Panthers named best landing spot for 'tone-setting' safety

Tre'von Moehrig might be a good Panthers addition.

Sep 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) attempts to break the tackle of Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers have four safeties leaving in free agency. They're unlikely to re-sign them all, and even if they do, it's a position that desperately needs upgrading. Sam Franklin, one of the safeties, is a special teams player, and the others, even Xavier Woods, were just plain bad last year.

They could always draft Malaki Starks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Panthers have good options in free agency to fill the void on the back end of the defense. In fact, Carolina was named the best landing spot for one of the top safeties on the market.

ESPN insider says Panthers are ideal for Tre'von Moehrig

Tre'von Moehrig is a free agent, and he's the second-best free-agent safety per ESPN's rankings. ESPN's Matt Bowen believes the safety is an ideal fit for Carolina. He said, "Moehrig would bring tone-setting traits as an interchangeable safety in the Panthers' scheme. Over the past two seasons in Las Vegas, Moehrig had five interceptions and 12 pass breakups. The Panthers need to upgrade all three levels of their defense this offseason -- they allowed a league-worst 6.0 yards per play -- and signing Moehrig would be a good start."

Sep 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) has words with Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (82) and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Panthers had a bad defense virtually from front to back, and safety cannot be ignored. It might not be as important to upgrade as the front seven, particularly the interior of the defensive line, but it's important nonetheless. If the Panthers do sign Moehrig, that could indicate that they're going interior in the draft and targeting Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, or Abdul Carter if they should be so lucky.

Either way, the Panthers have to add safeties to the roster, and Bowen believes signing the tone-setting Moehrig would help transform the defense and morph the Panthers into a contender.

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