George IIoka would be a great option for team
The Carolina Panthers should at least take a look at the safety…
The Carolina Panthers have a very competent roster from top to bottom. However, there is certainly room for improvement, and a potential option can be found on the free agent market.
Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals released starting safety George Iloka. He has been very durable throughout the course of his career, starting in every game he has played in. He broke into the league in 2013. From that point on, he has tallied nine interceptions, 230 tackles and 32 passes defensed.
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Per Ian Rapoport, the move to release Iloka was made for financial reasons.
The Carolina Panthers do not necessarily need safety help. Currently, they have veterans Mike Adams and Da’Norris Searcy along with rookie Rashaan Gaulden. Depth is not the issue here. It is more about seizing the moment and opportunity here.
As far as we know right now, this move is strictly a financial one. What you have on the market is an experienced safety who is a durable playmaker. We do not know how Gaulden is going to pan out yet. We do not know Searcy is going to do this year either. To his credit, he has been impressive so far in preseason camp. Mike Adams is getting older and although he is still a very valuable member of the team, a younger option is needed at the position.
He fits the Carolina Panthers mold of a physical ballhawk that can make plays. He may be worth taking a flyer on if the opportunity is still there. Reports are coming out that the Oakland Raiders are very interested in Iloka. It is safe to say they are not the only team interested in his services. It will be interesting to see who else is in the running.
It would be wise for general manger Marty Hurney to at least take a look at the veteran. He would provide depth at the position and a mentor for Gaulden to learn from. It is not too often that a player of his caliber is on the open market. It would add even more strength to an already strong defense.
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This is not a move that they must make. Rather signing Iloka would be a very good insurance move. At the very least, it would make their defense even more explosive. That would be bad news for the rest of the NFC South and make them one of the most feared defenses in the league.