2026 Panthers Free Agents… who you keeping and who can walk

[TheSpecialJuan]

P Sam Martin is a priority 

[PanthersNCSU]

23 hours ago, TheBigKat said:

• WR Jalen Coker (ERFA)

• WR David Moore

• WR Brycen Tremayne (ERFA)

• OT Yosh Nijman

• OL Brady Christensen

• OL Austin Corbett

• OL Jake Curhan

• C Cade Mays

• OLB Thomas Incoom (RFA)

• ILB Krys Barnes

• ILB Claudin Cherelus (RFA)

• ILB Christian Rozeboom

• S Nick Scott

• S Isaiah Simmons

• P Sam Martin

• LS JJ Jansen

Nobody on this list will cost that much, and I'd like to see them all retained. Some guys like Rozeboom can probably get more elsewhere, but offer him a cheap 1 year deal and let him decide. A lot of those guys are minimum contracts and depth, where they belong.

Priority number 1 is re-signing every bit of OL depth we have after Ickey's injury. I *think* all of those guys could be had for cheap enough. Nijman might be the most expensive at this point since teams are always desperate for a LT. Give him a "big" number on 1 year if you have to. Coker, re-sign now for a 2-3 year deal with decent money. If he's healthy next year, I'd expect him to put up solid #2 numbers and become more and more expensive. 

If Evero is here, Nick Scott will be here. 

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

28 minutes ago, PanthersNCSU said:

Nobody on this list will cost that much, and I'd like to see them all retained. Some guys like Rozeboom can probably get more elsewhere, but offer him a cheap 1 year deal and let him decide. A lot of those guys are minimum contracts and depth, where they belong.

Priority number 1 is re-signing every bit of OL depth we have after Ickey's injury. I *think* all of those guys could be had for cheap enough. Nijman might be the most expensive at this point since teams are always desperate for a LT. Give him a "big" number on 1 year if you have to. Coker, re-sign now for a 2-3 year deal with decent money. If he's healthy next year, I'd expect him to put up solid #2 numbers and become more and more expensive. 

If Evero is here, Nick Scott will be here. 

The Ickey injury changes our offseason plans. We’re probably going to have to settle at bringing back more of these guys since it’s likely we’ll have to draft a round 1 offensive tackle. 

[hepcat]

23 hours ago, Adb6368 said:

Coker is an exclusive rights free agent. Meaning he will be a Carolina Panther next year likely for the league minimum. 
 

That should not stop us from signing him to a long term deal

Coker needs to be signed long term ASAP but he might wait a year when he has a true breakout season, but he's rolling the dice on his injury history as well. Panthers should go sign some speed at WR behind him. 

[hepcat]

32 minutes ago, Dingo_ate_Babies said:

The Ickey injury changes our offseason plans. We’re probably going to have to settle at bringing back more of these guys since it’s likely we’ll have to draft a round 1 offensive tackle. 

Depends how the draft shakes out but I think a second round tackle is probably the better decision. I doubt they're gonna roll out a rookie LT starter in what could be a playoff caliber team next season. I expect Nijman and Christensen to battle for the starting LT spot with a rookie in the mix. 

[Jackson113.2]

I'm going to get   , but maybe move off Jc Horn while his value is high, before the concussion history becomes an issue.  Build with Mike Jax... 

[Aussie Tank]

3 hours ago, Jackson113.2 said:

I'm going to get   , but maybe move off Jc Horn while his value is high, before the concussion history becomes an issue.  Build with Mike Jax... 

If we're gonna keep Evaro and we got a good offer for Horn I definitely consider it 

[electro's horse]

Getting rid of Moton right now would be completely insane 

[DeadpoolPanther]

Coker

Moore or Tremayne.

Mays.

Brady and Corbett or at least one or the other.

Rozeboom

Simmons and Jansen.

 

Should be able to go after a top defensive free agent.

[TheSpecialJuan]

7 Carolina Panthers players who definitely won't be back in 2026

LaBryan Ray - Carolina Panthers DL

Trevis Gipson - Carolina Panthers OLB

Akayleb Evans - Carolina Panthers CB

Akayleb Evans - Carolina Panthers CB

David Moore - Carolina Panthers WR

D.J. Wonnum - Carolina Panthers OLB

Rico Dowdle - Carolina Panthers RB

https://catcrave.com/7-carolina-panthers-players-who-definitely-wont-be-back-2026/1

[NYPantherFan]

Mays might end up being the biggest contract we hand out to the returning guys. I wouldn't be shocked to see him command 7-10M a year.

[kungfoodude]

On 1/11/2026 at 8:34 AM, TheBigKat said:

• RB Rico Dowdle

• WR Jalen Coker (ERFA)

• WR David Moore

• WR Brycen Tremayne (ERFA)

• TE James Mitchell (RFA)

• OT Yosh Nijman

• OL Brady Christensen

• OL Austin Corbett

• OL Jake Curhan

• C Cade Mays

• DL LaBryan Ray (RFA)

• OLB Trevis Gipson

• OLB Thomas Incoom (RFA)

• OLB D.J. Wonnum

• ILB Krys Barnes

• ILB Claudin Cherelus (RFA)

• ILB Christian Rozeboom

• CB Akayleb Evans

• CB Damarri Mathis

• CB Robert Rochell

• S D'Anthony Bell

• S Nick Scott

• S Isaiah Simmons

• P Sam Martin

• LS JJ Jansen

Depending on price and terms, any of the bolded guys. A chunk of them will not return of their own accord.

BC is basically impossible to sign because of the injury but if he can heal up towards the end of the 2026 season, I would gladly bring him back for a stretch run.

Rosebum should literally be locked out and banned from the facility as soon as humanly possible. He is one of the worst LB's to ever play here.

[Car123]

13 hours ago, Jackson113.2 said:

I'm going to get   , but maybe move off Jc Horn while his value is high, before the concussion history becomes an issue.  Build with Mike Jax... 

Nah, enough trading our great players.

[hepcat]

8 hours ago, NYPantherFan said:

Mays might end up being the biggest contract we hand out to the returning guys. I wouldn't be shocked to see him command 7-10M a year.

It would be worth it. The entire line plays better when he’s in the game and I don’t see him getting worked game after game. I saw our old center Bozeman getting destroyed against the Patriots which was funny to see.