Should the Carolina Panthers make a run at Ziggy Ansah?

The Carolina Panthers would be wise to check in on Ansah in free agency.

There is no doubt that the Carolina Panthers need to upgrade at defensive end. There are some big names on the market, most notably Jadaveon Clowney of the Houston Texans. However, he may not be the most cost-effective option. There is one name on the market that could appeal to the Panthers.  I am not suggesting that the team needs to sign this player and that the offseason would be incomplete without him. Rather, this is just a suggestion.

Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah is a name the team should keep on their radar. He has a track record of modest success, even if it did not come in 2018. Ansah has played in 80 games in a six-year career, one that has produced 210 tackles.

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His best season came in 2015 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl. He appeared in all 16 games that year, recording 47 tackles. Perhaps his most impressive feat was his 14.5 sacks, his first time ever reaching the double-digit mark. He would do so again in 2017, recording 12 on the year.

Despite the success, things have not always gone as easy for Ansah to this point in his career. He missed a bunch of games last season and has battled injuries. This may work in the Carolina Panthers favor however. The certainly need a guy who can make an impact on the edge and Ansah can do that. He also brings versatility to the table. Carolina, as Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer notes, views versatile football players highly.

"Again, a key word here is “versatility.” The Panthers clearly champion that in every defensive lineman who isn’t a nose tackle. Ansah was moved around a lot during training camp prior to the 2018 season, according to MLive, because of his ability to play off the edge, inside and even in coverage. Ansah has battled multiple injuries and played in just seven games last season. He also played on the Lions’ franchise tag in 2018."

When healthy, Ansah is an explosive player. He terrorizes both offensive lineman and quarterbacks. He posses tremendous speed and can get into the backfield with ease. He always seems to be where the ball is, and that is a trait the Panthers could certainly use on the line. As a team, they need to do a better job of getting to the quarterback. Ansah’s playstyle would fall in line with that goal . In addition, he could come at a cheap price in free agency due to those injuries. Especially since he suffered a shoulder injury, that could affect how he gets by his blockers.

His age is a factor here too. He is 29 years old and beginning to enter the prime of his career. If the Carolina Panthers want to land an impact player, this would be the perfect time to sign Ansah. The Panthers should not break the bank for him, but they should make him a fair offer. I would offer him more money instead of a long-term contract. Especially with a player coming off an injury, you never know how a long-term deal would work out.

The Panthers should take a flyer on him. What do they have to lose? At the minimum, he offers depth to the defensive end position. Carolina needs help there, and Ansah has the skillset to be productive.