5 free agents the Carolina Panthers should consider after Week 1 loss

Carolina Panthers should consider Eric Ebron

Unlike most on this list, Eric Ebron made no secret of his desire to join the Carolina Panthers shortly before the season. The tight end is no stranger to the region having attended Ben L. Smith High School before North Carolina University, where he starred en route to becoming the No. 10 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Ebron might not have hit the heights expected of such a high-end draft pick. But injuries haven’t helped his cause and the player does possess enough size and physicality to help the Panthers within a positional group that’s been devoid of consistency since Greg Olsen left in 2020 free agency for the Seattle Seahawks.

The Panthers kept faith with Ian Thomas and are expecting more from Tommy Tremble in 2022. The pair combined for three catches for 54 receiving yards in Week 1, but more might be needed in the grand scheme of things.

With career stats of 351 receptions for 3,837 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns, Ebron might be a short-term solution to an ongoing problem. One the Panthers hope won’t be a weak link for much longer under the guidance of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

Perhaps bringing Ebron in for a workout to see if there is something to work with would be more prudent. Something the veteran would no doubt relish given his close association with the Carolinas.