The offseason move the Panthers need to make after hiring Dave Canales as their new head coach
The Carolina Panthers are reportedly set to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as the franchise's new head coach. Several outlets reported the news on Thursday afternoon. With Canales reportedly heading to Charlotte, it makes one free agent a must-get for the Panthers this offseason. Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, […]
The Carolina Panthers are reportedly set to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as the franchise's new head coach.
Several outlets reported the news on Thursday afternoon.
With Canales reportedly heading to Charlotte, it makes one free agent a must-get for the Panthers this offseason.
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, who has spent his entire career with the Bucs, will be a free agent when the new league year begins in March.
And the Panthers need to do whatever it takes to bring him to Carolina, where he would instantly give quarterback Bryce Young an elite weapon.
Evans is one of the most consistent wide receivers in NFL history. He's totaled over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his 10 NFL seasons. And he's never missed more than three games in a season. His consistency and durability should ease any concerns that Carolina has with giving a 30-year-old wide receiver a multi-year deal (Evans will turn 31 next August).
A to Z Sports cap experts Josh Queipo and Keyl DeDimincantanio recently predicted that Evans will receive a three-year deal worth $75 million ($55 million guaranteed) with a year one cap hit of $11 million.
The Panthers are expected to have around $24 million in cap space this offseason. They need to figure out the situation with Brian Burns (franchise tag, perhaps), which will take a chunk of that figure. But there are some opportunities to clear some cap space. Restructuring offensive lineman Taylor Moton's contract, or moving on from a player like defensive back Donte Jackson (which would create $5 million in cap space with a post-June 1 designation), for example, are ways that Carolina could create some cap flexibility.
It's doable for the Panthers to sign Evans. And they should put the full court press on the former Texas A&M star. Young needs some dependable weapons. And we already know that Canales knows how to put Evans in a position for success (2023 under Canales was Evans' best season in the NFL sine 2018). It's a perfect scenario for Carolina.
If the Panthers are serious about finally turning a corner in the David Tepper era, they'll find a way to bring Evans to Charlotte this offseason.
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