Around the NFL, this week couldn't be bigger.
The players are getting two extra days to vote on the new CBA, and so the deadline to use the franchise tag has been pushed back to Monday _ just before organizations are allowed to discuss potential deals with free agents who played last year with a different team. The new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m., assuming nothing changes in response to the coronavirus.
The Panthers are expected to have plenty of holes to fill with seven defensive starters scheduled to hit free agency, and also guard Greg Van Roten.
Many players will be given the opportunity to test the free agency market, with Carolina likely to try and retain at least a couple, such as Van Roten. But it's unlikely they'll get into expensive bidding wars. There aren't many players the Panthers are willing to pay big money to, especially with possible extensions for running back Christian McCaffrey and offensive tackle Taylor Moton on the horizon this offseason.
How will the Panthers fill their holes? Let's break down positions they may emphasize in free agency and/or the draft:
Defensive back: Free agency/draft
The Panthers will likely address defensive back in the draft to add depth no matter what, but for weeks we've been writing how it makes sense for the team to retain a few of their key free agents in the secondary. Safety Tre Boston put together a good year in 2019 despite joining the team in training camp and would be logical to re-sign. He might go for more than the Panthers are willing to pay.
Another player the Panthers should consider is Ross Cockrell. Not only did he show an ability to fit in a variety of spots in 2019, but he is a good leader in the locker room. With James Bradberry likely on the way out, it would be good for the Panthers to have some leadership in the secondary and use the draft as an opportunity to find some depth, even if they look outside of the organization in free agency.
