Which players could follow Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers this offseason after he became their next head coach?
Fans are still trying to digest the appointment of Dave Canales. It's not the biggest name on the head coaching cycle - not by a long shot. But the Carolina Panthers weren't exactly flush with interest from around the league thanks to their lowly situation and team owner David Tepper's floundering reputation.
Canales is a great coach. He's got a strong reputation for helping quarterbacks galvanize their careers. There is a lack of experience attached, but this could also be a case of Carolina getting ahead of the game if the progressive play-caller maintains his upward trajectory.
There is a lot of hard work ahead for Canales and in-house promotion Dan Morgan. Their primary objective is to mold a competitive roster following their two-win campaign. Every avenue must be explored and every available resource maximized. The head coach might also turn to some trusted former associates to hit the ground running.
With this in mind, here are five players who could follow Canales to the Panthers this offseason.
Carolina Panthers could sign Aaron Stinnie
The Carolina Panthers are in desperate need of assistance on the offensive line. Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen returning to health should help, but depth is a major issue that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Aaron Stinnie wouldn't be the highest-profile name imaginable, but he's got starting experience. The former undrafted free agent out of James Madison played 717 snaps for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, giving up two sacks and conceding four penalties. He's a solid if not spectacular performer, but one could argue he'd be an immediate upgrade on any options behind Corbett and Christensen on Carolina's depth chart.
Going down the draft route would be cheaper. But this adds another veteran presence to call upon as Dave Canales looks to make an immediate impression in Carolina.
Carolina Panthers could sign Devin White
Dave Canales' background centers on the offensive side of the football. This has been his specialty from the moment he entered the league's coaching ranks. However, being a head coach requires much more.
The Carolina Panthers defense also requires attention. They have some core foundational pieces to build around - especially if star edge rusher Brian Burns and ferocious linebacker Frankie Luvu are extended - but one or two high-profile signings could get them among the league's best if coordinator Ejiro Evero sticks around.
Someone like Devin White could be exactly what the Panthers are looking for. He's a close associate with Canales from their time together on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the former first-round selection had a down year by his typically high standards, perhaps a fresh challenge elsewhere under a coach he knows well could see the second-level presence gain a new lease of life.
One potential complication the Panthers and Canales might have with this pursuit is the money available. There isn't much wiggle room financially if the aforementioned players get new deals. White's projected annual salary according to Spotrac is $20.1 million per season. That's absolutely out of the question and beyond extortionate.
If the cost is a little less, White becomes a legitimate option. Putting him alongside Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson is a mouth-watering proposition.
Carolina Panthers could sign Noah Fant
It's no secret that the Carolina Panthers need help at the tight end position. This key area has severely missed a consistent pass-catching presence since Greg Olsen was allowed to walk in free agency. Reinforcements are needed this offseason despite Tommy Tremble's flashing promise.
Again, going down the college route might be the cheapest option with a longer-term upside. If the Panthers want someone who could perhaps take a step forward with Dave Canales leading the charge, then examining the benefits of potentially bringing Noah Fant into the mix should be discussed.
Fant was a necessary sacrifice made by the Denver Broncos during their eye-popping trade for Russell Wilson. That move has not gone according to plan, but the former first-round pick hasn't reached the heights anticipated coming out of Iowa.
During his two years with the Seahawks, Fant brought in 82 receptions from 106 targets for 900 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Would these numbers have been different had Canales been given the offensive coordinator position in Seattle? Who knows, but there could be some merit in acquiring him on a short-term deal to see if the gifted play-caller can weave his magic.
The Panthers have Hayden Hurst and Tommy Tremble as likely returnees next season. Whether Fant comes with more questions than answers is something Canales and Dan Morgan would need to determine.
Carolina Panthers could sign Shelby Harris
Another area that could use reinforcements this offseason is the defensive front. Derrick Brown's exceptional campaign aside, the unit was underwhelming. The Carolina Panthers paid the price for not identifying a true nose tackle after releasing Marquan McCall. Just another case of the primary decision-makers trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
As previously stated, the Panthers' defense doesn't look a million miles away from being one of the league's most productive. With a few upgrades and established figures extended, there's a lot to like about further growth with head coaching options dwindling for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Shelby Harris worked briefly with Dave Canales on the Seattle Seahawks. He's been the consummate professional throughout his career, rising from a seventh-round afterthought into a valuable rotational contributor - first with the Oakland Raiders before moving to the Denver Broncos.
Harris performed well for the Seahawks last season when called upon. At 32 years old, this would be a short-term option. But the Panthers weren't exactly blessed with great depth in this critical position group despite Nick Thurman flashing on occasion.
Asking Harris to fill a starting role might be a stretch at this stage of his career. However, the lineman looks like an experienced, affordable option for the Panthers to consider bringing on board to bolster the room.
Carolina Panthers could sign Mike Evans
I couldn't leave this one out.
Bryce Young is in dire need of better weapons. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft suffered greatly from having almost no consistent pass-catcher aside from veteran Adam Thielen, who might be on his way out after being sold false promises of playoff contention by Frank Reich and the previous regime.
This is something that won't have gone unnoticed by new head coach Dave Canales during his research. It just so happens that a wide receiver he knows well could hit the open market unless he can reach an agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mike Evans is one of the league's most underrated wide receivers. He's gone over 1,000 receiving yards in every season he's been in the league. That's a decade of exceptional production that shows no signs of slowing down. If the same trend continues, there's a good chance he'll be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Evans has long been a thorn in Carolina's side. The former first-round pick spoke extremely highly of Canales during the season. Could it be enough to ditch his loyalty and leave the Buccaneers for an NFC South rival?
It would be a bombshell of epic proportions if the Panthers could pull this off. Their chances have certainly improved thanks to Canales' appointment. At the same time, Evans is unlikely to be short of suitors if the wideout and Tampa Bay go their separate ways.
This would be the genuine WR1 that Young is seeking. Something that could help the signal-caller as he looks to bounce back from an indifferent first year in the pros.