HEADLINES

Carolina Panthers News & Rumors

30 Unsigned Draft Picks Remain

June 26th, 2023 at 2:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

With training camps less than a month away, 30 members of the 2023 draft class remain unsigned. Several teams have agreed to terms with their entire draft classes, but a handful of teams have multiple players still unsigned. Draft slots largely explain this. First- and second-rounders comprise the bulk of the unsigned lot, with guarantees the core issue for the latter group. Here are the unsigned draftees:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 6:

The second-round slowdown continues a trend. Last year, more Round 2 choices received three fully guaranteed years compared to prior drafts. This year’s No. 39 overall pick — Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss) — broke through with three locked-in years and a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the next nine players drafted being unsigned, with the agents for the players chosen immediately after Mingo angling for the same terms or guarantees in the same ballpark.

No. 31 overall choice Felix Anudike-Uzomah‘s four-year Chiefs deal is fully guaranteed, while No. 34 pick Sam LaPorta (Lions) has a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the Nos. 32 and 33 choices remaining unsigned. Other issues — like offset language and signing bonus payouts — annually arise in rookie-deal negotiations, but most of these players will be signed by the time teams head to training camp. A few stragglers report late due to their contracts each year, but the 2011 CBA’s slot system — which the 2020 CBA kept in place — largely addressed the issues that once emerged frequently regarding rookie pacts.

Panthers Likely To Add Pass Rusher?

June 18th, 2023 at 11:03am CST by Rory Parks

Earlier this month, we heard that the Panthers were presently disinclined to authorize a notable contract for a free agent pass rusher, and that fourth-year pro Yetur Gross-Matos would have a chance to retain his starting job opposite Brian Burns. We did note that GM Scott Fitterer would continue to monitor the edge defender market, and Joseph Person of The Athletic says he does, in fact, expect Carolina to add a pass rusher before the regular season opener (subscription required).

Person does not hazard a guess as to a specific player that Fitterer might target. Of course, there will always be cuts from other clubs that will quickly find a new home, but a top-flight pass rusher is highly unlikely to hit the market in the summer. And the existing market has thinned in the last several weeks, as Leonard Floyd (Bills) and Frank Clark (Broncos) have come off the board.

That still leaves plenty of worthwhile defenders available, including players like Yannick Ngakoue, Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn, and Melvin Ingram. While some of those talents may be too rich for Fitterer’s liking — Ngakoue, for instance, was targeting a contract paying him $8MM-$10MM per year as of May — the Panthers will almost certainly be able to add an experienced edge player for an affordable price at some point in the next couple of months.

In the meantime, Gross-Matos, Marquis Haynes, and third-round rookie D.J. Johnson will continue to make their case for a starter’s role. According to Person, Haynes was particularly impressive during Carolina’s three-day mandatory minicamp last week, frequently getting into the offensive backfield and in the face of rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Haynes, who has been used in a rotational capacity since the Panthers selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, did see a career-high 41% snap share in 2022, and he produced five sacks (also a career best). Neither he nor Gross-Matos fared well in the eyes of Pro Football Focus’ metrics, but it is at least notable that he doubled Gross-Matos’ sack production and had three more QB hits while playing nearly 400 fewer snaps.

Person says that Haynes, who is entering a platform year and who is due just $1.4MM in 2023, may be better-suited to a stand-up OLB role in DC Ejiro Evero‘s 3-4 scheme than he was to a 4-3 look. He has certainly caught Young’s attention.

“He’s been great,” Young said. “There’s a lot of great competition here, so you see him in the backfield. It’s good on good. It’s elite guys going up against each other. It’s tough when you have to go up against him every day in practice. But on Sundays, it’s great knowing that you have a guy like that out there.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/15/23

June 15th, 2023 at 8:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

  • Signed: DT Kobe Smith
  • Waived/injured: WR/TE Dre Miller

Greg Mabin is the biggest name on the list, with the cornerback having appeared in 45 career games. The former UDFA has spent the past two seasons with the Titans, collecting 23 tackles in 11 total games. The Panthers have gotten an extended look at their cornerback depth during minicamp with Jaycee Horn (ankle) and Donte Jackson (Achilles) sidelined, so the team has probably decided they needed some veteran reinforcement at the position.

