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Panthers Showed Interest In D.K. Metcalf, Eyeing Pass-Catching Help

April 4th, 2025 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers changed course at wide receiver midway through last season, trading both Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo before the deadline. Although Adam Thielen is coming back, he is going into an age-35 season. It appears likely Carolina will go back to the receiver well in this draft.

This has been a trend for the post-D.J. Moore Panthers, who chose Mingo in the 2023 second round and Xavier Legette in last year’s first. This came after a miss on Terrace Marshall in the 2021 second. Legette will obviously still be given a chance to be a regular, though UDFA Jalen Coker showed a bit more promise as a rookie, but key supplementation is almost definitely coming.

[RELATED: Metcalf Eyed Chargers, Texans As Landing Spots]

Carolina made an understandable inquiry into the Seattle receiver situation recently. Seeing as Dave Canales was D.K. Metcalf‘s former position coach, he told Kay Adams (during an Up & Adams appearance) with Dan Morgan about a potential trade after the receiver’s request to be moved. Morgan also spent time in Seattle, operating as a scout and front office exec there for eight years. Though, that was before Metcalf’s arrival. Canales overlapped with Metcalf for four seasons; the big-bodied WR’s career began with Canales as his position coach.

While Carolina showed interest, The Athletic’s Joe Person indicates no offer was made. The Panthers join the Patriots and Packers among teams that did not make an offer. The Seahawks ended up letting Metcalf go for a second-round pick, and the Steelers have authorized a top-five extension. The Panthers do not have an eight-figure AAV at receiver, and that seems likely to continue in 2025. Giving Moore a lucrative deal in 2022, the team still needs help here. It should be expected to draft a pass-catching weapon early, Person adds, with Canales indicating he “would love” to draft another playmaker to boost Bryce Young‘s development. The team scheduled a Tetairoa McMillan meeting already.

The playmaker Carolina traded up for in last year’s second round, Jonathon Brooks, is expected to miss much of the season after a second ACL tear. The Panthers, though, have running back covered via their Chuba Hubbard extension and Rico Dowdle signing. Coker led all UDFAs in receptions, yards and TD grabs last season and still figures to have a role. But the Panthers figure to bring in either a starting wideout or tight end (or both) during this draft, with Person adding the team is doing due diligence on Tyler Warren — a Penn State product that has generated interest from several teams. The Panthers, who have not seen too much from the TE spot since Greg Olsen, could outflank much of this lot, as they hold the No. 8 overall pick.

Thielen agreed to stay on a revised deal, representing perhaps a slight surprise due to his 2024 injuries and the cap savings that would have come had Carolina moved on. Though, the terms of Thielen’s return do give the team flexibility.

The Panthers have the former Pro Bowler tied to a $6.25MM base salary, but only $1.5MM of that is guaranteed. Carrying a $10.11MM cap number, Thielen could be cut to produce $5.1MM in cap savings. The Panthers would eat some dead money due to the $1.5MM guarantee and the two void years on the contract in that scenario.

Thielen remained productive when available last year. Missing seven games, he still nearly matched his per-game average from a 1,000-yard 2023 by posting 58.1 yards per contest in ’24. A former tryout body who caught on with his home-state Vikings, Thielen has become one of the better UDFA receivers in NFL history. He is now aiming for a 13th season in 2025.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/1/25

April 1st, 2025 at 6:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor move in the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

Although Blackshear didn’t get much run on offense as RB3 behind Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in 2024, and despite the addition of Rico Dowdle and the health of Jonathon Brooks for this upcoming season likely pushing him to RB4, the signing of Blackshear shores up an important position on special teams for the Panthers.

Blackshear served as Carolina’s regular return man on kickoffs and punts. In a year where the league was trying out something new with the kickoff rules, Blackshear led the NFL with 31 returns. He added 17 punt returns in 2024, as well. He ends up returning to Carolina after the team chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent a month ago.

Panthers To Host WR Tetairoa McMillan

March 29th, 2025 at 4:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers have been linked to several defensive prospects regarding their top pick in next month’s draft. The team will look into at least one first-round receiver prospect as well, however.

