National outlet gives Panthers middling grade for 2024 offseason
Though it was a busy offseason, it wasn’t all good for the Carolina Panthers.
It was a busy offseason for the Carolina Panthers. But that doesn't mean every move made was a good one.
Recently, ESPN put together grades for every NFL team's offseason. On that list, written by ESPN's Seth Walder, the Panthers garnered a passing, but middling, grade heading into training camp.
The Panthers were assigned a B-, the 17th-best grade among the 32 teams.
Walder claimed the biggest move of the offseason was trading Brian Burns to the New York Giants. The move Walder "liked" the most was trading for former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The move he couldn't get behind was giving Robert Hunt a five-year, $100 million contract.
That is where I believe ESPN got it wrong. Signing Hunt was a move the Panthers had to make to ensure quality pass protection for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Additionally, the biggest move of the offseason wasn't trading Burns. He had one foot out the door since the middle of the 2023 season. In reality, the Panthers' biggest move came on draft night, trading into the first round to select Xavier Legette at pick No. 32.
On paper, the Panthers look like a far better team. That doesn't mean the offseason was perfect. But it went far better than anyone could have expected for the middling Panthers near the end of January.
Panthers rookie has all the tools to be among the elite at his position come day one
Xavier Legette has all the tools to be successful, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen says.
