The Carolina Panthers have at least a dozen difficult personnel decisions to make this year. The hardest one may be what to do with starting outside cornerback James Bradberry, who is set to become a free agent in March. Bradberry is the team’s best cornerback but that’s a very low bar and keeping him around might cost a lot of salary cap space – and there’s not much to go around.
Bradberry’s fate is debatable. It might make sense to trade or franchise tag him. We honestly don’t know what direction the franchise will choose with Bradberry, especially with a new coaching staff coming in.
However, there are a few players who definitely deserve extensions this offseason. Here are four of them.
OT Taylor Moton
Carolina’s offensive line has been a mess more often than not over the last few years. The exception to that rule has been right tackle Taylor Moton, who has generally been the team’s most consistent lineman and is the best aside from Trai Turner. Moton is solid blocking for the run and protecting the quarterback. If the Panthers don’t pay him now and Moton performs well in 2020, his price tag could grow beyond their means.
WR Curtis Samuel
Samuel likely won’t get the same number of targets or catches as D.J. Moore. He is the most skilled receiver on the roster, though. It’s not his fault that Kyle Allen and Will Grier simply couldn’t find him on deep passes this past season. With a healthy QB who’s capable of hitting long balls, Samuel could easily manage 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards a year. That kind of production at receiver is always worth paying for.
CB Ross Cockrell
There are a ton of roster holes to fill this year for Carolina, but a case could be made that cornerback should be at the top of the list. Re-signing Cockrell would hardly solve all of their problems. However, he performed well in 2019 and would provide some depth and stability the back end of the defense so sorely needs. Cockrell is 29 years old and should have at least a few solid seasons left in him.
FS Tre Boston
After wandering in the desert for too many years, the Panthers finally found a solution to their free safety problems. During his absence from Carolina, Boston developed into an above-average centerfielder. His range and instincts were the only things that kept the 2019 secondary from becoming an unmitigated disaster. Boston has established himself as a quality starter and allowing him to walk would be a mistake. A three-year deal similar to Eric Reid’s sounds about right.
