Fixing the defense should be the Carolina Panthers' top priority this offseason.
Carolina’s defense was one of the worst in NFL history last season, ranking dead last in numerous categories, including crucial ones like scoring defense (31.4 points per game) and yards allowed per play (6.0). It has already had a residual effect on the offseason as several defensive assistants including secondary Bert Watts and outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu were fired at the end of the year and the team has already parted ways with linebacker Shaq Thompson after spending a decade in Carolina.
It all leads to what could be an active free agent period for the Panthers and it appears they have a couple of Super Bowl champions in their crosshairs when the legal tampering window begins on Monday.
Panthers Expected To Pursue Milton Williams, Zack Baun in Free Agency
The Athletic’s Joe Person mapped out the Panthers’ offseason plans which predictably involved finding players to lift up their defense. While fans know what the Panthers intend to do, the bigger question is who, leading Person to speculate that Philadelphia Eagles stars Milton Williams and Zack Baun will be two of their top targets in free agency.
“The Panthers won’t fill all their defensive needs in free agency. But keep an eye on names like Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams, Broncos nose tackle D.J. Jones (who has ties to Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero) and some of the top free agent safeties,” Person wrote. “The idea is to get the depth chart to a place where GM Dan Morgan can go best defensive player available in the draft.”
Targeting Jones and a free agent safety are both important in Morgan’s plan to rebuild Carolina’s defense. But Williams and Baun are the most intriguing targets coming off breakout seasons in 2024.
Williams is the No. 4 free agent on The Athletic’s big board entering free agency after finishing 15th among qualifying interior defenders with a PFF grade of 76.5 last season. Williams also nearly doubled his previous career-high with 40 quarterback pressures and is expected to command one of the largest contracts in this year’s market with Spotrac estimating an asking price of $17.8 million per season.
Baun is ranked sixth in this year’s class according to The Athletic and is coming off a breakout year. His 151 total tackles were more than his previous four seasons combined with the New Orleans Saints and he was disruptive, defending four passes and causing five fumbles with 3.5 sacks on his way to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
While Baun has a modest price tag of $9.7 million per season, both Baun and the Eagles have been open about their desire for a reunion. But Williams could be a logical target based on the Panthers need for defensive tackles and Philadelphia’s stable of free agents which also includes Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton.
Regardless of cost, the Panthers would be excited to sign either player in free agency. While both would add an impact player to a defense that sorely needs it, it would also bring a championship pedigree to Carolina, which is something it could use coming off a 5-12 season.