Tetairoa McMillan has a top-30 visit lined up with Carolina, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. The Panthers have already drawn connections to South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori and Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams, and selecting either on Day 1 would not come as a surprise given their need to improve on defense. Without having made any receiver additions so far this offseason, though, drafting one could also be in play.

Recent draft classes have featured several high-profile prospects at the WR position. That is not believed to be the case this year, but McMillan represents one of the top options on the board. The Arizona product faced major expectations upon arrival as a five-star recruit, and he delivered by becoming the school’s all-time leading receiver (3,423 career yards in three years). McMillan earned third-team All-American honors in 2023, and he received a first-team nod this past season.

The 6-4, 219-pounder will be expected to operate as a red zone specialist at the NFL level, and his track record of contested catches is strong. Questions related to his deep speed have hurt his draft stock, however, and his range within the first round has been lowered to an extent as a result. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah places McMillan 16th on his latest big board, while ESPN’s Matt Miller slots him in at No. 18.

The Panthers are set to draft eighth overall, meaning a McMillan pick would likely be seen as a slight reach. Carolina ranked just 30th in the NFL in passing yards last season, though, so adding a rookie early in the draft at the receiver position for a second straight year would be feasible. Xavier Legette was selected on Day 1 in 2024, and he and veteran Adam Thielen will be counted on to operate as starters next year.

The latter has given thought to retirement, so a long-term replacement will be needed on the part of the Panthers as early as the upcoming draft. McMillan will be among the prospects to watch closely as Carolina weighs its first-round options.

Panthers Exec: No Milton Williams Agreement Occurred

March 28th, 2025 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top storylines coming out of the legal tampering period involved Milton Williams, who was viewed as close to committing to the Panthers before a monster Patriots offer came in. The Patriots ended up using their league-leading cap-space figure to outmuscle the Panthers, but Carolina’s agreement with the top-tier free agent does not appear to have crossed the goal line.

Williams has said he was deep in negotiations with the Panthers, but Carolina executive VP of football ops Brandt Tilis said (the Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye) the team never believed it had a deal done. Although Tilis said Williams’ agent never provided an indication the defensive tackle was Carolina-bound, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the sides were working to finalize a deal hours into the tampering period.

As for Williams’ account, he did begin to anticipate heading to Charlotte — but a better New England offer emerged soon after. As could be expected, PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent received a few offers. The Panthers were indeed one of them, but the Patriots’ four-year, $104MM contract (including $51MM guaranteed at signing) won out.

“They were on the phone talking to teams, and teams were coming in with new deals. There was a lot going on, and it happened really fast,” Williams said of his camp during an NFL Network appearance (h/t NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “They talked about Carolina then and I was like, ‘Alright, it sounds like the best offer we are going to get, so, we were going to go there.’ Then, a split second later, New England hopped on and was like, ‘Nah, this is what we got for you.’ Carolina felt like they went too high on their number, so, they stayed at where they were at.”

The Patriots are indeed betting big on Williams, who cemented a contract-year breakthrough with a two-sack showing in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles have lost two of their pass rushers from that game, with Josh Sweat joining the Cardinals. Williams, 26 next week, finished as Pro Football Focus’ top-rated interior pass rusher last season. ESPN’s pass rush win rate slotted Williams sixth in 2024, a five-sack seasons that included 10 QB hits and seven tackles for loss. This commanded a lucrative market, as Williams led the way among all 2025 free agents in fully guaranteed money.

While Williams will team with Christian Barmore in New England, Carolina allocated funds elsewhere along its D-line. The team added nose tackle Bobby Brown (three years, $21MM) and then spent for an interior pass rusher in Tershawn Wharton. The latter did not bring the market Williams did, as little production transpired before last season, but the ex-Chief still commanded a three-year, $45.1MM deal that came with an impressive $30MM at signing. A former UDFA out of Division II Missouri S&T, Wharton will be counted on to supply a pass rush in line with his 2024 work (6.5 sacks, 11 QB hits). Benefiting from playing alongside future Hall of Famer Chris Jones, Wharton will have Derrick Brown to play alongside next season.

WR Hunter Renfrow Met With Panthers, To Visit Raiders

March 28th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Sam Robinson

After not seeing a Raiders extension translate to steady production, Hunter Renfrow did not see a 2024 free agency stay lead to much interest. The former 1,000-yard receiver spent last season out of football, but comeback roads may be opening.

