Remember to Take Deep Breaths
Some fans are already panicking about Panthers’ inactivity, and free agency hasn’t even started yet. Unrestricted free agents who agreed to deals this weekend are top-tier players who will sign Tuesday. Those aren’t Carolina’s guys. Example: Packers receiver Randall Cobb was never a true option. Even if his big deal set the market higher for Jeremy Maclin and Torrey Smith, neither of those wideouts have been realistic targets for the Panthers, either. There are a good number of alternatives in the second and third waves of free agency, and the draft is again loaded with intriguing receivers. The Panthers still aren’t ready to completely open their checkbook in mid-March, especially for just one guy at a position that offers plenty of choices in the next couple weeks and months.
The Michael Oher Signing Was Well Played
One of the reasons the Panthers wanted to lock in Michael Oher before free agency opened is because of this year’s thin offensive tackle class. The options became even more limited Saturday when Derek Newton re-signed with the Texans and Doug Free returned to Dallas. Green Bay’s Bryan Bulaga is still out there, but again, the Panthers won’t be paying the best tackle on the market. So by snagging Oher–who granted, isn’t an elite option–Carolina found a guy who can play left tackle in 2015. And he will unless they can snag one of the top tackles in the draft. If that happens, Oher would likely slip ahead of Mike Remmers on the right side. But the Panthers won’t be in a hurry to pick up a tackle in the next week or two. They could add another once the initial waves of free agency pass, but currently it’s Oher, Remmers and what may fall to them in the draft.
Every Day Brings Another Sign of a Brave New Media World
Some fans/Internet sleuths sniffed out this screenshot Sunday afternoon that allegedly came from Ted Ginn’s SnapChat account:
Yup, “might end up n NC” while on an American Airlines flight COULD mean Ginn was on his way to Charlotte. Since he and the Panthers know each other, there’s no need for a meeting before a possible signing, so perhaps he’s agreed to return to Carolina. Or maybe not. Ginn also included a huge graphic of the city of Cleveland in the post. Either way, it’s another reminder of how news–as legit as it may or may not be–travels differently these days.
Tuesday Should Be Slow, But This Week May Not Be
Like Oher, the Panthers are still hoping to get Ginn signed by Tuesday. So SnapChat aside, that deal could be announced Monday – IF it gets done. And just because top-tier options are out, that doesn’t mean the front office is going golfing for a few days. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Panthers sign a second wave guy by the end of the week.
Ed Dickson is in Demand
There aren’t many tight end options in free agency or the draft, so Ed Dickson has some leverage. The Browns are sniffing around a number of tight ends, so it makes sense they’ve reached out to Dickson. He told me a day after the season-ending loss in Seattle that he wants to return to the Carolinas because “I feel like this is a home for me.” But while players often say stuff like that, money usually talks louder. The Panthers want to keep Dickson, but they may have to pay the somewhat higher price of a diluted tight end market to do it.