The Carolina Panthers have not been active in free agency much during the Ron Rivera/Cam Newton/Luke Kuechly era. The only year they really spent money was in 2017, and given the way those deals turned out, it’s likely they will continue to be relatively conservative in this area. Cap concerns are only one part of the equation. As they’ve learned the hard way, making one mistake can become a serious financial burden for years to come.
So far in 2019, the front office has focused on upgrading the offensive line and maintaining some stability in the secondary. It’s the right idea generally, but the individual moves are each worth breaking down. Let’s grade each of the Panthers’ moves early on and during the first wave of free agency.
Signed: C Matt Paradis: 3 years, $27 million
Pros: By signing former Broncos center Matt Paradis, Carolina is effectively getting a Ryan Kalil clone, only one that’s four years younger. Paradis is also more capable at this point in his career than Kalil had been for a long time. After being ravaged by injuries, free agency and retirements, the Panthers offensive line needed some more consistency and leadership. In theory, Paradis will bring both to the table for at least the next three years.
Cons: We chose Paradis as a potential free agent target for the Panthers back in January and as a player there’s nothing not to like. However, center was far from the team’s most important position need to address this offseason. Tyler Larsen could have been an effective if not outstanding starter at center. Plus, defensive end and left tackle remain larger areas of concern. Paying Paradis could make filling those problematic roster spots more difficult.
Grade: B+
Released: OT Matt Kalil: saves $7.25 million in cap room
Pros: The Panthers simply had to get out from under this contract. There’s no other way to state it. Kalil’s cap hits were going to continue to drag the team down for another three years and the chances of him becoming a healthy, reliable starter again are slim to none. The team saves $7.25 million in cap room for 2019, which can go towards finding a real left tackle.
Cons: One could have argued for keeping Kalil around for more OT depth, but it made more sense to sever the cord and be free of this albatross of a dead. Thanks to the uncharacteristic largesse shown by the previous general manager, this regime had to bite the bullet and take a $14.7 million dead money hit.
Grade: A
Re-signed: OT Daryl Williams: 1 year, $7 million
Pros: If the team had been unable to retain Daryl Williams, an already weak depth chart at offensive tackle would have gotten downright scary. The Panthers probably would have had to keep Matt Kalil around. Instead, they get another year to evaluate Williams and find out if he’s worth a signfiicant multi-year investment. For a prove-it deal, this price tag is reasonable enough.
Cons: Re-signing Williams at the 11th hour before he hit the market showed how critical the need was. The Panthers simply couldn’t risk making Taylor Moton literally the only player on the roster at the position. However, if Williams doesn’t become the long-term starter at right tackle, this move will only delay them finding a solution another year. Drafting a promising OT prospect should still be on the list.
Grade: B-
Re-signed: S Eric Reid: 3 years, $22 million
Pros: This move was made a month before free agency began, but it’s no less important for Carolina’s roster. With Mike Adams moving on, the Panthers needed to make a serious investment at safety in a player who’s still in his prime. It was a low bar, but Eric Reid was the team’s best defensive back by far last season and they had to bring him back to prevent a possible collapse.
Cons: From a football perspective Reid is a solid fit and given the numbers other former Pro Bowl safeties are getting this year, Reid’s contract is very cap-friendly. The only question is where and how they’ll play him and if they can find an adequate starting safety partner that can complement Reid’s skill-set.
Grade: A-
