Free Agents: Panthers

So I'm going to approach free agency coverage a little different. I'm going to do a total of 9 posts:

• Current Panthers who will be free agents
• Free Agents: NFC South
• Free Agents: NFC East
• Free Agents: NFC North
• Free Agents: NFC West
• Free Agents: AFC South
• Free Agents: AFC East
• Free Agents: AFC North
• Free Agents: AFC West

In each I'll pull the free agents of each team from spotrac.com and go over the free agents that matter. The ones who are likely to re-sign with their teams will be done minimally and there are are other things that will factor in to "free agents that matter" to keep the lists to about 5-6 players looked at from each division. The goal of these is to provide a broad view of free agency before it arrives. In all likelihood Gettleman will not take anyone talked about but they will be players that the Panthers will be at least interested in.

In this thread we will take a look at current Carolina Panthers who will be free agents come March and their status in the organization.

Carolina Panther 2017 Free Agents pulled from spotrac.com

Player	Position	Current Team	2016 Salary	FA Status
Charles Johnson	DE	CAR	$3,000,000	UFA
Mike Remmers	RT	CAR	$2,553,000	UFA
Ted Ginn Jr.	WR	CAR	$2,100,000	UFA
Mario Addison	DE	CAR	$1,280,000	UFA
Kawann Short	DT	CAR	$1,157,584	UFA
Colin Jones	FS	CAR	$927,500	UFA
Teddy Williams	CB	CAR	$900,000	UFA
Michael Griffin	FS	CAR	$885,000	UFA
Ryan Wendell	C	CAR	$885,000	UFA
Chris Scott	G	CAR	$840,000	UFA
Kyle Love	DT	CAR	$760,000	UFA
Leonard Johnson	CB	CAR	$760,000	UFA
Fozzy Whittaker	RB	CAR	$680,000	RFA
Wes Horton	DE	CAR	$675,000	RFA
Brenton Bersin	WR	CAR	$600,000	RFA
Louis Young	CB	CAR	$600,000	RFA
A.J. Klein	ILB	CAR	$587,825	UFA
David Yankey	G	CAR	$525,000	ERFA
Larry Webster	DE	CAR	$525,000	ERFA
Corey Brown	WR	CAR	$515,000	RFA
Andrew Norwell	G	CAR	$514,000	RFA
Chas Alecxih	DT	CAR	$458,500	ERFA
Zack Sanchez	CB	CAR	$450,000	ERFA
Michael Palardy	K	CAR	$450,000	ERFA
Dan France	G	CAR	$450,000	ERFA
Travell Dixon	CB	CAR	$450,000	ERFA
Damiere Byrd	WR	CAR	$450,000	ERFA

#Tier 1: AKA need to be re-signed or will walk for big money.

###Kawann Short, Purdue, 28 years old, 6'3", 315 pounds, UFA

• I really don't need to elaborate much but Short is the life blood of the defensive front. His market value is around $17 million. Franchise tag is the likely result at this point because it benefits both sides. Short accepting the franchise tag allows him to prove that he is worth more than any other defensive tackle and play on a team/scheme that fit him perfectly. The tag also allows the Panthers to develop Vernon Butler to replace Short in 2018.
• 2016 in a sentence: Short was productive even though offenses tried desperately to force the rest of the defensive line to make stops.
• Replacement if allowed to walk: Vernon Butler, La Tech, 22 years old, 6'4", 325 pounds, 4 years left on rookie contract.
• Verdict: Franchise Tag him the second possible.

###Mario Addison, Troy, 29 years old, 6'3", 254 pounds, UFA

• At the ripe age of 29 years old Mario Addison decided to have himself a career year. Whether it was due to the good play of Charles Johnson and Kawann Short or due to the game slowing down for him will determine his value. If he is allowed to walk he will likely get around $8,000,000 and be a little over paid. His best course of action is to stay in Carolina where he has discovered success. Whether it is for a year or more doesn't matter because if he can produce similar value in 2017 he will make near $9 million a year regardless of where he is.
• 2016 in a sentence: Break out year where Addison made teams pay for staying away from Kawann Short.
• Replacement if allowed to walk: Kony Ealy, Missouri, 25 years old, 6'4", 275 pounds, 2 years left on rookie contract.
• Verdict: Re-sign to a 1 year prove it deal.

