Four free agent safeties the Carolina Panthers could pursue
The Carolina Panthers could have options at safety…
The injury bug has struck again, and this time, it has attacked the secondary unit of the Carolina Panthers.
Yesterday the Panthers placed veteran safety Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve following a second concussion suffered in a time span of 30 days. His first concussion of the year happened during Carolina’s second preseason game against Miami. Searcy must miss eight games before he is eligible to return to the field.
More from Cat Crave
- 4 Carolina Panthers players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- 6 free-agent quarterbacks the Carolina Panthers could sign in 2023
- 4 potential Panthers draft targets who’ll blow up the 2023 NFL Combine
- Carolina Panthers meeting with Derek Carr has additional benefits
- When will Carolina Panthers brass speak at 2023 NFL Combine?
For now, the answer is on the roster. Veteran safety Colin Jones and rookie Rashaan Gaulden will share the responsibilities at safety during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Panthers have also promoted CB Luke Cole to the active roster for more support at safety.
General manager Marty Hurney could eventually look for secondary help outside of the organization. Here are four safeties that the Panthers could pursue.
Former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid
Pro Bowl safety Reid, a fan favorite, is arguably the best available free agent safety. Reid may have missed nine regular-season games the last two years, but his ability to play tight coverage is enticing. Also, he is only 26, so he has plenty of time to improve his tackling form.
Mike Mitchell
The Panthers could decide to bring back a familiar face. Mitchell played for the Panthers for one season in 2013. In 15 games (14 starts) with the Panthers, he recorded the most interceptions (4), defensive yards (63) and sacks (4) in a single season of his nine-year NFL career. Unfortunately for Mitchell, age has caught up to him and, his production has dropped off. If the Panthers did bring him back, he would not be much more than extra support at safety.
Former Cardinals safety Tyvon Branch
Branch has professional experience at both free safety and strong safety. He was a stud during his early years with the Raiders, but his inability to stay healthy hurt his chances of starting this season. Since 2013, Branch has landed on IR five times and missed 44 games because of injuries. It is a longshot, but he knows the position well. I would not expect the Panthers to sign Branch any time soon, if at all, but they may find it is worth their while to monitor his health casually.
Next. Panthers pound Bengals 31-21. dark
Jarius Byrd
Byrd is another familiar face that the Panthers could bring back. He played out a one-year $900,000 contract with the Panthers in 2017, a season in which he recorded nine tackles and one assist in 12 games. Byrd isn’t the most popular free agent safety by any means, but he has loads of experience at safety and knows Carolina’s system well.