What Carolina Has Gained + Lost in Free Agency

A look at how the Panthers' roster has changed over the last month.

The Panthers will look vastly different when they take the field in 2023. From the guys wearing headsets to the guys wearing helmets, there will be a ton of new faces sporting the black, blue, and silver. 

Here's a recap of all the movement so far. 

Additions

QB Andy Dalton, RB Miles Sanders, WR Adam Thielen, WR D.J. Chark, TE Hayden Hurst, OL Justin McCray, C Bradley Bozeman (re-signed), DL DeShawn Williams, DL Henry Anderson (re-signed), DT Shy Tuttle, S Vonn Bell, K Eddy Pineiro (re-signed), LS J.J. Jansen (re-signed).

Best signing: C Bradley Bozeman

I know it's not as flashy of a pick as a receiver or running back, but Bozeman's return is more important than most would think. Yes, the receiving corps needed to be addressed but I'm not going to rank the additions of Thielen and/or Chark higher than Bozeman, who is quite literally the identity of the offense. 

Subtractions

QB Sam Darnold (49ers), QB P.J. Walker (Bears), RB D'Onta Foreman (Bears), LB Damien Wilson (released), LB Cory Littleton (Texans) C Pat Elflein (released), S Myles Hartsfield (49ers).

Biggest loss: RB D'Onta Foreman. 

Carolina has to feel good knowing they aren't losing any key players. The only one you could truly make a case for is Foreman, who had a strong finish to the year once replacing Christian McCaffrey in the starting lineup. But even then, you're replacing him with Miles Sanders, who has had a much better career to this point. 

Remaining Free Agents

WR Rashard Higgins, WR Andre Roberts, OL Cameron Erving, OL Michael Jordan, DT Matt Ioannidis, LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, CB T.J. Carrie, S Juston Burris, S Sean Chandler, S Sam Franklin Jr. (tendered RFA).

Biggest free agent: S Sam Franklin Jr. 

Again, not a flashy pick but one that adds a ton of value, primarily on special teams. Franklin is one of the best gunners in the entire NFL and played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level last season. Those types of players are hard to find, so when you have one, you need to do everything you can to keep them. The Panthers placed a tender on Franklin, giving them the ability to match any offer another team makes to him. 

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