The Carolina Panthers have been one of the most active NFL teams in free agency this year, making stunning trades and scooping up a lot of players on low-cost deals. The first week consisted of mostly bargain shopping. It was a totally different story in week two, though.
Here’s our grades for the team’s second wave of moves.
Signed: QB P.J. Walker
First up, the Panthers signed the best player from the XFL’s short-lived 2020 season. Former Colts quarterback P.J. Walker was the league’s answer to Patrick Mahomes and was the runaway favorite to win their MVP. Signing him gives Carolina a young backup who showed electric potential over those five games, albeit against a lower level of competition. At two years and just $1.565 million, Walker is a steal.
Grade: A
Signed: LB Tahir Whitehead
Linebacker was a key position to hit this offseason after the retirement of Luke Kuechly. By signing Whitehead, they get a solid starter who has played 125 games. His experience with Matt Rhule should help what’s likely to be a rough year for the Carolina’s defense. If it doesn’t work out, Whitehead’s contract is only for one year and will cost only $2.5 million.
Grade: B
Trade: QB Kyle Allen for a fifth-round pick
Adding Walker freed up the Panthers to totally change their backup quarterback situation. Somehow, they got Ron Rivera to give up a fifth-round pick for a player who was no longer in their plans. We wish Kyle Allen well in Washington, but this was flat-out highway robbery and one of the better trades general manager Marty Hurney has pulled off.
Grade: A+
Released: QB Cam Newton
Hurney definitely didn’t do everything right this week, though. Releasing a former MVP quarterback who just passed a physical has the potential to bite this front office on the backside. If Newton returns to form with his next team, it’s going to be an extremely bad look because this whole thing was handled poorly at every step. The only real positive here is that the move saves the team over $19 million in salary cap room for 2020.
Grade: D-
Signing: WR Robby Anderson
It’s a little ironic that the Panthers finally paid for a wide receiver the same day they cut Newton. In any case, it’s an excellent signing no matter who’s playing quarterback. Anderson gives Carolina’s offense another badly-needed deep threat. His straight-line speed and wide catch radius helped Sam Darnold immensely and should do the same for Teddy Bridgewater. Anderson is also a bargain. His deal is worth $20 million over two years. Breshad Perriman might have made a better bit for less, but there’s no real cause to complain about this one.
Grade: B+
Re-signed: WR/KR DeAndrew White
After signing four free agent wide receivers, it was a bit surprising to see the team bring White back. Adding him to the mix now gives the Panthers a total of 10 wide receivers on the roster. Not everyone will make the cut and there’s a strong chance White will be one of them. They also already have a new and better kick returner in Pharoh Cooper. This move seems redundant.
Grade: C+
Signed: DT Zach Kerr
This is one of those classic under the radar kind of signings with the potential to pay off big. Carolina fills a huge hole in the middle of their defensive line by adding Kerr, who projects as the replacement for Dontari Poe at nose tackle. Kerr has only started 12 games in his career. However, at $3 million over two years it’s hard not to like it.
Grade: B