Javon Wims will now be looking for another opportunity after getting cut by the Cardinals. The former seventh-round pick showed a bit of a potential with the Bears, including a 2019 campaign where he had 18 catches for 186 yards and one touchdown. After getting into 13 games with the Bears in 2020, the wideout has only seen time in one game over the past two seasons. He spent most of the 2022 campaign on Arizona’s practice squad.

DB Notes: Baker, Gordon, Lions, Chinn

June 15th, 2023 at 12:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Budda Baker issued a trade request in February, though it did not become public until mid-April. The Pro Bowl safety remains with the Cardinals and attended the team’s minicamp this week. But the disgruntled defender did not participate in on-field work, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. This hold-in effort did involve some degree of participation, with Jonathan Gannon indicating Baker has texted with him regarding film and has been in contact with coaches.

“It was good to have him in the building today,” Gannon said (via Weinfuss), calling Baker’s situation “the business side of it.” “Smile on his face. He was asking a bunch of questions. I told the coaches, you better be on your toes cause he’s going to ask good questions. The dialogue has been great, and I’m ready to get [No.] 3 back out there.”

With the Cardinals rebuilding and unlikely to have Kyler Murray available to start the season, it would be interesting to see if they listened to offers for Baker. It also is understandable for Gannon to want the decorated safety back in the mix, given the talent the Cardinals lost on defense this offseason (J.J. Watt, Zach Allen, Byron Murphy, Markus Golden). Two years remain on Baker’s $14.75MM-per-year contract, which has paid out its guarantees.

Here is the latest DB news from around the NFL:

  • The Bears now have three second-round cornerbacks on their roster, adding Tyrique Stevenson to a mix that includes Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. A 2022 Round 2 choice, Gordon is now ticketed for a full-time slot role, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Washington product played both inside and outside last season, logging a 97% snap rate in the 14 games he played. Gordon intercepted three passes and forced a fumble as a rookie, though Pro Football Focus did not view his coverage work especially fondly, ranking the 6-foot defender 108th among qualified corners.
  • Will Harris moved from safety to slot corner with the Lions last year, but the team’s secondary overhaul included the additions of two hybrid players — C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch. Both safeties have extensive slot experience, and Gardner-Johnson — despite leading the NFL with six interceptions last season as an Eagles safety — is expected to play plenty in the slot with the Lions. Harris should be expected to be a backup in 2023, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, who notes the fifth-year defender should work as the top reserve on the outside and in the slot. A former third-round pick who re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason, Harris started 10 games last year.
  • Used as a linebacker and a safety over his first three seasons, Jeremy Chinn is set to stay on a versatile track in Carolina. The former Panthers second-rounder has worked as a nickel presence throughout the offseason, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. New Panthers secondary coach Jonathan Cooley said the staff has not fully pinned down Chinn’s role, which will make this run-up to a contract year interesting. The Panthers held off on trading Chinn last year, keeping him as part of a young defensive core.
  • Texans cornerback Steven Nelson hired a new agent recently, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes David Mulugheta is now representing the ninth-year defender. Nelson signed a two-year, $9MM deal with the Texans in 2022, but started all 15 games he played. Going into his age-30 season, the former Chiefs, Steelers and Eagles corner is running out of time to make another financial splash.
  • The Cardinals made tiny splashes in the secondary recently, adding corners Dylan Mabin and Bobby Price. Both will be on league-minimum deals, with GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer tweeting Price will earn $1.01MM (the minimum for a fourth-year player) while Mabin is at $870K (the basement for a player with one year of experience). With neither assured of a roster spot, no money here is guaranteed.

