The next Carolina Panthers General Manager has to address plenty of needs. Priority number one must be determining if Bryce Young is their future, which requires three key steps.
The Carolina Panthers are progressing their search for their next head coach and general manager. How can new leadership recover after their worst record since 2010? Unfortunately, this time around they already have their next potential franchise quarterback, unlike their 2010 season which led to them drafting Cam Newton.
After firing Scott Fitterer, the Panthers are actively interviewing for their next General Manager, but what should the person they hire ultimately prioritize?
Secure the Interior Offensive Line
The 2023 Panthers put rookie quarterback Bryce Young under loads of pressure. According to PFF, Young was pressured on 40% of his dropbacks. That ranked sixth among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks. As a result, the offensive line ranked in the bottom five in the league for pass blocking. Additionally, Young completed less than 40% of his passes and only one touchdown when under pressure.
While navigating pressure is a reality of NFL quarterbacking, the Panthers need to determine what they have in Bryce Young. That requires keeping the pocket clean. Many of the team’s offensive line struggles are attributable to the guard positions. The guard position allowed nearly half of the team’s pressures, per PFF. Fortunately, the 2024 NFL Draft class is heralded as a deep class of offensive line talent. Plus, there are several big-name linemen who are expected to hit free agency. For example, the Panthers can target Kevin Zeitler, right guard for the Baltimore Ravens.
Invest in Offensive Weapons
The past five years have demonstrated the importance of quality receiver play in developing young quarterbacks. The addition of Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase, and, ironically, DJ Moore, coincided with the rise of Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Fields. While elite receiver talent does not guarantee elite quarterback play (see also, the Las Vegas Raiders), adding new weapons will position the Panthers to assess Bryce Young better.
The most notable free-agent wide receiver entering 2024 is Tee Higgins. Higgins is unlikely to be extended by the Cincinnati Bengals given their current contractual obligations. While Higgins would be the grand prize, other options include Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, and Michael Pittman. All have demonstrated the ability to be stable presences for young quarterbacks.
Reorient Their Positional Spending
The 2023 Carolina Panthers is ranked eighth in defensive spending, per Over the Cap. They are clustered around teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Jets, and the Dallas Cowboys. They spent as much money on defense as teams who entered 2023 with Superbowl aspirations. To create the financial flexibility to invest in the offensive line and offensive weapons, the Panthers need to offload some of their costlier defensive contracts in exchange for draft compensation when able.
C.J. Henderson, Frankie Luvu, and Shaq Griffin are currently set to hit free agency in 2024. Those three combined accounted for $9.5 million of the Panthers’ 2023 cap space. Currently, the Panthers have just under $40 million of cap space in 2024. To free up more space, they could look to trade away the likes of Donte Jackson, Vonn Bell, and Shy Tuttle, who have a combined $25.7 million average contract value per Over the Cap.
By spending less on the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers can shift their attention to getting the offense rolling and identifying the future of the quarterback position.
Main Photo: [Bob Donnan] – USA Today Sports
