Ranking the Panthers' Top 10 Free Agents

A look at who the Panthers should look to bring back in 2023.

The offseason is moving right along as the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine are behind us with free agency waiting on deck. Next week, several moves will be made to help improve the Panthers' roster, but there are also 18 players who have expired contracts with Carolina. 

Today, we take a look at who I believe are the best ten free agents and whether or not Carolina should entertain bringing them back.

10. OT Cameron Erving

Erving doesn't offer much as a starter, but did a fine job as a backup this past season. I could see him back as a swing tackle unless the plan is to take a rookie tackle late in the draft.

9. WR Andre Roberts

Roberts is a well-respected return man, but hasn't been much of a receiving threat since his 2014 season with Washington. I'd say it's more likely that Raheem Blackshear or an incoming rookie takes over the punt/kick returning duties.

8. LB Cory Littleton

Littleton recorded 47 tackles in 15 games this past season with the Panthers, primarily serving as the backup to Shaq Thompson at SAM. It sounds like Scott Fitterer wants to get younger and more athletic across the board at linebacker, so Littleton may be playing elsewhere in 2023.

7. DL Henry Anderson

Anderson fits as a defensive end in a 3-4 defense given his size and ability to stop the run but I'm not sure the Panthers view him high on their list of priorities. Would be a good depth option to bring back on a one-year deal, but I wouldn't expect them to get anything done in the first wave of free agency.

6. S Sam Franklin

I feel bad putting Franklin this low on the list because he's an extremely important piece of the special teams unit. He flashed on the defensive side of the ball at safety toward the end of the season and could end up serving as a quality No. 2 option at the position. I'd be shocked if Carolina didn't bring Franklin back.

5. DT Matt Ioannidis

Ioannidis had just an okay season in Carolina in 2022. He battled neck, back, and calf injuries throughout the year, so it's hard to know how much of a factor he would have been had he been healthy. He played defensive tackle last season, but is probably a much better fit at defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. His best seasons as a pass rusher came at defensive end from 2017-19 in Washington where he tallied 20.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and 44 QB hits. Over the last two years at defensive tackle, Ioannidis has just 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 20 QB hits.

4. K Eddy Pineiro

It pays to have a good kicker. Panthers fans know that all too well after going through a number of guys in 2021 before finally settling on Zane Gonzalez. Pineiro filled in this past season for the injured Gonzalez and was money for the majority of the year. He spent time with special teams coordinator Chris Tabor in Chicago, so I would expect he be the preferred choice over Gonzalez, who has suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries.

3. QB Sam Darnold

Carolina has to sign a veteran quarterback this offseason. Whether that's Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, or bringing back Sam Darnold, they need someone to be the placeholder for whoever they draft next month. To me, Darnold makes the most sense in that he has played with a lot of these guys in the offense and even though it'll be a new system, that chemistry is big. Plus, he played well down the stretch showing that behind a good offensive line he is capable of making winning plays. 

2. RB D'Onta Foreman

I was surprised that Foreman didn't get a chance to go somewhere as the starter last season after what he did in place of Derrick Henry in 2021. Once McCaffrey was dealt to San Francisco, Foreman became a fixture in Carolina's offense rushing for 914 yards in a season in which he started in just nine games.

1. C Bradley Bozeman

The guy at No. 2 can thank this guy, Bradley Bozeman, for helping him look good. Bozeman set the standard for the way the offensive line needed to play on a weekly basis. Once he was inserted into the starting lineup, the Panthers' ground game improved dramatically.

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