Two visits have materialized for the veteran slot player. Renfrow met with the Panthers this week, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, who report the five-year Raider also has a meeting booked with his former team. Renfrow, who was not linked to any teams following his 2024 Las Vegas exit, is visiting the Raiders today.

Two Raider regimes effectively gave up on the Clemson alum. Renfrow proved a poor fit in Josh McDaniels‘ offense, seeing his role decrease despite the McDaniels-Dave Ziegler duo extending him — on a two-year, $32MM deal — months after arrival. One-and-done Raiders GM Tom Telesco then released him. A year later, the Pete Carroll-John Spytek-Tom Brady operation will still take a look at a fit.

Months after trading Davante Adams to the Jets, the Raiders have a glaring wide receiver need. McDaniels-era pickup Jakobi Meyers, who quietly eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2024, is going into a contract year. The team did see slot Tre Tucker, a McDaniels-Ziegler draftee who took over for Renfrow, show some promise via a 539-yard 2024. But more help will be needed to complement Brock Bowers next season. Although natural Tyler Lockett ties exist, the Raiders have not been closely connected to the Seahawks cap casualty since he became available.

Renfrow, 29, helped the Raiders after their 2019 Antonio Brown trade and 2020 Henry Ruggs draft choice proved spectacular missteps. The 2019 fifth-round pick delivered back-to-back 600-yard seasons before posting a 1,038-yard showing in 2021, helping Las Vegas to a surprising playoff run despite Jon Gruden‘s midseason exit. That season earned Renfrow an extension, but he did not build on it under McDaniels, who phased him out of the offense. Renfrow, whom the Raiders attempted to trade for an extended period before last year’s release, combined for just 585 yards between the 2022 and ’23 seasons.

The Panthers changed up their receiver room considerably last year, acquiring and then trading Diontae Johnson and then dealing 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys. Adam Thielen is set to return for his age-35 season, and Xavier Legette totaled 497 rookie-year yards. Carolina has not made a notable receiver addition this offseason. Renfrow is a South Carolina native, and he will gain some intel about a return to the league following his two-meeting week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/26/25

March 26th, 2025 at 8:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

NFC Contract Details: Golston, Giants, Bucs, Cowboys, Cards, Panthers, Seahawks, Eagles

March 25th, 2025 at 2:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are more contract details from some recently agreed-upon contracts around the NFC in free agency:

  • Poona Ford, DT (Rams). Three years, $27.6MM. While not quite as high as the $30MM initial report, Ford’s contract includes $15.6MM guaranteed at signing, via OverTheCap. This comes after Ford played the 2024 season for $1.79MM in total. The Rams guaranteed $3.75MM of Ford’s $5MM 2026 base salary at signing. If on Los Angeles’ roster by Day 5 of the ’26 league year, Ford will see the other $1.5MM lock in. If the 29-year-old DT is still on L.A.’s roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, a $2.25MM roster bonus is due.
  • Chauncey Golston, DE (Giants). Three years, $18MM. This is slightly less than initially reported, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates it comes with $12MM fully guaranteed. The Giants guaranteed Golston’s 2025 and ’26 money.
  • Baron Browning, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $15MM. Receiving $10MM guaranteed at signing, Browning will see part of his 2026 base salary guaranteed. $2MM of the trade pickup’s $4.39MM 2026 base is locked in at signing, per Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer, who adds a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year. The bonus is not guaranteed at signing. If Browning reaches eight sacks in 2025, his 2026 base salary increases by $2MM. Five sacks represents Browning’s highwater mark thus far.
  • Patrick Jones, LB (Panthers). Two years, $15MM. This is down from the initial report as well, but the ex-Vikings rotational rusher will see $10.25MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. Another $4MM is available via performance-based incentives, per OverTheCap.
  • Evan Brown, G (Cardinals). Two years, $11.44MM. The Cardinals are guaranteeing Brown $6MM at signing, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. If the veteran interior O-lineman is on Arizona’s roster by Day 5 of the 2026 league year, he is due a $500K roster bonus.
  • Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $10MM. Arizona is guaranteeing Davis-Gaither $5MM at signing, Wilson tweets. The veteran linebacker’s $4.39MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Cardinals an out after one year.
  • Anthony Nelson, LB (Buccaneers). Two years, $10MM. The Bucs guaranteed Nelson $5.5MM to re-sign, Wilson tweets. Tampa Bay included a $500K roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Markquese Bell, S/LB (Cowboys). Three years, $9MM. Bell will be guaranteed $6.2MM at signing, Wilson adds; this covers the young defender’s signing bonus and 2025 and ’26 base salaries.
  • Jamie Gillan, P (Giants). Three years, $9MM. Down a bit from initial reports, Gillan’s deal includes $4MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. The deal includes $1.2MM via incentives.
  • Solomon Thomas, DL (Cowboys). Two years, $6MM. The Cowboys guaranteed the former No. 3 overall pick $3MM, Wilson tweets. That covers a signing bonus and his 2025 base salary. An additional $2MM is available through playing time- and sack-based incentives.
  • Josh Jones, OL (Seahawks). One year, $4MM. Jones will see $3MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. This is up from his $665K guarantee with the Ravens last year.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (Rams). One year, $3MM. The Rams secured Garoppolo for a second season, doing so despite authorizing a pay cut. Garoppolo played out a one-year, $3.19MM deal in 2024. Like in 2024, Garoppolo’s deal is fully guaranteed.
  • Josh Uche, DE (Eagles). One year, $1.92MM. The Eagles guaranteed Uche $1.25MM, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane tweets. $500K in sack-based incentives are available. Uche played for $3MM in 2024. Despite this low-value deal, Philly included four void years.

