4 pros and cons to the Carolina Panthers signing Dee Ford
By Dean Jones
What are the pros and cons to the Carolina Panthers targeting Dee Ford, who is set to be released by the San Francisco 49ers once medically cleared?
Finding some additional pass-rushing assistance is something the Carolina Panthers could explore before the 2022 season gets underway. They’ve done little to strengthen this crucial area of the field over the offseason, which seems strange considering the team opted to let 11 sacks walk out of the door when Haason Reddick joined the Philadelphia Eagles.
This means there is a lot of confidence in the likes of Brian Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Marquis Haynes to put up the numbers needed. But adding another veteran capable of stepping in and performing well wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
One name that will be shortly on the market is Dee Ford. The edge rusher was a supreme performer at the peak of his powers, but things haven’t gone well of late and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that the team is expected to release the player once he gets medically cleared.
With this in mind, we picked out four pros and cons to the Panthers putting in a call to Ford’s representatives once he is free to explore other options.
Pro No. 1
Dee Ford would bring veteran leadership to the Carolina Panthers
Even though Dee Ford’s big move to the San Francisco 49ers didn’t go as many had hoped, this would be a relatively intriguing pickup by the Carolina Panthers. One that would provide veteran leadership at a time when it’s needed most.
Whether Ford could start or not is a moot point. The Panthers could slot him onto the rotation and hope that the former Auburn standout could return to something like the form of old with a minimal financial outlay.
Until then, Ford’s presence would provide players like Yetur Gross-Matos and Amare Barno will a strong veteran role model to lean on for advice and guidance. Something that Carolina doesn’t have after making a concerted effort to go younger across the defense under the current regime.