Every year, the two teams who make it to the Super Bowl inevitably lose a lot of talent in free agency as competitors try to get some of that championship vibe to rub off. This year, the Chiefs and the 49ers are meeting in the big game and both teams have several pending free agents who could potentially make a good fit with the Panthers.
Here are six players we will be watching during Super Bowl LIV.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones
Age: 25 years old
Career stats: 61 games, 33 sacks, 72 QB hits, 37 tackles for a loss
The Chiefs would be nuts to let Jones walk, as his return to the lineup in the AFC championship proved how valuable he is for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Keeping him around won’t come cheap, though. Meanwhile, the Panthers could lose Gerald McCoy and Vernon Butler to free agency and Dontari Poe might get cut. Signing Jones to pair with star DT Kawann Short would help keep a strong interior rotation going and make it younger.
49ers DE Arik Armstead
Age: 26 years old
Career stats: 62 games, 19 sacks, 47 QB hits, 24 tackles for a loss
The strongest position unit in this year’s Super Bowl is unquestionably the San Francisco defensive line, which was constructed with several first-round draft picks. The Niners can’t afford to keep everybody though, so there’s a chance a guy like Armstead could land with another team. Armstead has the size and the disruptive power to earn appropriate Julius Peppers comparisons. Adding him would reinvigorate an EDGE group that may lose both Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin.
Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland
Age: 27 years old
Career stats: 83 games, 12 interceptions, 72 pass breakups, 7 forced fumbles
Kansas City’s secondary improved a great deal this season thanks to the arrival of Spags and a few other pieces like Tyrann Mathieu and Breeland. He’s been an underrated corner throughout his career and the Panthers have shown interest in the past. If not for a voided deal due to a failed physical in March of 2018, he would already be in Carolina. Breeland would give the Panthers more cornerback depth, which should be a priority.
49ers S Jimmie Ward
Age: 28 years old
Career stats: 64 games, two interceptions, 29 pass breakups, 202 solo tackles
Cornerback isn’t the only problem on the back end, though. Tre Boston had an excellent season but there’s no depth to speak of behind him and Eric Reid and Boston is about to become a free agent. Ward would be a strong replacement if they don’t bring Boston back. He’s had some injury issues in the past, having missed 32 games in his career. However, when he’s out there Ward has been a difference maker for the Niners and could do the same for the Panthers, who have been short-handed at this position for too long.
Chiefs WR Demarcus Robinson
Age: 25 years old
Career stats: 64 games, 75 catches, 949 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns
D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel represent one of the top 1-2 receiver combos in the NFL. There’s not much to like beneath them on the depth chart, though. Especially with new offensive coordinator Joe Brady bringing in an aggressive spread offense, the team will need to add more play-makers at this spot. Robinson had the second-highest average yards of separation in the league this year among wide receivers. That’s a quality the Panthers should be looking for in this rebuilding period.
49ers WR Emmanuel Sanders
Age: 32 years old
Career stats: 144 games, 601 catches, 7,893 receiving yards, 42 touchdowns
The Panthers were rumored to be interested in trading for Sanders right before the deadline. The 49ers beat them to the punch, though and he made a significant difference for them down the stretch. Sanders will be 33 years old before next season starts. However, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet. He also brings some veteran experience to the table, which would be useful for Moore and Samuel as they continue to develop.