Panthers Sign Round 2 WR Jonathan Mingo

June 14th, 2023 at 9:30am CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 14: The Panthers will guarantee the first three years of Mingo’s deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. This marks more growth for second-rounders, with last year’s No. 39 overall pick — Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon — receiving a partial guarantee in Year 3.

JUNE 13: Jonathan Mingo will be expected to become one of Bryce Young‘s top targets this season. As the Panthers begin their minicamp, they will have their second-round pick under contract.

The Ole Miss product signed his four-year rookie deal Tuesday, per the team, locking him down through the 2026 season. Going off the board 39th overall, Mingo will see all or most of his third year fully guaranteed. No. 37 overall pick Derick Hall received three years fully guaranteed from the Seahawks and a partial fourth-year guarantee.

Carolina overhauled its receiving corps recently, disbanding the two-plus-year D.J. Moore–Chosen Anderson tandem by trading the latter. The Panthers then included Moore in their blockbuster swap with the Bears, giving them Young draft real estate. The No. 1 overall pick is the final unsigned Panther from the 2023 draft class.

Ole Miss has delivered multiple impact wide receivers to the NFL over the past few years, with each of the Rebels’ top pass catchers going off the board in Round 2. Both A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf emerged as No. 1-caliber targets early in their careers. Elijah Moore has not done so yet, but the new Browns weapon remains a promising wideout. The Jets chose Moore in the 2021 second round. Mingo will attempt to follow the ex-Rebels’ paths.

Scouts Inc. rated Mingo as its No. 37 overall prospect. The 220-pound Mississippi native clocked a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, coming off a productive 2022 season. Mingo is not heading to Charlotte after a prolific career, however, having only topped 300 receiving yards in one of his four Rebels seasons. He totaled 51 receptions — his only season with more than 27 grabs — for 861 yards and five touchdowns last season but still managed to become one of the first wideouts chosen this year.

The Panthers signed Adam Thielen and DJ Chark this offseason and still roster former second-round pick Terrace Marshall. While they dealt their longtime No. 1 target (Moore), Mingo profiles as the most likely long-term Young teammate among the team’s current receivers. During negotiations with the Bears, the Panthers successfully kept the No. 39 pick out of the deal. They instead included No. 61 and a 2025 second-rounder. Effectively prioritizing No. 39 over two second-round picks, the Panthers are making a notable bet on Mingo being a long-term contributor.

Panthers, Brian Burns Begin Extension Talks

June 13th, 2023 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Expected to begin post-draft, the extension talks between the Panthers and Brian Burns look to be underway. The fifth-year edge rusher confirmed (via ESPN.com’s David Newton) conversations have started.

Burns has become one of the NFL’s better outside rushers. He set a new career high with 12.5 sacks last season and has been named an original-ballot Pro Bowler in each of the past two years. The Panthers will need to pay Burns near the top of the D-end/rush-linebacker market, something the Florida State alum confirmed Tuesday. The organization has been on this path for a bit now, and a run of rebuffed trade overtures suggests Burns will do very well on his second contract.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer said earlier this offseason Burns is squarely in line for an extension, joining Derrick Brown in that regard. The Bears asked about both D-linemen during the teams’ trade talks in March, a process that ended with D.J. Moore dealt to Chicago. While Burns and Brown’s rookie deals factored into Moore being the one traded, the standout edge will likely soon be attached to a lucrative second contract.

Maxx Crosby became the most recent player to infiltrate the top five on the edge market. T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-per-year deal tops that salary hierarchy presently, and although the Steelers inked the former Defensive Player of the Year to that deal in September 2021, Burns will have a difficult time exceeding that accord. That said, Nick Bosa is poised to secure an extension north of $30MM on average. That could change the market. Even if Bosa’s deal does not ultimately impact the Panthers’ Burns talks, the team’s top pass rusher is surely targeting a number north of the deals given to Crosby ($23.5MM AAV) and Bradley Chubb ($22MM) last year. Burns’ next deal will likely make him a top-five or top-six edge, Joe Person of The Athletic notes (subscription required).

