The Carolina Panthers might look like a very different football team when they take the field in 2020. One of many players they have to make a decision about is safety Tre Boston, who signed a one-year deal late in the offseason and is about to become a free agent again.
Boston was not an All-Pro, but he played at a solid level for a starter. The team should consider re-signing him. However, with a new coach and assistant GM coming in, it’s difficult to guess what any pending free agent’s future holds.
For what it’s worth, Boston himself seems open to the idea of staying in Carolina and might be interested if other free-agents-to-be join him. In response to a tweet from ESPN’s Field Yates praising Boston’s work this season, Colts tight end (and pending free agent) Eric Ebron tagged Boston and asked where they’re going.
Boston replied back that Carolina could be the move.
Like Boston, Ebron played his college ball at North Carolina, so it would be a bit of a reunion for him. As it happens, the Panthers may be in need of a new tight end soon.
Greg Olsen has one year left on his deal but he seems to expect that he won’t be back in 2020 based on what he told the media following Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Saints.
Ian Thomas has shown flashes of promise in limited playing time, but if Olsen is truly gone then the depth chart is going to take a serious hit.
Ebron is actually a legitimate target worth considering for Marty Hurney and whoever else is making the decisions this offseason. He’s just 26 years old and he’s capable of producing with a star QB. In 2018 with Andrew Luck he posted career highs in catches (66), yards (750) and touchdowns (13). This year, Ebron only played 11 games and he had Jacoby Brissett targeting him instead of Luck. As you might expect, his numbers dived. He finished the year with 31 catches, 375 yards and three touchdowns. However, Ebron’s best days are probably still ahead of him and he’s exactly the kind of red zone weapon the Panthers need.
There are plenty of other personnel issues to address, but bringing back Boston and making Ebron an offer would be a good place to start.