###Andrew Norwell, tOSU, 25 years old, 6'6", 325 pounds, RFA

He is the best overall free agent for the Panthers due to age, importance, potential and current ability. He is a restricted free agent so the Panthers are basically guaranteed to keep him or get a lot of value for him.

• 2016 in a sentence: Norwell was the only offensive lineman to start all 16 games of the season in the same spot.
• Replacement if allowed to walk: Trai Turner would have to slide over and Chris Scott or Daryl Williams would have to replace Turner.
• Verdict: He is the only one who truly needs to be re-signed.

#Tier 2: AKA good players who should be re-signed.

##Ted Ginn, UFA

Ginn might be up there in years but he was the best receiver in 2016. He also does great with Cam Newton. If he leaves then the Panthers are without a true vertical threat. Brown and Byrd are options but neither are nearly as good as Ginn.

• Replacement if allowed to walk: Both of his replacements are also free agents(although restricted) Philly Brown and Damiere Byrd.

##A.J. Klien, UFA

Klien has been a great replacement for Kuechly at times. His 2016 play was sub par to say the least but his history of decent play should out weigh that. He likely will be offered more money elsewhere and a chance to start. While it is unlikely he returns to Carolina he is still a good player who they will at least try to convince to stay.

• Replacement if allowed to walk: David Mayo. Mayo may be better than Klien to begin with so not too much of a worry.

##Chris Scott, UFA

Scott has been a valuable backup for a few years now and fits the Panthers well. He has stepped in for Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner on a number of occasions and if Norwell is not brought back then Scott is necessary.

• Replacement if allowed to walk: None... Daryl Williams would have to slide in to replace him if Norwell and Scott leave.

##Larry Webster, ERFA

Webster showed promise at the end of the season and in the preseason. In-between then he was injured and an unknown. He is a ERFA who costs the team almost nothing at a position where the top 2 players are free agents and up for decent raises.

#Tier 3: Take 'em or leave 'em.

• Fozzy Whittaker, RFA
• Useful on 3rd Downs but didn't show anything unique or that CAP couldn't do.
• Philly Brown, RFA
• 2016 was his chance to be more than a #4 WR. The time has come and gone.
• Kyle Love, UFA
• History of decent play as a backup.
• Michael Griffin, UFA
• Kind of decent but also the weak link at safety.
• Teddy Williams, UFA
• Decent special teamer. Does make some terrible mistakes though.
• Wes Horton, RFA
• Not really useful but better than losing 3 DEs total.
• Lou Young, RFA
• Did enough to create interest but likely is just a body moving forward.
• Zack Sanchez, ERFA
• Likely kept around as a PS guy.
• Damiere Byrd, ERFA
• May be needed if Ginn and Brown leave.

#Tier 4: Please burn the bridge.

• Mike Remmers, UFA
• For the life of me I have no idea why he is still around. I honestly don't even want him as a backup because he seems to be a huge prick. Daryl Williams will replace him without any real issues at this point.
• Colin Jones,
• Why has he made the team the last few years? I honestly could think of a more than a handful of players who would be more beneficial to the team.
• Leonard Johnson
• He was the biggest hole in the defense. He was just bad in coverage and has no real upside.
• Chas Alecxih, ERFA
• He has been injured for 2 years and wasn't good enough to make roster the year before. It is time to move on.
• Travell Dixon, ERFA
• Not worth talking about.
• Brenton Bersin, RFA
• I'm just tired of hearing about him. He hasn't done anything to justify a roster spot besides be from Wofford.

#Tier 5: Guys who are bodies.

• Ryan Wendell
• David Yankey
• Dan France
• Michael Palardy(due to Andy Lee likely being the only punter carried)

So what do you want the Panthers to do with their current free agents? Is this format good?

#Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Hate it? Love it? Want me to do other things?

Comment below or message me and I'll more than likely answer!