Burns’ 38 sacks rank 11th since 2019. While Pro Football Focus has not rated Burns’ run defense as particularly sound, he has generated immense trade interest. Prior to the Bears’ inquiry, the Rams made an aggressive pursuit. It is widely known the Panthers turned down a two-first-rounder Rams offer for Burns before last year’s deadline. The picks were to come in 2024 and ’25, but Burns’ camp can use that declined offer as clear evidence of the fifth-year defender’s value to the team.

The former Ron Rivera-era investment stands to be the anchor pass rusher in Ejiro Evero‘s defensive scheme. Chubb served in that capacity for part of last season, but the Broncos dealt him to the Dolphins at the deadline. The Panthers do not have another notable front-seven contract on their books, having convinced Shaq Thompson to accept a pay cut in exchange for a bit more in 2023 guarantees. Brown, who is now extension-eligible but can be kept on his rookie deal through 2024, figures to follow Burns on the extension radar next year.

The Panthers can string these negotiations out, with the franchise tag at their disposal, but another significant salary cap bump is expected in 2024. Locking down Burns now would be the prudent move for Carolina, which is transitioning to a new coaching staff for the second time in Burns’ career. Doing a deal now also stands to reduce Burns’ cap number — presently at $16MM, due to the Panthers exercising his fifth-year option in May 2022 — for the ’23 season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/12/23

June 12th, 2023 at 5:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

New England Patriots

The Cardinals are swapping out receivers. Brandon Smith spent a few years on the Cowboys practice squad before joining the XFL this past February. He ended up catching eight passes for 118 yards and one touchdown in four games with the D.C. Defenders. Auden Tate, meanwhile, spent four years with the Bengals before spending much of last season of the Eagles practice squad. He has 12 catches in 35 career games.

Justus Tavai was cut by the Patriots last week, but the brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai is back on the roster. That will come at the expense of Tae Hayes‘ roster spot. The cornerback spent much of last season on New England’s practice squad, getting into a pair of games with the big-league team.

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn Suffers Ankle Injury

June 12th, 2023 at 2:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jaycee Horn has dealt with multiple injuries already in his brief NFL career, and he has encountered another (albeit minor) setback in that regard. The Panthers corner recently suffered an ankle and foot injury, as detailed by team reporter Darin Grant.

The injury kept Horn out of the team’s final voluntary OTA practices, and will also keep him sidelined during this week’s mandatory minicamp. However, the former top-10 pick will not require surgery and is expected to recover in full in time for training camp next month. The foot affected by this latest injury is not the same one which was broken in 2021, something which cost Horn most of his rookie campaign.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a strong bounce-back season in 2022, posting three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He surrendered a completion percentage of 55% and allowed only one touchdown as the nearest defender, showcasing his potential as the long-term No. 1 corner he was drafted to be. Horn once again ended the year on IR, however, after he suffered a broken wrist.

The South Carolina product’s most recent injury is one of several absences Carolina has dealt with at the CB spot this year. Veteran Donte Jackson has been sidelined while recovering from Achilles surgery, while former trade acquisition C.J. Henderson has also missed time for personal reasons, per The Athletic’s Joe Person (subscription required).

The Panthers put up below-average performances in a number of categories in 2022, and more will be expected of their secondary this season under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Horn will have a central role in the unit’s performance in 2023, so his health will be of the utmost concern through the remainder of the offseason heading into the fall. His ability to recover in full over the coming weeks will no doubt be closely monitored as the Panthers prepare for training camp.

Panthers RB Miles Sanders Addresses Eagles Exit

June 11th, 2023 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the few running backs able to land a relatively lucrative multi-year pact during this season’s free agency was Miles Sanders. The new Panthers lead back is in line for a signficant workload, which will mark a difference compared to his time with the Eagles.

