Panthers might start restore with these 5 under-the-radar totallyfree representatives

Carolina has a brand-new coach and basic supervisor in location, and the rebranding starts in earnest with the start of complimentary company next week and the veryfirst possibility to bring in the brand-new gamers entrusted with getting the Panthers back to winning football.

Carolina doesn’t have a enormous budgetplan for free-agent costs, though that might boost if the group trades Pro Bowl pass-rusher Brian Burns, who got the franchise tag this week. There’s the matter of re-signing linebacker Frankie Luvu, however for the most part, Carolina’s totallyfree company will be about bringing in brand-new dealswith who are familiar to the coaches and can assistance them modification the culture.

So we deal up 5 under-the-radar complimentary representatives who have existing relationships with Panthers coaches and who would assistance them set the tone in a brand-new locker space.

Colby Parkinson, TE, Seahawks

There might be a good Seattle impact in these finalizings, as brand-new head coach Dave Canales invested 13 years with the Seahawks before going to the Bucs last year. Same for brand-new offending organizer Brad Idzik, who was with Canales in Seattle and was his right-hand male in Tampa as his receivers coach.

The Panthers got valuable little out of their tight ends last season. They’ve currently cut veteran Hayden Hurst inspiteof ensured cash left on his agreement, and Tommy Tremble is a 2021 third-round choice who has yet to reach even 200 lawns in any of his 3 seasons. It’s a position ripe for an upgrade, and a trusted tight end can be a big increase to a young quarterback like Bryce Young.

So Parkinson makes a lot of sense as an affordable upgrade. He’s 25, has great size at 6-foot-7, 251 pounds and was a fourth-round choice out of Stanford in2020 He’s had precisely 25 captures and 2 goals in each of the past 2 seasons.

Idzik and Parkinson infact go all the method back to Stanford, overlapping in 2017-18 when Idzik was a young coach there. Parkinson’s finest season was in 2018, when he had 7 goals. The larger name in readilyavailable previous Seahawks tight ends is Will Dissly, who was cut by Seattle this past week, and he’s a possible match too, however not as likely as Parkinson.

John Johnson, S, Rams

The Panthers and Falcons both have coaches with strong histories with the Rams defense. The Falcons have head coach Raheem Morris, and Carolina has defensive organizer Ejiro Evero, who was in Los Angeles from 2017-21, as well as secondary coach Jonathan Cooley.

There are rather a coupleof previous Rams defensive backs offered in complimentary company, and you might see a coupleof going to the NFC South to reunite with old coaches if they wear’t stay in Los Angeles. We’ll reference Johnson, who had Evero as his securities coach his veryfirst 4 years in the league. He got paid well by the Browns in 2021, however was cut 2 years lateron, returning to the Rams on a veteran minimum agreement.

The Bills re-signed another previous Rams defensive back, security Taylor Rapp, taking him out of the formula, however there’s another ex-Rams alternative in security Jordan Fuller, who’s moreyouthful and mostlikely more pricey. If the Panthers desire to swing for the fences at security, the outright pie-in-the-sky alternative is Justin Simmons, recently launched by the Broncos. He’ll be pricey, however he led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 when Evero was Denver’s defensive organizer.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Titans

This is another case of familiarity producing worth. Canales employed Rob Moore as his receivers coach, and Moore invested the past 6 years as the Titans’ receivers coach. One of his success stories there was Westbrook-Ikhine, who came to Tennessee as an undrafted novice and hasactually been constant in the past 3 years, consistingof 28 captures for 370 backyards and 3 goals last year.

He’s not likely going to expense a lot — Spotrac has his market worth at $2.5 million, which is excellent worth for a 3rd or 4th receiver at a position the Panthers should upgrade. Add a second-round draft choice to veteran Adam Thielen and second-year professional Jonathan Mingo, and you’re beginning to make development without costs a lot. With a brand-new personnel in Tennessee, Westbrook-Ikhine may be more comfy going to Carolina with the just position coach he’s ever had, with a legitimate chance to take on a larger function moving forward.

Another name to toss in here at receiver is David Moore, who had 13 goals working with Canales from 2018-20 with the Seahawks, and followed him and Idzik to Tampa last season. He invested most of the year on the Bucs’ practice team, however he had 2 substantial captures late in the year — a 52-yard goal in the 4th quarter of a huge win at the Packers, and a 44-yard goal in the playoff win versus the Eagles.

This wouldn’t be a fancy finalizing, however Westbrook-Ikhine is a gamer Canales and Idzik love who has played his finest football with them. If you’re attempting to enhance a position space, he’s the kind of veteran whose positivity and work routines rub off on moreyouthful gamers. He’s mostlikely a league-minimum agreement, however he’s still capable of coming up with huge plays in huge videogames.

Charles Harris, DE, Lions

Defensive line coach Todd Wash came to the Panthers with Evero last year, however he invested the previous 2 seasons as the Lions’ defensive line coach. Harris is 29 and had his finest NFL season in 2021, getting a team-best 7.5 of his 16.5 profession sacks while working with Wash. Harris’ production has dropped off in the past 2 years with less playing time, however he’s been a group captain and would include more veteran management to the Panthers’ young protective front.

[READ MORE: 2024 NFL free agent rankings: Top 50 led by Chris Jones, Kirk Cousins]

Aaron Stinnie, G, Bucs

Not just did Canales and Idzik work in Tampa last year, however they brought with them to Carolina 2 longtime Bucs assistants in Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert, who worked with the offensive line in Tampa. The interior offensive line will be a concern for Carolina in the offseason, both in the draft and in totallyfree firm, however a familiar face who comprehends what the coaches desire can aid the existing gamers comprehend a brand-new plan.

Stinnie began 3 videogames in the playoffs of the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl run and stepped in as a starter at left guard for the last 11 videogames last season. He’s 30 and made $1.9 million with the Bucs in 2023, so a little raise and a two-year offer may be enough to bring him to Carolina. He’s important as a understood product for depth, whether he’s part of the strategy as a Week 1 starter or not. The Panthers began so lotsof guards in an injury-plagued 2023 that outside choices make notice.

Greg Auman is FOX Sports’ NFC South pressreporter, covering the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He is in his 10th season covering the Bucs and the NFL full-time, havingactually invested time at the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.