Which free agents could the Carolina Panthers consider signing before their highly-anticipated Week 1 regular season opener at the Atlanta Falcons?
There are still plenty of moving parts within the Carolina Panthers as preparations ramp up for their Week 1 opener against the Atlanta Falcons. This is a statement game - the first of Frank Reich's head coaching tenure - so picking up a valuable win on the road versus a divisional rival would do wonders for confidence moving forward.
Looking at the current state of affairs, there are some areas of concern that need to be addressed. One major storyline is overshadowing all else right now, with Brian Burns not exactly thrilled with the lack of progress regarding a bumper new contract extension despite being present throughout camp and earlier offseason workouts.
This is a problem the Panthers don't need, but the primary decision-makers are obviously waiting to see what the San Francisco 49ers give Nick Bosa before proceeding. With Marquis Haynes Sr. now on injured/reserve, the urgency to have their best pass-rusher on the field is glaring and could lead to something becoming official in the not-too-distant future.
With that said, here are three free agents the Panthers should consider signing before Week 1 begins.
Carolina Panthers could sign Dalton Risner
The Carolina Panthers have almost no experienced offensive line depth. Those in power opted to keep faith with the likes of Ricky Lee and Nash Jensen after their outstanding summers, with Calvin Throckmorton also joining the ranks off waivers once final cuts had been made around the league.
That puts more pressure on the starting unit to produce and more importantly, remain healthy. But someone like Dalton Risner might also be of use providing a short-term deal could be reached.
Risner is a proven performer who gave up three sacks and conceded one penalty from almost 1,000 snaps with the Denver Broncos last season. Nobody would be asking the former second-round pick out of Kansas State to play starting reps, but he'd be a decent insurance policy if an unfortunate injury befalls someone at the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina Panthers could sign Melvin Ingram
As previously stated, the Carolina Panthers have a situation or two on their hands. Brian Burns appears to be making a stand regarding his new contract, which hasn't been confirmed as yet and is unlikely to get rubber-stamped until Nick Bosa resets the market in the near future.
This is a tricky situation and the Panthers cannot afford to be without Burns, who's their best edge defender by a considerable margin and one of the brightest young rushers in the league. Carolina has no leverage given their lack of options, the mammoth trade offer they turned down from the Los Angeles Rams, and the fact Marquis Haynes Sr. recently went to injured/reserve with a back issue.
If the Panthers decide to bring in another veteran edge weapon before Week 1, then Melvin Ingram should be considered. He might be a little long in the tooth these days, so much will depend on how in shape the former first-round selection is after missing most of the summer waiting for another opportunity.
Ingram has the experience needed to slot in and immediately thrive. He has knowledge of 3-4 outside linebacker requirements and judging by his six sacks from 45 percent of the Miami Dolphins' defensive snaps in 2022, there is life in the old dog yet.
Considering Ingram hails from the area, this almost makes too much sense if Burns decides to hold out. Hopefully, it won't come to that and everything resolves satisfactorily for the player and the franchise.
Carolina Panthers could sign Chris Wormley
After letting Marquan McCall, Raequan Williams, and Taylor Stallworth depart - the latter two are back on the practice squad - the Carolina Panthers are lacking depth and quality on their defensive front three. It seems as if Ejiro Evero is going to be heavily reliant on Derrick Brown and Shy Tuttle to get the push needed, with DeShawn Williams also set for prominent involvement after a decent summer.
Behind the aforementioned trio is where it gets tricky. There is no genuine nose tackle unless Nick Thurman can somehow fill the void, and LaBryan Ray was also taken through onto the roster without many NFL credentials to call upon.
Something needs to be done, but time is of the essence. Although general manager Scott Fitterer stated he wouldn't ideally like to rock the boat during a normal game week, desperate times call for desperate measures and Chris Wormley is a player that certainly fits the bill.
Wormley performed well on the Pittsburgh Steelers rotation last season and looks like a significant depth upgrade on the likes of Thurman and Ray. At 6-foot-5 and around 300 pounds, he could play as a 3-4 defensive end or perhaps even on the interior when the situation dictates.
This is probably something the Panthers aren't considering, in all honesty. They like what's already around and if more is needed, Williams or Stallworth will be called up from the practice squad rather than shelling out additional funds on an outside arrival.