Grading the Carolina Panthers' latest four moves during the 2024 offseason, including the decision to sign veteran safety Jordan Fuller.
Dan Morgan, Dave Canales, and Brandt Tilis continue with their roster building in pursuit of improved fortunes. The Carolina Panthers have been active with plenty of incomings and departures. Some established fan favorites are no longer around, but those in power have a legitimate plan in place for long-term prosperity.
Visits are scheduled with Mike Williams and Michael Gallup, so the Panthers aren't done. Morgan wants as much flexibility as possible heading into the 2024 NFL Draft - especially with no first-round pick to call upon. He can only accomplish this feat by ensuring there are no glaring needs on the roster beforehand.
The Panthers have done more with less this offseason so far. They've got rid of bad contracts to provide financial flexibility in the coming years. While significant strides forward might not happen right away, things are being done properly after so much mismanagement under previous regimes.
With that being said, we graded the latest four moves made by the Panthers during a frantic recruitment period up to now.
Carolina Panthers restructure Shaq Thompson's contract
A lot of veterans were asked to take pay cuts and refused. They are no longer around. Thankfully for the Carolina Panthers, linebacker Shaq Thompson was more receptive.
Once again, Thompson put the team first and reworked his contract. He'll make a base salary of $3.1 million with $1.7 million guaranteed. This cleared $3 million in cap space and ensures the captain sticks around on a friendlier contract.
Grade: A+
This is a time of great change, so having long-standing veterans such as Thompson and J.J. Jansen around keeps a sense of continuity. If the former first-round pick out of Washington shows no ill effects from the injury that ended his 2023 campaign prematurely, he'll have a huge role to play in Ejiro Evero's defense with Frankie Luvu no longer on the books.
Carolina Panthers sign D.J. Wonnum
It's no secret that the Carolina Panthers need more pass-rushers. Brian Burns was traded to the New York Giants. Yetur Gross-Matos departed for the San Francisco 49ers. Frankie Luvu turned down the chance to stay in favor of joining the Washington Commanders. This could become a serious complication unless adequate reinforcements are acquired.
After hosting several veteran free agents, the Panthers opted to sign D.J. Wonnum following his encouraging spell with the Minnesota Vikings. This seems like a replacement for Gross-Matos rather than Burns, but hopes are high that he can become a factor on Carolina's edge rushing rotation.
Wonnum is recovering from a torn quad, which is concerning. That said, the Panthers must have been satisfied with the medical checks before allocating decent money in his direction.
The former South Carolina standout accumulated 23 sacks in four seasons with the Vikings. Wonnum has experience as a 4-3 defensive end or as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His eight sacks in 2023 caught the eye, but playing opposite Danielle Hunter meant one-on-one opportunities were plentiful within Brian Flores' blitz-happy scheme.
Grade: B
This is a solid if not spectacular signing. Much will depend on whether Wonnum's quad complication impacts his explosiveness moving forward. However, this looks like a decent acquisition as a key rotational piece and potential starter with a smooth transition.
Carolina Panthers sign Jordan Fuller
Releasing Vonn Bell was something of a surprise. The veteran safety was a consistent performer for the Carolina Panthers during his one season with the franchise. He did have some injury problems, but the player formed a productive partnership alongside Xavier Woods on the backend that emerged into a real strength.
This was a business decision more than anything else. Ejiro Evero's presence as defensive coordinator led the Panthers to a player he knows well. Jordan Fuller came into the fold on a one-year deal as a ready-made replacement for Bell.
Fuller and Evero spent time working with each other on the Los Angeles Rams, so the player's transition into the scheme should go smoothly. The former sixth-round pick is entering his prime at 26 years old and performed relatively well last season en route to 94 tackles and giving up 63.0 percent of targets thrown in his direction.
The Ohio State product lasted just three games in 2022 due to injury, but any long-term concerns were alleviated when Fuller made it through a full campaign unscathed last time around. Signing a prove-it deal adds an extra sense of motivation to get a bigger commitment when the next free agency period arrives in 2025.
Grade: A
This is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward signing. Fuller could be a tremendous asset next to Woods. Something the Panthers need given their frailty in the cornerback room currently.
Carolina Panthers sign K'Lavon Chassion
As previously stated, the Carolina Panthers are desperately seeking additional pass-rushing weapons. D.J. Wonnum is a nice piece, but it's not enough. Especially considering how important it is to find consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks in the modern-day game.
Chase Young won't be coming after he signed for the New Orleans Saints. The jury is still out on Jadeveon Clowney. Carolina might have to wait a little longer if his recent history of waiting patiently in free agency is any indication.
Those in power picked up a contingency plan in the form of K'Lavon Chaisson. The former first-round selection has just five sacks in four seasons, but he didn't look entirely suited to the scheme deployed by the Jacksonville Jaguars all things considered.
Chaisson is the latest ex-Jaguars player the Panthers are willing to take a chance on. Laviska Shenault Jr. and C.J. Henderson didn't exactly pan out, but switching him to a 3-4 outside linebacker might suit his athletic attributes more effectively within Ejrio Evero's expansive system.
Grade: C
Expecting Chaisson to replicate the production of Brian Burns or even Yetur Gross-Matos might be a stretch. That said, the team needs to have sufficient depth across every position group. Looking at how things have unfolded for the player up to now, a depth spot is probably the best he can hope for unless there is a monumental leap forward.
Carolina Panthers sign Yosh Nijman
The Carolina Panthers have made solidifying the offensive line their top priority during free agency so far. Keeping quarterback Bryce Young upright is the only way he'll get a legitimate chance to silence some increasing doubters. Those in power acted swiftly and with conviction to secure some decent performers.
Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis will be a massive upgrade on the interior, especially if Austin Corbett excels from the center position. The Panthers were exposed for a complete lack of depth across their protection last season. This is something Dan Morgan and others in positions of power are keen to avoid.
Another fine example of this came with the signing of Yosh Nijman on a two-year deal. He's a dependable veteran with experience at both tackle positions. This gives the Panthers a solid backup piece and raises the stakes where Ikem Ekwonu is concerned for good measure.
The Panthers are looking to increase urgency with Ekwonu after his lackluster sophomore campaign. Nijman's presence should help enormously. What this means for Brady Christensen's future remains to be seen. but he'll be a backup with versatility to play across the line looking at his skill set.
Grade: B+
Nijman gave up five sacks and 10 penalties from 756 snaps in 2023. He played just over 200 snaps last time around. That doesn't sound great, but anything would be an upgrade on Carolina's threadbare edge protection behind Ekwonu and stud right tackle Taylor Moton.