4 free agents that could let Scott Fitterer go with BPA in the draft
By Dean Jones
Nick Easton – C/G
- 2020 team – New Orleans Saints
As stated previously, strengthening the offensive line should be the top priority in the coming weeks as the Carolina Panthers look to put their new quarterback Sam Darnold in the best possible position to succeed. This is evident both at left tackle and on the interior, with the free-agent signings of Pat Elflein and Cam Erving unlikely to offer anything more than solid depth given their struggles in recent years.
John Miller was brought back and Matt Paradis restructured his deal to stick around. But both had some difficulty in pass protection last year and it would be a huge shock if the Panthers didn’t address this need more than once during the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, if they opt to add another useful veteran before it’s time to select their next batch of college hopefuls, then Nick Easton is an eye-catching name remaining on the free-agent market. The player has experience operating either at guard or center with equal effect, which could prove highly useful providing he agrees to come on board with little in the way of financial commitment.
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Easton has some solid production under his belt for both the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings in recent years. He excels in pass protection – which is an area Carolina struggled in 2020 – so this is the sort of versatile, high-impact signing that could make his presence felt from the word go.