The Panthers made their first big dips into free agency, starting on the defensive side of the ball.
The team has signed Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5 million deal, per his agent Blake Baratz, and Browns defensive back Juston Burris to a two-year, $8 million deal, per his Instagram and multiple reports.
Weatherly, 25, has spent the last four years with the Vikings after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Vanderbilt. Over the last two years, he has totaled six sacks, 59 tackles and 17 quarterback hits. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Weatherly has started seven games in his career, including just one last season.
Burris is returning home with the signing in Carolina. He is a Raleigh native and attended NC State. The Jets originally drafted him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
He remained with the Jets until midway through the 2018 season and has been on and off the Browns roster largely ever since. Burris started nine games in Cleveland last year and played strong and free safety. He had two interceptions, seven passes defensed, one sack and 32 tackles in 2019.
What do these signings mean? Well Weatherly is clear. The Observer has reported that it is "highly unlikely" that the Panthers re-sign veteran free agent DE Mario Addison, who has received plenty of interest from other teams. It is also expected that defensive end Gerald McCoy will sign elsewhere in free agency. Carolina is set to lose a number of players on the defensive line this offseason overall and depth at defensive end was clearly a strong need. Weatherly is a low-cost signing that will provide the team with depth at a key position.
Burris is not as obvious. The Panthers undoubtedly have needs at defensive back, especially with cornerback James Bradberry signing a new deal with the Giants and safety Tre Boston entering free agency, but this move doesn't automatically kick Boston out the door. It's possible that Burris is a depth defensive back signing or even just another option at safety. It doesn't automatically rule out that the team could bring Boston back. Burris was a corner in college and during his time with the Jets.
The Panthers clearly realized their needs on defense, however, and are being to address them with low-budget signings that have high upside. Not surprising for a team that is rebuilding. Stay tuned for day two of free agency.
