It’s been a busy period for the Carolina Panthers in recent days, with no fewer than five players joining the ranks in free agency.
The Carolina Panthers might have missed out on what some saw as the biggest prize of this free-agent period in Deshaun Watson. However, the team took that disappointment and used it as fuel for a fantastic day at the office on Friday, largely using resources that would have been sacrificed in any trade for the newly minted Cleveland Brown.
General Manager Scott Fitterer has, rightfully so, been derided for many of the decisions made last offseason, especially on offense. But, this second batch of free-agent signings by the Panthers has the makings of mending any bridge that has been broken and then some as far as the second-year front office figure is concerned.
There were clear needs for this team, clear holes to be patched, and for the first time in a good long while it seems like the organization is taking that seriously and making the necessary moves to have a winning organization.
Whether or not these moves stand up only time will tell. But on-paper, indicators point toward a more positive outlook for this season.
On top of this, the team has seemed to learn from their mistakes in a way that they have not been able to in recent memory, or are at least able to admit when they were at fault.
From offensive line to safety, this team had issues going into the offseason. Even at positions of supposed strength like wide receiver or defensive line, there were some gaping holes left by questionable releases or free agents departing Carolina.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at how the second batch of free-agent signings grades out when compared to the Panthers’ needs.
Rashard Higgins – Carolina Panthers WR
Rashard Higgins is one of those players that will never be “the guy” for a team but has the abilities that lean toward deserving a roster spot. The wide receiver’s biggest assets are his size and ability to shake a defender at the top of a route.
This is a dangerous combination, especially in the red zone. A skill that I continuously write about this team desperately needs.
After a fairly remarkable outing in 2020, Higgins regressed significantly in 2021 along with the rest of the Cleveland Browns offense, so it is hard to put all of the blame for that slump on the shoulders of the wideout. But only scoring one touchdown and more than halving total yards is not a good sign no matter the context.
However, with the position the Carolina Panthers found themselves in at receiver last season, signing a player like Higgins who can provide a fairly reliable target if need be for whoever may find themselves under center is a good move.
Not to mention a one-year deal leaves little in the way of risk on the shoulders of the Panthers should things not work out as intended.
If nothing else, Higgins provides a little extra security should Terrace Marshall Jr. struggle again or the injury bug rears its ugly head in 2022.
Grade: B
All in all, this is a solid, albeit not a mindblowing, move for a Panthers team in need of depth.
Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB
Back to the drawing board once again. For the third time in as many seasons, the Carolina Panthers look to start a different player at middle linebacker and this time around it is the intriguing Damien Wilson.
Wilson spent the majority of his early career as a backup that saw little action before becoming a key contributor to the Kansas City Chiefs during their Super Bowl run. Turning that performance into a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ever the run-stopper, Wilson struggles at times in coverage. But the team had this in mind when signing the budding star coming off of his best season as a pro.
The instincts are there against the run and the linebacker even shows promise as a pass rusher. These are all desirable traits, even with some liabilities on the back end.
Wilson’s run vision alone is remarkable to watch at times. Something the Panthers sorely lacked late in the season last year.
While the team would love to have a more complete player at the position, there simply aren’t that many quality options available right now. A player that can do one side really well is an asset, especially with the coverage ability of Shaq Thompson.
Grade: C-
This is a very risky move for the Panthers. The team needs a true leader in the middle of the defense and taking their third flyer on a player that has yet to prove they can handle that responsibility could go any number of ways. We can only hope it turns out well this time.
Matt Ioannidis – Carolina Panthers DT
With the departure of DaQuon Jones in free agency, the Carolina Panthers were left with a hole at defensive tackle. Once the team also released Morgan Fox, this became even larger.
Enter Matt Ioannidis.
Another former Matt Rhule loyalist from their time together at Temple, Ioannidis is a massive human being. The defensive tackle looks more like a prototypical edge rusher than someone who lines up on the interior, but he has proven production and can impact the game on a three-down basis.
These physical attributes lead to a rather successful pass-rushing skill set, as one would expect from a player that is so big and fast when they get going downhill.
Putting a player like Ioannidis alongside the pillar that is Derrick Brown would be a fairly stout 1-2 punch along the inside that teams could not readily plan against. A pure run stop specialist with some pass rush capability alongside his complete opposite.
Where one lags behind the other can compensate.
That being said, it has been a few years since Ioannidis was at the peak of his abilities and it will remain to be seen whether a reunion with his former coaches will change that for the better. However, he is a force to be reckoned with when healthy and well worth the risk all things considered.
Grade: B+
This move can go so many different directions that it is hard to pin down a good grade. However, if the Panthers hit on Ioannidis, it could solidify the interior of the defensive line in a way that is incredibly enticing.
Johnny Hekker – Carolina Panthers P
The Carolina Panthers have had a bit of a carousel at punter in recent years, though most have been largely productive at certain stages. However, that ride went off the rails last season due to multiple injuries which left the team scrambling for a competent replacement at the position.
With how inept the offense became this shone a bright light on the struggles of the special teams’ group and seemingly unwilling to trudge through another season like that, the Panthers went out and got one of the best to ever do it in Johnny Hekker.
Hekker is getting on up there in terms of age. But there is still plenty of life in the old punting leg to make a meaningful contribution. Even if he is coming off one of his worst statistical seasons as a pro, having a player with multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections is always a good idea.
However, even with an average punt distance that ranks fairly low, the net yardage when all things are considered still ranks near the top of the league. Sometimes placement is more important than distance, in any case.
Consistency is more important still and Hekker has a nack for pinning teams deep with only one touchback last season. With the Panthers’ defense, that could be a very dangerous combination.
Grade: A
Hekker will be a more than welcome addition to a revamped Panthers special teams core that includes last year’s standout performer in Zane Gonzalez. If these two players perform up to expectations, there will be absolutely nothing for the team to worry about on special teams.
Bradley Bozeman – Carolina Panthers G/C
It looks like the Carolina Panthers have finally decided to take the offensive line seriously this offseason. The addition of Bradley Bozeman in the interior will go a long way toward solidifying what was arguably the worst unit in the league last season.
There is some position flexibility as far as Bozeman is concerned considering he has started at both guard and center in his career, making the decision as to where to place him a fairly important one.
Wherever Bozeman is placed will be an instant upgrade. The young lineman gave up only three charged sacks last season on 21 pressures and while some of that can be attributed to the mobility of Lamar Jackson and his backups, this is still a much-needed consistency for the Panthers.
This is without even mentioning his run-blocking prowess. But the real focus here is keeping the quarterback on their feet as it is for every NFL team – something Bozeman is a budding master at accomplishing.
A solid contributor in the pass and run games, Bozeman was the perfect signing for the Panthers to make after the disaster that was the 2021 offseason as far as the offensive line was concerned.
A starting line made up of Brady Christensen, Bozeman, Pat Elflein, Austin Corbett, and Taylor Moton should make any Panthers fan smile and there is still more room for improvement. That’s without contemplating the prospect of further additions and a franchise left tackle at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Grade A+
Bozeman was one of the most highly sought-after linemen in free agency and the Panthers were able to bring him in on a team-friendly deal, more than solidifying the weakest point of the team. Don’t look now, but Carolina might actually have a competent offensive line in the making.