4 bargain free agents who could help the Carolina Panthers
By Dean Jones
OG. KENT STATE. JOSHKLINE. 3. player. 87. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Carolina Panthers free-agent target No. 3: Josh Kline (OL)
Josh Kline was harshly cut by the Minnesota Vikings after just one season with the team. Their offensive line showed tremendous improvement in 2019. But they opted to go in a different direction despite his release not coming with any great salary cap relief.
There is a lot to like about the way Kline goes about his business on the field. And the offensive line interior is an area of the field that poses arguably the most concern for the Carolina Panthers.
They will be hoping John Miller and Michael Schofield can provide adequate protection in the coming months. And the Panthers could also shift Dennis Daley into the guard spot following a rookie campaign littered with struggles.
Kline could argue that Kline represents an upgrade on all three of these options. He was especially good in the Vikings’ run game last time out, which benefitted Dalvin Cook tremendously and could be of use for Carolina’s All-Pro back Christian McCaffrey.
The lineman gave up two sacks and three penalties in Minnesota last season on his way to a 61.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. He vastly outperformed Pat Elflein n on the other side. But he has somehow been given one more chance to resurrect his career.
It won’t take the Panthers’ coaching staff long to figure out whether their current interior lineman has what it takes. Should they give even more cause for concern going forward, then it would leave the organization with no alternative other than to explore the market for a veteran presence that wouldn’t cost the earth to acquire.