S Julian Blackmon To Visit Panthers

March 24th, 2025 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top safeties still on the market has a visit lined up. Julian Blackmon will meet with the Panthers today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Blackmon played out his rookie contract from 2020-23, operating as a starter for the Colts over that span. He profiled as one of the most accomplished (and youngest) safeties available in free agency last spring, but the position’s market did not produce much in the way of lucrative commitments. In April, Blackmon re-signed with Indianapolis on a one-year deal.

The 26-year-old played 16 games in 2024, delivering another productive campaign along the way. Blackmon posted three interceptions (tied for the team lead), 86 tackles and one fumble recovery while remaining a key member of the Colts’ secondary. That unit has seen a pair of major changes in free agency, however, with safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward each agreeing to multi-year deals with Indianapolis. Those investments could lead Blackmon elsewhere during his second stint on the open market.

Carolina has already added Tre’von Moehrig at the safety spot in free agency. The former Raider landed a three-year Panthers contract, and he will be expected to continue his career ascent after posting new personal highs in tackles (104) and pass breakups (10) in 2024. Carolina ranked last in total and scoring defense last season (albeit with a slightly better showing against the pass), so adding further in the secondary despite already having Moehrig would be a feasible approach.

The Panthers retained Nick Scott on the weekend, and he will again be in position to compete for a rotational role on defense as a result. Carolina – a team which lost Xavier Woods on the open market – currently has roughly $17.6MM in cap space, so a Blackmon deal could be affordable if today’s visit were to produce an offer.

Panthers Interested In OLB Mykel Williams?

March 23rd, 2025 at 3:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers have not done much to add along the edge so far this offseason. Patrick Jones represents the only free agent signing so far, and while further moves could be coming the draft looms as a means of making a long-term investment.

Carolina owns the No. 8 pick in next month’s draft, and the flashes shown by second-year quarterback Bryce Young and the team’s offense at the end of last season led the team to focus on defensive additions earlier this month. Deals for the likes of safety Tre’von Moehrig along with defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown should help the Panthers improve the league’s worst total and scoring defense from 2024.

With little having taken place on the open market regarding the edge rush group, the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum will remain key figures in that regard. Jones – who notched a career-high seven sacks last season – will also be counted on to improve Carolina’s 32 sacks from 2024. A number of options will be on the board when the Panthers use their first selection in the draft, though.

