3 free agent guards the Panthers could sign post-NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Josh Kline
Josh Kline became a victim of the salary cap predicament of the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. He was cut after just one year with the franchise after initially joining them from the Tennessee Titans.
The offensive guard has carved out a good career for himself after going undrafted out of Kent State. He is a Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots and is a solid presence on the line of scrimmage.
Although Kline did have a somewhat down year with the Vikings in 2019. That can be said for the Minnesota interior as a whole and this played a significant part in their eventual divisional round playoff loss at the San Francisco 49ers.
The Carolina Panthers might be able to get someone like Kline on the cheap, which is music to their ears due to their current salary cap problems. The player excels in the run game but did have difficulty stopping pass-rushers in 2019.
That being said, Kline would probably still be on the Vikings had it not been for their financial predicament at the time. Giving the player a short-term, ‘prove it’ deal is a win-win situation for the Panthers and would provide additional interior depth they are currently lacking.
Kline could have a bounce-back season if presented with the opportunity. This would allow the player to command more money on the free-agent market in 2021.