Joe Person: Panthers will let Cade Mays test the free agent market

[TheSpecialJuan]

Quote

The Panthers likely will let Mays test the market to determine whether it makes fiscal sense to keep him. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7060790/2026/02/23/panthers-nfl-combine-preview-ot-bryce-young/

[TheSpecialJuan]

Quote

They’re expected to employ the same strategy with several of their other free agents who are candidates to return: [Yosh] Nijman, safety Nick Scott, linebacker Christian Rozeboom, punter Sam Martin and offensive lineman Brady Christensen

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://x.com/TexansJacob/status/2015511291750645906

[imminent rogaine]

Are comp picks simply awarded based on FA deficit or is their new contract amount relevant?

[TheSpecialJuan]

"Center Cade Mayes was not expected back and will hit the free-agent market in March. Sources here at the Shrine Bowl expect the [Houston] Texans to make a run at Mayes once free agency opens to fill the hole they have at center. Mayes, a sixth-round pick by Carolina in 2022, has started 27 games for the Panthers, including 20 over the past two seasons."

- Tony Pauline

[jfra78]

10 minutes ago, imminent rogaine said:

Are comp picks simply awarded based on FA deficit or is their new contract amount relevant?

Based on a number of things that the NFL keeps secret so they can award them to whoever they want to

 

[45catfan]

Draft a center.  We have too much money tied up on the OL to re-sign/sign a FA.  One of them needs to be a on a rookie deal.

[frankw]

Bold strategy.

[TheSpecialJuan]

49 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Draft a center.  We have too much money tied up on the OL to re-sign/sign a FA.  One of them needs to be a on a rookie deal.

Agree. I think we bring back Corbett as Cade is as good as gone

[strato]

Bozeman quit the league today so there is another C job open. 

[PleaseCutStewart]

2 hours ago, strato said:

Bozeman quit the league today so there is another C job open. 

With his play the last few years, pretty sure he quit the league 4 or 5 years ago...

[PleaseCutStewart]

5 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

 

Man, that is a lot of guys that played meaningful snaps for us last year we are letting test free agency... Kind of worried we are going to lose Yosh

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

The Panthers are going to have a lot more flexibility in free agency than it looks like at first glance. On paper, the cap space might seem tight, but there are several obvious restructure candidates that could easily free up significant room. Between converting base salaries into signing bonuses and spreading cap hits out over future years, Carolina could realistically clear $60–80 million in additional space if they wanted to be aggressive.

That kind of flexibility means they’re not stuck. They can extend key young pieces, add help along the offensive line, upgrade the defense, and still be strategic about value signings. Letting Cade Mays test the market makes sense from a leverage standpoint. If he’s willing to come back on a team-friendly deal, great, continuity on the line matters. But if his market price climbs, the Panthers should absolutely explore upgrades.

The point is, this front office isn’t boxed in. With cap maneuvering and smart structuring, they have the ability to be active players in free agency rather than sitting on the sidelines like we are used too.