With that in mind, Joe Person of The Athletic writes Carolina has a “real interest” in Mykel Williams (subscription required). The Georgia product is one of several edge rushers viewed as strong candidates to be selected in the first round, and he will be among the top options left when Abdul Carter hears his name called (which will no doubt happen before the Panthers are on the clock barring a trade up the order). Williams is among the prospects likely to be considered at No. 8, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda adds.

A former five-star recruit, Williams’ size (6-5, 260 pounds) and athleticism give him some of the highest upside amongst edge rushers in the 2025 class. He posted 4.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, but a lingering ankle injury limited his production in 2024. Williams recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss, figures short of what many other Day 1 prospects managed but enough for a second-team All-SEC nod. Still, a top-10 selection will be on the table if Carolina’s interest in him holds through the rest of the pre-draft process.

Pauline’s latest mock draft (along with that of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.) has the Panthers looking to Georgia with their top pick but instead selecting hybrid linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker. He will be worth watching closely as Carolina continues to line up top-30 visits over the coming days, but the same is also true of Williams.

NFC South Notes: Visits, Saints, Legette

March 22nd, 2025 at 10:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the Combine in the books and Pro Days taking place, top-30 visits are currently a key aspect of the pre-draft process. Several notable prospects have already met with prospective teams, and that will continue over the coming days and weeks.

Shemar Stewart is one of many highly-regarded edge rushers in the 2025 class, and he impressed at the Combine. The Texas A&M product likely helped his stock in the process, and he recently met with the Falcons, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Adding along the edge would be a logical move on Atlanta’s part after the team ranked 31st in sacks last season.

2024 trade acquisition Matt Judon remains unsigned, and he could very well depart on the open market. The Falcons added a veteran in the form of Leonard Floyd, but a long-term investment with the 15th overall pick in April’s draft would not come as a surprise. After totaling only 4.5 sacks in three college seasons, questions loom about Stewart’s lack of production, but the 6-5, 267-pounder is viewed as having considerable upside based on his size and athleticism.

Beginning with more visits, here are some other NFC South notes:

  • Both the Falcons and Saints have lined up meetings with offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The Oregon product operated as the team’s full-time left tackle starter for each of the past two seasons, and he could operate as a first-team option at either tackle spot at the NFL level. The 2025 class is not seen as being strong at the OT position, but Conerly is among the prospects routinely labeled as a first-rounder.
  • New Orleans has also met with cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., per Wilson. The East Carolina product entered the season with high expectations, but an ACL tear ended his campaign in September. Revel continues to make progress in his recovery, and he is expected to be cleared in time for the summer. That should help his draft stock to an extent, and the Saints (having lost Paulson Adebo in free agency) will not be the only team to host Revel.
  • Xavier Legette missed only one game as a rookie, but the Panthers wideout dealt with a number of ailments along the way. The first-rounder underwent foot surgery after the campaign, general manager Dan Morgan said (via ESPN’s David Newton). No procedure took place on his wrist despite the lingering issues it caused in 2024, though. Head coach Dave Canales said he is unsure if Legette will be cleared in time for OTAs (h/t Joe Person of The Athletic), but being at full strength at least in time for training camp can be expected.
  • Cedrick Wilson is one of many Saints who has worked out a restructured deal this offseason. The veteran wideout agreed to a pay cut, as detailed by Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Wilson was due $2.9MM in 2025, but he will now receive $1.17MM with $342K guaranteed. The 29-year-old – who made 20 catches in his debut Saints campaign – is a pending 2026 free agent.
  • Another defender the Falcons have met with (along with Stewart and safety Nick Emmanwori) is cornerback Will Johnson. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports Johnson has visited Atlanta, a team which already has A.J. Terrell in the fold and re-signed Mike Hughes on a three-year deal last week. Johnson earned third-team All-American honors in 2024, cementing his status as one of the top corner in the 2025 class. He will generate considerable interest as the pre-draft process continues.
  • New Orleans recently became Velus Jones‘ latest team. The former Bears draftee did not develop as hoped in Chicago, with a position change (from receiver to running back) proving to be short-lived. The 27-year-old briefly switched back to WR upon joining the Panthers late in 2024, but he will find himself in the backfield this offseason. Triplett’s colleague Nick Underhill notes the Saints view Jones as a running back. It is at that position that he will therefore compete for a roster spot this summer.
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