5 early free agents on defense for the Panthers to target in 2022
By Dean Jones
Which upcoming free agents on the defensive side of the ball could become targets for the Carolina Panthers in 2022?
Although the primary focus for the Carolina Panthers will be progressing their current roster in pursuit of a winning record in 2021, those in the front office will already have half an eye on what’s to come in 2022. Free agency and the NFL Draft remain a prominent thought in everyone’s minds no matter what time of year and with more in the way of financial resources available next spring, it promises to be a frenzied period of activity.
The Panthers are doing a nice job of laying some solid foundations from which to build a future contender. Their roster is young with plenty of dynamic individuals who are only going to get better with more experience, so even though this might not come with a drastic change of fortunes in 2021, they are in a better position right now than they’ve been in for a long time.
Carolina must show steady progression next season in order to become an attractive destination for veterans that can come in and make a significant contribution. There are plenty of those set to hit the market next year and if the Panthers can make the most of the money at their disposal, the sky is the limit.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at five early free agents on defense who might be targeted by the Panthers in 2022.
Carolina Panthers early free-agent targets on defense in 2022.
Free Agent No. 1
Anthony Barr – OLB
- 2021 team – Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings resisted the temptation to release Anthony Barr this offseason, which was the right call to make providing the outside linebacker suffers no more problems with injuries. And make no mistake, this is a big campaign for the former first-round pick in a bid to earn a new deal either from his current team or elsewhere if he’s allowed to hit the free-agent market.
Barr almost left the Vikings once before when the New York Jets made him a big offer that he went back on after initially agreeing to a move. This might be an area of need for the Carolina Panthers if Shaq Thompson and Jermaine Carter don’t show enough next season and bringing the UCLA product on board could end up being a shrewd bit of business at the right price.
The Panthers invested what little money they had on defense this offseason, making the unit look like one that could be capable of better things in 2021. Barr would potentially be an upgrade on anything Carolina currently has at the position, but the fact he played just two games in 2020 represents a concern.