On the first day of free-agency, the Carolina Panthers were busy. Either signing former players to trading players for draft picks, David Gettleman, and the Panthers was busy. The Panthers started the day by bringing back defensive end Julius Peppers on a one-year 3.25 million deal. After that Gettleman went out and signed pro bowl safety Mike Adams to a two-year deal. Soon after that Panthers agree to trade defensive end Kony Ealy and a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for a second-round pick in this year draft. Then they went and signed former Buccaneers wide receiver/special team player Russell Shepard to a three-year deal and quickly after that Panthers signed former Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson to a one-year deal (yes, the Panthers now have two players named Charles Johnson, which is going to get old really quick). They finalize Matt Kalil 5-year $55 million contract. And to finish the day off the Panthers signed former Panther Captain Munnerlyn to a 4-year deal.
Now, in my opinion, all of these deals are fantastic. At first, I didn’t like the idea of bringing back Peppers just because of his age, but seeing that’s his only agreed to a one-year deal was great. I mean in 15 years with the Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers, he has totaled 143.5 regular-season sacks, earning him nine Pro Bowl appearances and selection to three All-Pro first teams. This includes at least seven sacks in all but one season. He has also shown a knack for staying healthy, missing only two games since his rookie season and playing in all 16 games in each of the last nine years. At 37 years, old, Peppers has not slowed down much, converting from defensive end to linebacker and still finding ways to get to the quarterback and between the boost to the pass rush and the improved veteran leadership, the Panthers could be a stronger team next season. Mike Adams has been a Pro Bowler two of the past three seasons, amassed 737 tackles and 25 interceptions with four different teams. He was an unrestricted free agent after spending the past three seasons with the Colts, playing in the Pro Bowl following the 2014 and 2015 season as an injury replacement after picking off five passes each year. Adams, a natural strong safety, can provide more opportunities for Coleman at the free safety spot. The trade that sent Ealy to the Pats in exchange for a second-round pick, makes me believe that the Panthers will take a defensive end with the eighth pick in the draft. Possible either Solomon Thomas from Stanford or Derek Barnett from Tennessee and then draft a running back in the second round. With this trade it allows Ealy to have a fresh start since he hasn’t bloomsome into the playmaker most people expected him to be, especially after his Super Bowl performance which he would have been MVP if the Panthers would’ve won. Remember the Panthers still have a compensatory third round draft pick for losing Josh Norman in free agency last season. The Russell Shepard sign expected since there were rumors of the Panthers talking to Shepard last week. Shepard is considered an “up-and-comer” receiver who especially stands out on special teams possible a replacement for free agent Philly Brown who is expected not to re-sign with the team. Shepard has 30 catches for 432 yards and three touchdowns over a 3-year career. Shepard also averaged 14.8 yards per catch last season. There’s not much known about receiver Charles Johnson, expect that he’s spent past three seasons with Minnesota, catching 60 for 834 yards and two touchdowns. He’s fast and believes he can be an asset for Cam Newton, "Me and my agent were talking about it for a long time," Johnson said. "He said, 'Man, you're really fast and Cam Newton has a really strong arm. If those two intersect, it can be a good thing.' It’s a good thing the Panthers got depth in the receiver corps since they lost Ginn and Brown. The last two deals are the two that worry me the most, the first one is Matt Kalil 5 year, 55 million contract. That’s a lot of money for an offensive tackle missed all but two games in the 2016 season due to a hip injury. Though he was named a Pro Bowler as a rookie, since then hasn’t yet to fulfill the promise of his dynamite NFL premiere. Since Mike Remmers was never the same after Super Bowl 50 and signed with the Vikings, the Panthers were desperate to keep Newton upright, healthy, and happy. Hopefully joining his brother on the offensive line help him be better. But the Panthers will still need to either draft or sign an offensive lineman since they have no idea when Michael Oher will get out of the concussion protocol. The last signing the 4-year deal for nickel corner Captain Munnerlyn. Munnerlyn turns 29 in April, so he should have a few more productive seasons remaining after signing this deal. The tackle totals indicate he can contribute to the run defense, and he has spent large portions of his career defending speedy receivers in the slot. The secondary was a huge weak spot for the Panthers last season due in large part to starting two rookies (Daryl Worley, James Bradberry) for most their games. Carolina's defense finished with the third-highest completion percentage and fourth-most passing yards to opposing quarterbacks in 2016. But with this signing the Panthers got talent and veteran leadership in the secondary, the Panthers will look to challenge for the postseason in 2017.
Carolina Panthers had a busy first day in free agency, I assume the Panthers will sign a free agent offense tackle and possible make a few trades before or during the trade. But, overall it was a productive day for the Panthers, filling holes in the defense that needed to be filled, signing wide receivers to take the place of Brown and Ginn and signing an offensive tackle to help protect their franchise quarterback. The next blog post unless something changes before then will be Saturday night on the Charlotte Hornets game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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