2018 Carolina Panthers

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotworld comments:

Eagles acquired CB Daryl Worley from the Panthers in exchange for WR Torrey Smith.

The Eagles did well to get something for Smith, who probably would have been released if this trade hadn't been made. Worley has shown flashes since arriving as a third-round pick in 2016 and gives the Eagles some much-needed depth behind starters Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills. Now that Worley is gone, the Panthers could be in the running for All-Pro Richard Sherman, who was let go by Seattle on Friday.

It's a coup for the Eagles, who were probably going to cut Smith anyway. The 29-year-old was productive early in his career but was mostly a non-factor last season, reeling in just 36-of-69 targets for 430 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers sorely missed Ted Ginn's deep prowess last year but Smith, who is due a whopping $5 million in 2018, isn't the answer. Smith's departure should open up more snaps for Mack Hollins in Philadelphia.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers signed CB Bashaud Breeland, formerly of the Redskins, to a three-year, $24 million contract.

Breeland's deal comes with $11 million guaranteed. The Panthers were in need of a corner after dealing Daryl Worley to Philadelphia last week. The 26-year-old Clemson alum was hit-or-miss during his time in Washington but is plenty experienced with 57 NFL starts on his resume and eight career interceptions. The Redskins' secondary will take on a vastly different look next year without Breeland and Kendall Fuller.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers re-signed DE Julius Peppers to a one-year, $5 million contract.

Peppers will return for his age-38 season and has shown few signs of wearing down. He's only missed two games since entering the league as the No. 2 overall pick in 2002 and recorded 11 sacks across 499 snaps last season. Peppers is recovering from shoulder surgery and likely won't do much this offseason before being ready to go for Week 1 as a pure pass rusher.

Source: Charlotte Observer

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers signed CB Bashaud Breeland, formerly of the Redskins, to a three-year, $24 million contract.

Breeland's deal comes with $11 million guaranteed. The Panthers were in need of a corner after dealing Daryl Worley to Philadelphia last week. The 26-year-old Clemson alum was hit-or-miss during his time in Washington but is plenty experienced with 57 NFL starts on his resume and eight career interceptions. The Redskins' secondary will take on a vastly different look next year without Breeland and Kendall Fuller.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Gotta watch that snorkel diving around coral (no idea what he was doing).

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

According to ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton, Bashaud Breeland's deal was voided due to a left foot injury he suffered while on vacation earlier this month.

Per Newton, Breeland cut his foot in the Dominican Republic on March 4 and will need a skin graft to repair the damage. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that Breeland is "a few months away" from being able to pass a physical. Breeland was going to earn $24 million from the Panthers, but will likely have to settle for much less than that whenever he resurfaces.

Source: David Newton on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers will sign WR Jarius Wright, formerly of the Vikings.

Wright finished the playoffs as the Vikings' primary third receiver but was cut three days ago to save Minnesota $2.64 million under the cap. 28-year-old Wright has background with new Panthers OC Norv Turner and will be the favorite to overtake Russell Shepard as Carolina's new slot receiver.

Source: Jourdan Rodrigue on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers signed CB Ross Cockrell, formerly of the Giants, to a two-year, $6.8 million contract.

Cockrell didn't receive real opportunity with the Giants in 2017 until the latter half of the year when Janoris Jenkins was lost to injury and both Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were in and out of the lineup. Cockrell recorded a league-high three interceptions over the final two weeks of the season. He joins Da'Norris Searcy as new additions to the Panthers' secondary.

Source: Field Yates on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers exercised LB Shaq Thompson's fifth-year team option for 2019.

The move is not yet official, but the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person reports the decision has already been made. Thompson has taken on bigger and bigger roles each of his first three years in the league, and he is expected to take even more work from Thomas Davis moving forward. The option should be worth around $9 million.


He doesn't turn 24 until next month.

[Kingspoint]

Carolina continues to have a good off-season.

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers signed RB C.J. Anderson, formerly of the Broncos, to a one-year contract.

