Grading the Panthers Offensive Free Agency Haul
These aren't last year's Carolina Panthers.
A week of free agency has completely changed the roster in Carolina. Out are veterans like Frankie Luvu, Vonn Bell, Donte Jackson, Yetur Gross-Matos, and in are some maulers on the offensive and defensive lines and a new target for Bryce Young.
Dan Morgan and Dave Canales knew they had work to do to reshape the worst team in the NFL, and the lead duo in the Queen City got to work quickly. Here are grades for every free agency signing Carolina has made on offense thus far. Defensive grades will drop later this week.
Robert Hunt, Guard - 5 years, $100 Million
Hunt is the biggest signing the Panthers made thus far. Size wise and contract wise.
Carolina handed the former Dolphin the second largest contract for an offensive guard in NFL history. For an ascending player with a mean streak that has only allowed nine sacks in his four year NFL career, it's a solid gamble on talent. Dave Canales turned around the Buccaneers offense with massive question marks on the offensive line, and the signing of Hunt (and Damien Lewis) turn the same question marks the Panthers had into exclamation points.
Shoring up the interior offensive line is a must when you employ an undersized quarterback like Bryce Young. Much of the discourse around Young's future has revolved around comparisons to another short quarterback, Drew Brees. The Saints spent a fortune on their interior offensive line to ensure Brees' ability to see over the middle of the field. Hunt will do just that.
$100 million is rich for Robert Hunt, but a middling team like Carolina has to overpay to get free agents to the Queen City. I would have loved this deal if it was a little cheaper, but I like it and the process surrounding it enough to give it a solid grade.
Grade: B+
Damien Lewis, Guard - 4 years, $53 Million
Morgan and Canales have a vision for the future of the Panthers' roster and it's in clear view. Hunt, Lewis, and Austin Corbett (the former offensive guard is moving to center) clearing the way for Bryce Young to live up to his lofty draft status.
Like Hunt, Lewis is an interior offensive lineman with a real mean streak. The Seahawks drafted Lewis out of LSU in 2020 and he immediately slotted in as a starter on their offensive line. His consistent play in his career was lauded by Seahawks fans who mourned his departure. Seattle's loss is Carolina's gain and this new guard duo in Charlotte should become one of the most dominant in the league.
Lewis is the 11th highest paid guard in the NFL, making him and Hunt the most expensive duo across the NFL. This contract is more in line with market value (unlike Hunt's outrageous contract), and deserves a solid grade for a shrewd piece of business by Canales, Morgan, and cap guru Brant Tillis.
Grade: A-
Dionate Johnson - Wide Receiver - Traded for Donte Jackson
This isn't a free agency move, but it came in the same timespan as free agency so it deserves mention.
Johnson blesses Carolina with something they sorely lacked in 2023. A wide receiver that can get open. Johnson's route running ability is among the best in the league. The 28-year-old veteran leads the NFL in ESPN's "open score" since 2020.
Fans who attend training camp will get to see Johnson in action for the first time. They'll leave those practices cross-eyed after seeing Johnson's fancy footwork on releases and at the top of his routes. The Panthers were desperate for a true do-it-all X receiver, and Johnson fills the void left by DJ Moore.
Trading a potential cap casualty in Jackson and a late-round pick swap for an elite target like Johnson is one of the best moves across the league this offseason. Kudos to Morgan and Tillis for pulling this one off. It gets a perfect grade in my book.
Grade: A+
Carolina still has holes to fill. Another target for Young would be great (at receiver or tight end), and depth on the offensive line is much needed. An NFL season is a war or attrition and undoubtedly their depth will be tested. But this is a good start. Morgan and Canales had an unenviable task on their hand when it comes to reshaping the Panthers' offense, but so far they're passing that test with flying colors.
