Grading the first five major moves during a dramatic start to 2024 free agency from new Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan.
The Carolina Panthers weren't expected to sit on their hands when free agency began. That proved to be the case during a dramatic start to Dan Morgan's first recruitment period as the team's general manager.
Fans went through an emotional rollercoaster. Two new additions came into the fold. It's also apparent that the Panthers are transitioning assets from defense to the offensive side of the football. Carolina is rebuilding, but they better do it fast with quarterback Bryce Young already one year into his rookie deal.
The team's long-suffering support was fractured thanks to developments. More transactions will surface in the days and weeks ahead. But in all honesty, the jury is still out as to the Panthers' aspirations next season and beyond.
With that being said, we took a look and graded the first five major moves made by the Panthers to kick off 2024 free agency.
Carolina Panthers released Vonn Bell
Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis have been trimming the fat throughout their first offseason in legitimate positions of power. Another veteran fell by the wayside just before the legal tampering period got underway when starting safety Vonn Bell was deemed surplus to requirements.
Bell had some injury problems last season but was a top-level performer when healthy. His safety partnership with Xavier Woods was among the Carolina Panthers' biggest strengths last season. Those in power felt otherwise.
Grade: D
Much will depend on what replacements the Panthers can acquire to put next to Woods on the backend - especially with Jeremy Chinn also set to take his chances elsewhere. But this doesn't make a ton of sense right now.
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Carolina Panthers signed Robert Hunt
Reports indicated the Carolina Panthers were going to find ways to solidify the protection in front of quarterback Bryce Young during free agency. As it turned out, they managed to secure one of the top interior offensive linemen on the market thanks to a whopping financial commitment.
The Panthers agreed to terms with Robert Hunt to prise him from the Miami Dolphins. The five-year, $100 million deal comes with $63 million guaranteed and a $26.5 million signing bonus. This also gives Carolina a prolific tandem on the right-hand side to go along with exceptional edge presence Taylor Moton.
Hunt spent time on the sidelines through injury last season, but he's a high-level performer when healthy. The former second-round selection out of Louisiana is aggressive and thrives in pass protection. His athleticism represents an immediate upgrade on anything Carolina has at the guard positions. This should benefit Young greatly as the former No. 1 pick goes in search of a bounce-back campaign.
Grade: A+
This was a significant need for the Panthers. One they addressed with conviction as part of their plans to surround Young with everything needed to thrive. Hunt cost a hefty sum as one of the best free agent guards available, but to get the best players to a small market like Charlotte, you have to pay up accordingly.
Carolina Panthers let Frankie Luvu walk
Dan Morgan stated during his introductory presser that the Carolina Panthers will be looking to restore the core ethos that made this franchise great once upon a time. The new general manager also highlighted the need to find players with the dog mentality others can feed off on their long road back to respectability.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words after so many false promises made by previous regimes. Letting an inspirational leader like Frankie Luvu leave was not a good look.
Luvu was the beating heart of Carolina's defense over two years. He was ultra-consistent, was one of the team's most dominant performers, and brought a level of intensity that was sorely lacking elsewhere. Sadly, the Panthers didn't feel like this warranted an extended stay.
The former undrafted free agent agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders. Placing Luvu on Dan Quinn's defense has untold potential. According to reports, the Panthers made a late bid to keep him around. It was too little, too late.
Grade: D-
Luvu will get around $12 million per season on his new deal. The Panthers should have resolved this issue much sooner. They didn't and paid the price.
Carolina Panthers signed Damien Lewis
As previously mentioned, the Carolina Panthers were expected to prioritize their offensive line through free agency. They didn't plan on shopping in the bargain basement either, securing two starting-caliber guards in the hope of cleaner pockets for quarterback Bryce Young.
Robert Hunt was the marquee arrival. The Panthers also turned to someone Dave Canales knows well in the form of Damien Lewis, who spent time working with Carolina's new head coach on the Seattle Seahawks.
Lewis is a solid if not spectacular performer. He's got bags of experience and is dependable in all phases. The veteran doesn't necessarily excel at anything in particular, but Canales and Dan Morgan believe he can become an important piece of the Panthers' offensive line puzzle.
The money - reportedly $53 million over four years - is a little on the steep side. But if Lewis thrives under Canales' guidance and becomes an upgrade over Brady Christensen at the left guard position, nobody will complain too much about the price.
Grade: B
Perhaps the most concerning element of this acquisition is the plan to move Austin Corbett to the center spot. It's a drastic transition for someone who's spent the majority of his career at guard. There are also two serious knee injuries in consecutive seasons to factor into the equation.
Carolina Panthers traded Brian Burns
The long-running saga between Brian Burns and the Carolina Panthers reached its tipping point. After placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on the star edge rusher - which permitted him to speak with other teams - the New York Giants quickly came calling with the sort of contract offer he'd been craving.
After that, it was down to trade talks. The Panthers eventually settled on a second-round pick in 2024 and a fifth-rounder in 2025. New York and Carolina will be swapping fifth-round picks as part of the transaction.
Burns got a fresh start and the long-term financial security he deserves. As for Carolina? They get a decent draft pick and financial flexibility.
That's about all the positives to take. Burns becomes the latest Panthers player to depart in their prime. With Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos also taking their chances elsewhere, Carolina's edge options have been completely decimated.
Grade: F-
Considering the Panthers turned down two first-round picks and a second-rounder for Burns in 2022 from the Los Angeles Rams, this level of compensation represents the incompetence of those who came before. Scott Fitterer has blood on his hands - Dan Morgan does too based on recent revelations from Joe Person of The Athletic. They mismanaged this situation terribly - something that won't go unnoticed by others looking to get paid in the not-too-distant future.