4 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers 2021 offseason
By Dean Jones
The Carolina Panthers won’t make a big splash in free agency
Before COVID-19 revenue losses played havoc with the financial resources available, the Carolina Panthers were set to have a substantial amount of money to spend this offseason. However, with the salary cap coming down for the first time in a decade, it has thrown a significant spanner in the works regarding their plans.
General manager Scott Fitterer has a big job on his hands trying to cut costs. This will result in even more established veterans departing the organization in the coming weeks and makes the need for the Panthers to get every one of their 2021 NFL Draft picks as close to spot on as they possibly can even greater.
Fitterer was part of the Seattle Seahawks front office that struck big with college recruits both and the top end of drafts gone by, and also found some real gems in the later rounds. This knowledge and experience are going to be invaluable in Carolina’s pursuit of finding some real difference-makers on both sides of the ball.
Although there are plenty of intriguing free agents available this spring, it appears unlikely that the Panthers are going to be major players in the market. Had the cap gone up this would have been different, but Fitterer and head coach Matt Rhule need to adjust to what are ever-changing times.
That’s not to say they cannot find players who can start or make their presence felt. But getting some of the top-tier guys will be extremely difficult in the current climate.