5 calls the Panthers should make first when free agency opens
By Dean Jones
What should be the first five calls made by the Carolina Panthers when the free-agent period kicks off the 2021 NFL year?
It’s not long now before the madness that is normally associated with NFL free agency formally begins. The legal tampering period gets underway on Monday and there promises to be a hive of activity within the Carolina Panthers as they look to build on the encouraging foundations to enter the playoff picture in 2021.
General manager Scott Fitterer has freed up enough funds to ensure the Panthers are competitive in the market, although he is keen to take a patient approach in the current climate. This is an offseason like no other thanks to financial constraints, so veterans might be willing to take a little less in the right fit and hope they can cash in when the salary-cap improves next year with a new TV deal on the horizon.
One thing is for sure, there will not be a dull moment over the next few weeks where Carolina is concerned.
They have plenty of big decisions to make regarding out-of-contract players on their roster, in addition to acquiring better options at key positions and also looking at potential college recruits during the all-important evaluation process ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Fitterer is going to get a crash course in what it takes being an NFL GM, with head coach Matt Rhule also having plenty of influence when it comes to their impending personnel decisions that should help Carolina’s cause.
With that being said, here are five calls that the Panthers should make first when the legal tampering period begins.