The NFL’s early negotiating window is upon us.
At noon on Monday, unrestricted free agents will be able to negotiate with teams ahead of the official start of free agency (4 p.m, Wednesday). The Carolina Panthers have several needs to fill and will look to get a jump start on their roster retooling over the next few days.
The Panthers also have 17 internal unrestricted free agents to monitor.
Below you’ll find important information as well as roster news, general league updates and more from Monday’s launch of negotiations.
Check back here for updates on the Panthers’ roster movement (and avoid the clutter on social media), as well as sign up for the FREE Access Panthers newsletter for potential blockbuster move updates sent to your email.
Panthers’ biggest roster needs
▪ Outside linebacker: D.J. Wonnum closed out last season with a productive stretch, but outside of him, the position is largely without clarity. Could the Panthers trade Jadeveon Clowney to open up near $10 million in cap space? Could they trade for an established pass rusher with a middling free agency class?
▪ Safety: The Panthers’ five incumbent veteran safeties are all pending free agents. Will longtime starter Xavier Woods return? What about special teams aces like Sam Franklin or Lonnie Johnson? Keep an eye on the top of the market, featuring Jevon Holland and Tre’von Moehrig, at the position.
▪ Defensive line: While Derrick Brown is set to return and A’Shawn Robinson is coming off a career year, the Panthers need to improve their run defense mightily, especially up front. Look for the Panthers to add a big body (or two) between those two towering big men.
▪ Tight end: Second-year playmaker Ja’Tavion Sanders is the only player of note at the position under contract entering free agency. The Panthers re-signed Tommy Tremble on Saturday, but that’s probably not enough. Still, the tight end free agency class is old and limited.
▪ Wide receiver: While the Panthers are happy with the trio of Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, it’s clear they could still use playmaker upgrades. The free agency class is filled with older options, but some like Darius Slayton could serve as a notable upgrade. .
▪ Cornerback: Jaycee Horn has yet to sign a long-term extension, and No. 2 cornerback Mike Jackson is headed to free agency. With Dane Jackson no longer on the roster, the Panthers’ cornerback depth chart features a lot of unknowns behind Horn.
▪ Inside linebacker: The Panthers plan to move on from Shaq Thompson after 10 years of service. With Trevin Wallace coming off an up-and-down year and shoulder surgery, the Panthers need to add solid depth behind him and Josey Jewell. A third inside linebacker with legitimate experience could be a smart way to add bulk to the depth chart.
Other positions to monitor are punter and kicker with both positions facing possible free agency holes. Still, the Panthers are likely to focus on the seven noted needs in free agency more than the other three holes.
Explaining terms for free agency
▪ Unrestricted free agency (UFA): These players have four or more years of accrued NFL experience. They can negotiate contracts with other teams during the NFL’s legal tampering period and the official start of free agency in March.
▪ Restricted free agency (RFA): These players have three years of accrued NFL experience. Teams have the option of tendering their pending restricted free agents to gain control of their rights.
If the Panthers offer a first-, second- or original-round tender to a restricted free agent, that player will need to obtain an offer sheet from an opposing team to leave Carolina. The Panthers will have the right to match the offer sheet and retain the player. If the Panthers choose not to match the offer sheet, the opposing team will obtain the player but will be forced to give up the value of the tender to the Panthers.
▪ Exclusive-rights free agency (ERFA): These players have two or less years of accrued NFL experience. They can only negotiate with their current teams. If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere.
Panthers’ internal free agents
Over the past few weeks, the Panthers have re-signed Tremble, center Austin Corbett, long snapper JJ Jansen and backup quarterback Andy Dalton.
The team now has 17 unrestricted, five pending restricted and two exclusive-rights free agents set to hit their respective markets.
Unrestricted free agents
▪ WR David Moore
▪ CB Mike Jackson
▪ S Xavier Wood
▪ P Johnny Hekker
▪ K Eddy Piñeiro
▪ S Sam Franklin
▪ S Nick Scott
▪ C Brady Christensen
▪ TE Ian Thomas
▪ LB Shaq Thompson (Panthers announce they’re moving in another direction)
▪ TE Feleipe Franks
▪ LB Cam Gill
▪ S Lonnie Johnson
▪ RB Mike Boone
▪ DE DeShawn Williams
▪ CB Caleb Farley
▪ S Jordan Fuller
Pending restricted free agents
(Note: These players can’t negotiate during the legal tampering period as their restricted tenders aren’t due until Wednesday)
▪ C Cade Mays (tendered)
▪ RB Raheem Blackshear (won’t receive a tender, per league source)
▪ WR Deven Thompkins
▪ WR/RB Velus Jones Jr.
▪ WR Dan Chisena
Exclusive rights free agents
(Note: These players can’t negotiate during the legal tampering period as their restricted tenders aren’t due until Wednesday)
▪ DE LaBryan Ray (tendered)
▪ LB Chandler Wooten
The Charlotte Observer
Mike Kaye covers the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. He is a graduate of the University of North Florida.
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned five APSE Top 10 distinctions, most recently in the Long Features category in 2024. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.