in this defense as they have much more responsibility and are asked to do a ton more than a traditional safety.  The position can be a lynchpin to this type of defense.   Bad safety play was almost as horrible as our run defense.

Javon Holland would be a great fit and I don't see a problem paying him the money it would take to sign him.

A safety like Fitz or Justin Simmons with a high football IQ, can play deep, match up in coverage and excel is run support would elevate the entire defense. 

Finally, an educated post 

[frankw]

1 hour ago, Loyalty4Life said:

Evero runs a 2 high safety shell defense similar to Vic Fangio.  The safety position is much, much, much, much, much more valuable in this defense as they have much more responsibility and are asked to do a ton more than a traditional safety.  The position can be a lynchpin to this type of defense.   Bad safety play was almost as horrible as our run defense.

Javon Holland would be a great fit and I don't see a problem paying him the money it would take to sign him.

A safety like Fitz or Justin Simmons with a high football IQ, can play deep, match up in coverage and excel is run support would elevate the entire defense. 

I don't think anyone in here is arguing against improving our secondary.

But the fact of the matter is we were 32 out of 32 in run defense while we were 25th in pass defense.

Let's get some defensive line reinforcements and go from there.

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 hour ago, Loyalty4Life said:

Evero runs a 2 high safety shell defense similar to Vic Fangio.  The safety position is much, much, much, much, much more valuable in this defense as they have much more responsibility and are asked to do a ton more than a traditional safety.  The position can be a lynchpin to this type of defense.   Bad safety play was almost as horrible as our run defense.

Javon Holland would be a great fit and I don't see a problem paying him the money it would take to sign him.

A safety like Fitz or Justin Simmons with a high football IQ, can play deep, match up in coverage and excel is run support would elevate the entire defense. 

Makes no sense when you consider that Evero is likely gone after next year.  But we'll be stuck with that contract.

[Basbear]

48 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

While I agree on not spending heavy on a safety, as I have always been a Panthers fan, and it seems to be our preference.

The market HAS changed.  6 mill gets you the bottom safeties in the league with the previous salary cap.  Chart shows you would only be able to buy guys below 25.

We are going to have to adjust our mental budget a bit.  20 mill still way too much imo.

 

During their history, it's the one thing the Panthers got right about never paying safety big money!! 

 

I may need to adjust my budget, besides not valuing them, its the lack of Panthers cap space for the reason for that low number.

 

I still look at it like this, you CANNOT pay every position top dollar. period. Some spots are just going to get less, safety is one of groups I just refuse to pay *rare exceptions- Sean Taylor, Ed Reed, Ronnie Lott.

 

I think the league is wrong about paying TE, I'm the opposite here- BIG TIME. If I had my way, 2 TEs would be getting top 5 money since its soooo low. I'd be overpaying them, upsetting the whole league...

[rebelrouser]

[rodeo]

11 hours ago, Icege said:

Bring him to Sir Purr

Some of y'all gotta update your budget spreadsheets. $10M for a safety is not as insane as folks want it to sound:

Keep in mind, these numbers were BEFORE the recent salary cap increase. As the cap increases, so does pay on average.

Of course, to be fair, Holland's best season was his second one. His most recent two weren't very good, but in 2023 he missed five games (x1 concussion, x4 sprained MCL) and he then missed two games in 2024 (broken left hand).

Might be some wiggle room in negotiations...

Holland is better than a lot of those from this list making over 10.