4 replacements if the Panthers cannot retain D’Onta Foreman in 2023
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could sign Jamaal Williams
The Carolina Panthers would likely need some veteran assistance if the team and D’Onta Foreman go their separate ways in free agency. They already have two promising running backs in Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear, but asking them to carry lead duties might be a stretch at this stage of their respective development.
Fortunately for the Panthers, there are a number of free agents that could fill the void. And one, in particular, could be swayed by a move thanks to the recent appointment of Duce Staley.
Staley and Jamaal Williams hit it off in no uncertain terms during their time with the Detroit Lions. Something that resulted in the veteran having the best season of his professional career by a considerable margin in 2022.
Williams outperformed the promising D’Andre Swift en route to 1,066 rushing yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns. This puts the former fourth-round selection in a strong bargaining position when the time for contract negotiations begin.
Detroit will likely fight hard to keep Williams and could even use the franchise tag to keep him around. But after occupying a rotational role before last season, he won’t get a better time for a big payday with the Lions or elsewhere.
There’s every chance Staley would bang the table hard for Williams, who also emerged as one of the true locker room leaders in Detroit to further enhance his influence.