It's a savvy and sensible pickup for Carolina, which did not draft a running back and had only Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne on the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. The Anderson signing deals a significant blow to McCaffrey's fantasy outlook, and positions Anderson for RB3/flex value in the old Jonathan Stewart role. The Panthers are missing 202 carries from last year's roster, eighth most in the NFL. Anderson, 27, topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career last season, although his efficiency (4.1 YPC) has been mediocre the past two years. He is functional in the passing game. Anderson is now the favorite to lead the Panthers in carries.

[JaxRed]

Guess the Panthers have a new owner. Tepper. I guess one of the prospective owners wanted to move team to South Carolina. That was a showstopper for them.

I might consider 2 things for them. Change the uniforms, and maybe the whole color scheme. Ugliest uniforms in the NFL.

Maybe play one exhibition game and one regular season game at University of South Carolina in Columbia.

[Tom Servo]

Change the uniforms, and maybe the whole color scheme. Ugliest uniforms in the NFL.

Not even close.

Maybe play one exhibition game and one regular season game at University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Absolutely not.

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

New Panthers OC Norv Turner believes he can help Cam Newton become more efficient.

Newton is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but it is not because of his accuracy. Cam has completed 60 percent or more of his passes in just two seasons, and he has not managed the feat since 2013. Despite that, his new coordinator has high expectations. "I see Cam as a guy that can be in the mid- to high-60s in completion percentage," Turner said. "We're working hard in terms of scheming and getting the ball out quickly ... We want a good mix of dropback, play-action." High-60s sounds like a pipe dream, but it would not be surprising to see Newton become a more efficient passer in a better system with better weapons around him.

Source: ESPN


Panthers WR Curtis Samuel (ankle) is participating in OTAs.

It is something of a surprise after coach Ron Rivera sounded pessimistic about Samuel's health at the end of March. While it is not clear if he will participate in team drills, he appeared to be moving well as he ran routes in individual work. Coming off essentially a lost rookie season, a full offseason would be huge for Samuel.

Source: Jourdan Rodrigue on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

The first major casualty of the NFL off-season (yet to be confirmed, though). There are certain to be half a dozen more before the season begins.

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers RT Daryl Williams was carted off the field Saturday.

Williams was said to go down in a tremendous amount of pain and immediately surrounded by teammates. Williams, 26 in August, has developed into one of the top tackles in the league and was sure to command a premium five-year deal from the Panthers with this upcoming season being his contract year. Time will tell on his status, but Carolina could be without both him and Andrew Norwell, who signed a $66.5 million deal with the Jaguars this offseason, on the right side of the trenches.

Source: Steve Reed on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

Confirmed:

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers RT Daryl Williams suffered a dislocated kneecap and an MCL tear in Saturday's training camp practice.

The Panthers have yet to give a timetable but this is a potential season ender (Cardinals LT D.J. Humphries missed the final 11 weeks with the same injury last year). It's a blow to the Panthers' offensive line and comes at a terrible time for Williams in a contract year. Carolina will turn to 2017 second-rounder Taylor Moton opposite Matt Kalil. Williams was in line for a big money extension but is likely going to have to settle for a prove-it deal next offseason.

Source: Max Henson on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

At this rate, Carolina won't have any Starters left by September 1st.

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Panthers CB Ross Cockrell was carted off the practice field Monday with a leg injury.

Cockrell collided with Torrey Smith during a play near the end of practice. He reportedly yelled, "My leg is broke," before being carted off the field. It is a tough development both for Cockrell and a secondary which already had questions.

Source: Steve Reed on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

D.J. Moore caught 4-of-6 targets for 75 yards in the Panthers' preseason opener Thursday.

Moore was the star of the Panthers' exhibition versus Buffalo, posting a game-high 75 yards. His long catch went for 32 yards on an underthrown deep ball down the sideline where Moore had to stop and come back to it, but his most impressive play was a shallow cross on 3rd-and-9 where Moore broke several tackles to set up C.J. Anderson's fourth-quarter, four-yard TD run. Moore was targeted once by Cam Newton but played mostly with the second- and third-teamers. Moore will compete for targets behind Devin Funchess and Torrey Smith this season.