Hope Reignited? Carolina Panthers Free Agency Recap.

The offseason has given Panthers fans plenty to talk about, with free agency delivering a thrilling rollercoaster ride—full of shocking signings, blockbuster trades, and unexpected moves that kept us on the edge of our seats.

Now that free agency has settled, we can take a step back and evaluate our team additions with a clearer perspective. We put our trust in Dan Morgan, and I have to say, he delivered. Sure, every fan dreams of landing big-name players, but without the necessary cap space, we have to be realistic—we simply can't sign them all.

Jaycee Horn

Jaycee Horn

The biggest signing news by far comes from the Panthers securing Jaycee Horn (CB) with a massive 4-year, $100 million deal, including $70 million guaranteed! At this point, Horn is the face of the defense. With Carolina parting ways with Shaq Thompson, the torch needed to be passed—and there’s no better player or person to carry it forward. Locked in through 2029, Horn’s deal was just the first of several key defensive signings in the opening week of free agency.

Defensive Signings

Bobby Brown III

From there, Dan went on a spending spree to make sure the defense had both depth and the pieces needed to eliminate any excuses. We won’t even get into the whole Milton Williams fiasco—but let’s just say, when we see him and his agent, it’s on sight. That said, we can’t be too mad about missing out on players who don't feel passionate about coming to Carolina.

Carolina also locked in cornerback Mike Jackson on a two-year deal. I see him as a great complement to Jaycee Horn—he had a solid season overall and was definitely worth bringing back. Together, they bring back shades of Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas, a classic Panthers cornerback duo from the past.

The Panthers continued to bolster their defense, agreeing to terms with two defensive tackles—Tershawn Wharton from the Chiefs and Bobby Brown III, formerly of the Rams. They also added outside linebacker Patrick Jones II from the Vikings and safety Tre’von Moehrig from the Raiders. But they didn’t stop there, bringing in linebacker Christian Rozeboom to further strengthen the unit.

Offensive Signings

Rico Dowdle

Some of the biggest moves on offense included signing running back Rico Dowdle from the Cowboys, who posted a 1,000-yard season last year—just like our own! Here’s hoping for Double Trouble 2.0. Bringing back wide receiver David Moore was a solid, comforting move, and the Panthers also re-signed Brady Christensen to reinforce the offensive line. The release of Miles Sanders was big news, but let’s be honest—it shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Personally, I was more than okay with that move.

So, where does that leave us? Well, my friends, here we are at the start of another offseason. And while I hate to sound like a broken record, this time does feel different. Less ownership interference, strong relationships in the front office, and the understanding that we were only a few pieces away last year, provide all the makings of a winning year.

Let’s be real, Carolina had plenty of close losses in 2023 and easily could’ve finished with 6-7 wins. With the draft still ahead and more free agency moves likely on the way, there’s plenty to look forward to. But for now, let’s take a moment to appreciate having a competent front office and be proud of the moves made this offseason so far.

Keep Pounding!

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