Panthers becoming Free Agents in 2012

[MHS831]

Players whose contracts expire this season-possible moves we should make to get something for them or make cap room:

1. Dan Connor: When we extended Beason and signed Anderson, Connor's fate was almost sealed. When we brought in Gaither, it was sealed. Look for Connor to be shopped. His salary this season is $555k.

2. Wallace Wright: With nothing more than special teams on his resume, it would be hard to keep Wright and Naanee on the same roster. Although we may not get a 7th in a trade, he could be released. His salary for 2011 is $840k.

3. Mackenzy Bernadeau: His job security skyrocketed when Zack Williams blew out his knee, but Mac is not irreplacable. We still have Ryan Pugh and Duke Robinson, both could back up Wharton and Kalil. Heck, Ziemba could too. With a base salary for 2011 of $1.2 million, keeping a roster spot should be difficult if he is not starting, or scheduled to start.

4. Charles Godfrey: I know, a starter? But the days of the 2 deep safeties are over. Besides, Jordan Pugh might be ready to play. If not, you could start one of the true SS free agents we brought in (Payne and Considine-?-) and move Martin over to free safety. Godfrey is expected to earn $1.2 million in 2011, the final year on his contract. It seems doubtful we would re-sign him unless his play improves. Still, because he is a starter, I would ride it out; depends how much we could use the cap space, I suppose.

Thought this was interesting considering the fact that we are probably in the market for a CB and DT. Creating a bit more cap room/a trade could be the smart thing to do first.

[2jakefansinva]

thanks for the info..........

should be interesting to see how it plays out.

[mercules20]

yea we honestly should get rid of connor, he's a waste of a roster spot atm, i mean he would be good as a starter but he needs to go so we can get something for him, just a draft pick, all i'd want

[Mutant_Enemy]

Re: "We still have Jordan Pugh and Duke Robinson, both could back up Wharton and Kalil." I don't really want to see Jordan Pugh working on the O-line. I don't think that would really work out.

[Dpantherman]

You forgot Ryan Kalil, unless he gets extended.

[mmmbeans]

yea we honestly should get rid of connor, he's a waste of a roster spot atm, i mean he would be good as a starter but he needs to go so we can get something for him, just a draft pick, all i'd want

you are aware that we can only put 11 players on the field at once right? How is a starter-quality backup in arguably the most important position on defense a waste of a roster spot?

[MHS831]

Re: "We still have Jordan Pugh and Duke Robinson, both could back up Wharton and Kalil." I don't really want to see Jordan Pugh working on the O-line. I don't think that would really work out.

Ryan Pugh. Sorry. However, Jordan might light some folks up in there. Only a team in the Bible belt would have this many Pughs.

[4Corners]

I like Godfrey, but I think this year is an audition for the coaches to see if he is going to be part of the future of the team.

I expect a big year from him.

[MHS831]

you are aware that we can only put 11 players on the field at once right? How is a starter-quality backup in arguably the most important position on defense a waste of a roster spot?

He is not, and a bargain at $500k. However, we have Gaither now, and if we do not start Connor this season, he is not re-signing with us. We drop a bit in quality depth if we trade Connor, but we could use him to get a quality CB or DT in return. If he stays on the bench all season, we lose him in February.

[mercules20]

well because arguably you could say that we have about 3 other guys that could fit that spot, along with some other acquisitions that we've had at the linebacker spot to fill those other guys' spots. I'm not saying it's bad to have a good backup, but i'd rather get something for him because we are needy at other positions right now.

[mercules20]

you are aware that we can only put 11 players on the field at once right? How is a starter-quality backup in arguably the most important position on defense a waste of a roster spot?

well because arguably you could say that we have about 3 other guys that could fit that spot, along with some other acquisitions that we've had at the linebacker spot to fill those other guys' spots. I'm not saying it's bad to have a good backup, but i'd rather get something for him because we are needy at other positions right now.

[mmmbeans]

He is not, and a bargain at $500k. However, we have Gaither now, and if we do not start Connor this season, he is not re-signing with us. We drop a bit in quality depth if we trade Connor, but we could use him to get a quality CB or DT in return. If he stays on the bench all season, we lose him in February.

if we can get good value for him then i'm not opposed to it but the reality of the situation is that odds are very good that davis may not play out the season and if he injures his knee again he's probably done. then we have a huge hole at LB that we have to figure out how to fill.

I don't think Connor's value is quite as good as people seem to think it is, he's effectively the opposite of Barrett Ruud, he doesn't cover very well. 4-3 LB that can't cover have pretty limited trade value. He's a 2 down LB. What would you give up for him?

[armistice]

Godfrey will get resigned, I think it'd be silly not to unless he doesn't produce this year. Then we always have Payne who did good when he started. And Connor could be a potential trade to the Eagles with a draft pick (hopefully late) for Asante so they get a LB with some experience.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

1. Godfrey is a must resigning in my opinion, he is a lot better than everyone gives him credit it for. He looked bad last year because he was having to play deep with the inability of Gamble, Marshall, and every other corner's inability to cover.

2. Connor should be resigned, he could start on many NFL teams and is probably one of the top three back-up midde linebacker's in the NFL, and there is no doubt he is better than a lot of starting middle linebacker's in the NFL. He is not a must resigning because the Panthers always manage to have quality depth at linebacker as we saw last year.

3. Bernadeau may need to be resigned, it really all depends if the Panthers go after a guard in free agency next year, draft more than one guard (we need more than three on the roster), or if Duke Robinson and C.J. Davis can establish themselves as quality back-ups. With Wharton and Schwartz as the starters, the Panthers need two to three back-ups. We will see what happens.

4. Wallace Wright should not be resigned (if he somehow makes the team this year). The Panthers are finally starting to get depth at wide receiver with Steve Smith, Legedu Naanee, David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards, Kealoha Pilares, and David Clowney all above Wallace Wright on the depth chart.