Sanders logged a snap share of either 53% or 57% in three of his four seasons in Philadelphia, though he made the most of his opportunities in 2022. The 26-year-old set a new career high in carries (259), rushing yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11) while helping lead the Eagles to the top seed in the NFC. Those totals priced him out of Philadelphia in free agency, and landed him a four-year, $25MM deal with the Panthers.

The former second-rounder was not a major factor in the passing game in 2022, though, as had been the case since his rookie campaign. Sanders acknowledged the opportunity he will have in Carolina to play in a three-down role again, something which will be crucial as the team finds its way with rookie Bryce Young under center. The Penn State product also spoke recently about his usage in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss, one in which he received only seven carries and took a backseat to Kenneth Gainwell.

“Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question,” Sanders after being asked if he was upset over his playing time in the title game. “If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don’t want to make headlines, [but] if it does, I don’t care.” When speaking about his decision to leave Philadelphia, he added, “I can get into that another day, maybe. Maybe you should ask them why I’m moving here” (h/t Steve Reed of the Associated Press).

With his attention squarely focused on his new team, Sanders will look to prove the Panthers’ investment in him a sound one. The Eagles, meanwhile, traded for D’Andre Swift during the draft to add another young, two-way back to their team. Philadelphia will move forward with Swift, free agent signing Rashaad Penny and returnees Gainwell and Boston Scott on their depth chart, as they look to continue their by-committee approach at the RB position.

Latest On Panthers’ QB Situation

June 10th, 2023 at 6:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Few developments during OTAs have long-term effects for teams, given the voluntary and non-contact nature of the spring practices. In Carolina, though, an expected change on the team’s quarterback depth chart recently took place.

The Panthers moved Bryce Young to the top of the QB pecking order during practice earlier this week, as detailed by Joe Person and Larry Holder of The Athletic (subscription required). The 2023 first overall pick took full first-team reps for the first time this offseason, having previously split them with veteran Andy Dalton. As confirmed by by both head coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer, this switch was had been planned in advance and communicated to both signal-callers.

The move comes after the Panthers had taken a cautious approach with Young to begin his first NFL offseason, one in which he is widely expected to be confirmed as the team’s No. 1 for the season. The Alabama product was the target of the team’s trade-up to the top selection, and is thus in their plans as a franchise passer for the long-term future. To no surprise, though, Reich declined to use the depth chart promotion as a reason to declare Young the 2023 starter.

“Not yet,” Reich said when asked about a timeline on that front. “He’s showing everything you want to see. But this goes back to even the draft decision – you don’t make a decision until you have to make it. We’re just giving him and our team the opportunity to get better and to earn that starting role.”

Dalton, 35, signed with the Panthers on a two-year deal in March, continuing his moves around the league after the end of his Bengals tenure. The three-time Pro Bowler had one-year stints in Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans where he was brought in to serve as a backup, though he logged 29 starts over that span. After staying ahead of Jameis Winston on the Saints’ depth chart last season, Dalton confirmed his belief that he could handle QB1 duties in a different situation.

“I definitely think that I’m still one of the 32 [best] guys out there,” the former second-rounder said, via ESPN’s David Newton. “But I know that’s not the position I’m in. My whole goal is to kind of be the example and… not necessarily set the standard but show how it’s supposed to be done.”

Dalton posted a 6-8 record as a starter in New Orleans, tossing 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 66.7% of his passes. Those totals helped keep the Saints in playoff contention deep into the season, though they elected to retain Winston and add Derek Carr this offseason. Dalton could still be a trusted backup for Carolina, especially compared to third-stringer Matt Corral, who missed his entire rookie year in 2022 due to injury.

The Panthers face numerous questions heading into 2023, given the myriad changes which have taken place on and off the field and the sidelines, and the resultant expectations for improvement on offense. Young will no doubt be a focal point for attention in that regard, and his process toward being the starter has taken an important step. His progression through the rest of the offseason will remain a storyline to follow in Charlotte.

Load More Posts