This piece was written by Clark Gerber and contributed to WRAL Sports.

It is unlikely that new general manager Dan Morgan will be able to turn the Carolina Panthers into playoff contenders in just one offseason, so do not hold on to that hope.

The Panthers continue to be a source of ridicule in the NFL and are still struggling.

After being traded earlier this month, the departure of Brian Burns has left the roster without any significant players (as far as I can tell) that opponents would have to strategically prepare for. It should be noted, however, that there is still a challenging road ahead.

And yet …

I am uncertain about what we can expect from Morgan, considering the mess he was handed. Is it feasible that he has managed to do a satisfactory job overall?

To assist in understanding, we will assess each position group separately and analyze the progress of free agency thus far… and, naturally, assign letter grades. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a well-deserved letter grade?

Edge Rusher/ Defensive Line

In: DL A’Shawn Robinson, EDGE D.J. Wonnum, EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE Marquis Haynes Sr. (re-sign)

“Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos at EDGE position.”

This appears to be the most reasonable place to begin.

Sending Brian Burns to the Giants was dissatisfying for many, particularly given that the compensation was not quite up to par with what Panther supporters had hoped for.

Carolina exchanged their star pass rusher for a 2nd round pick and a 5th round pick swap in the current draft, as well as a conditional 5th rounder in the 2022 draft. This was in contrast to the reported offer of two 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick by the Rams for Burns in 2021.

The team faced justified criticism for their poor handling of assets, but that is a responsibility of Scott Fitterer, not Dan Morgan.

One potential criticism of Morgan is that he may have sold prematurely.

Burns’ portfolio was experiencing a noticeable decrease. Carolina could have potentially received a more favorable trade offer if they had postponed negotiations until after the draft.

On the other hand, it can be argued that trading Burns at an early stage yielded significant salary cap space of $24 million for the Panthers to utilize in the free agency market.

D.J. Wonnum, the newcomer to the edge rushing role, recorded the same number of 8 sacks as Burns did in the previous season. However, he should not be considered as a direct replacement for Yetur Gross-Matos, but rather as a complementary player who can be effective in short bursts. He is not a key player to be the foundation of the team.

Next season, I anticipate A’Shawn Robinson will begin as an interior defensive lineman. While the 8-year veteran may not be selected for the Pro Bowl, he brings consistency and versatility that will benefit Ejiro Evero’s strategy and strengthen the team’s ability to stop the run.

Chaisson, a former first round draft pick, possesses strong physical abilities. However, he should not be viewed as anything beyond a moderate-risk, short-term option at this stage.

In general, the quality of this team’s players in this specific position has decreased with Burns leaving. It was most likely the intention to trade him all along, particularly after the team chose not to renew his contract last year. However, even without taking into consideration the circumstances, the outcome of the trade is rather disappointing.

Letter grade: C-

Linebacker

In: ILB Josey Jewell, ILB Justin Strnad

Rephrased: The player ILB Frankie Luvu has been released.

This is also painful.

Last season, I believe that Luvu was the second best player on the Panthers defense after Derrick Brown. This is true even when compared to Brian Burns.

The previous special teams standout transformed into a highly skilled starting linebacker in the past two years, recording 226 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks.

Witnessing his official agreement to join Washington (despite the Panthers possibly making an effort to retain him) was a substantial disappointment to the fan community. This feeling was amplified by the fact that it occurred shortly after the Burns trade.

The acquisition of ex-Bronco Josey Jewell to take over for Luvu (resulting in an estimated savings of $4-5 million annually) is a smart decision, although I perceive it as a decline in talent.

The individual with 6 years of experience is two years elder than Luvu, and although they are skilled at tackling, they lack the same level of dynamism.

Justin Strnad, recently recruited on Tuesday, is a previous standout player at Wake Forest and has connections to the coaching team. He appears to be a good match, but most likely won’t have a significant impact as a substitute.

The Panthers can rely on their strong linebacker position for the upcoming season, thanks to the inclusion of Jewell and the return of Shaq Thompson. However, this is another setback for Morgan and the rest of the front office.

Letter grade: D+

Secondary

In: CB Dane Jackson, S Jordan Fuller, CB Troy Hill (re-sign)

In:The new additions to our team are CB Donte Jackson, S Vonn Bell, S Jeremy Chinn, and CB Shaquill Griffin.

Last season, the Panthers’ secondary was statistically one of the top performers in the NFL as they only allowed an average of 171.5 passing yards per game.

Unfortunately, this number was predominantly influenced by the circumstance that Carolina’s opponents frequently held the lead and were thus able to adopt a more cautious playing style. (This was also a significant contributor to the defense’s remarkably low percentage of turnovers.)

The fact that the front office was totally cool letting four contributors walk should tell you all you need to know — this was not an elite group, regardless of what the stats say.

Jordan Fuller appears to be the perfect addition after signing a one-year contract. I anticipate him to effortlessly integrate into the starting lineup alongside Xavier Woods as a safety.

The 26-year old is a sure tackler, forced six takeaways by himself last season (3 interceptions and 3 fumbles forced) and already has experience playing under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. I think the Panthers got a great value deal bringing him in.

In regards to Dane Jackson, he has ties to Dan Morgan from their time in Buffalo, but has primarily served as a backup thus far in his professional career.

Currently, the player chosen in the 7th round appears to be the clear starter as a cornerback alongside Jaycee Horn… however, this does not instill much confidence.

The Panthers may benefit from adding another free agent, particularly if Steven Nelson is still on the market, and it is crucial for them to address this position during the draft.

Jackson will offer his assistance, but I believe he will need to compete in order to secure the starting position during training camp.

Letter grade: C

Quarterback/ Running Back/ Special Teams

RB Raheem Blackshear was signed again and LS JJ Jansen was also signed again.

I am combining these three units as there are no updates to report.

Bryce Young is expected to remain the starting quarterback in his second year, while Andy Dalton is under contract as a capable backup. No changes were made in the quarterback position.

Based on the large number of top tier running backs available, I believe the Panthers regret their decision to acquire Miles Sanders.

The ex-Pro Bowler had a major letdown in his initial year with the Carolina team. However, his contract stipulates that he must stay on the roster until 2024, unless there is a significant improvement, before he can possibly be released in the following season.

It is not ideal for a backup running back to have a $7.7 million cap hit, but it would be unfair to blame Dan Morgan for this. He does not have much control over the situation.

Chuba Hubbard is currently in the final year of his contract and is expected to have the opportunity to showcase his potential as a starting running back for a full season.

Letter grade: N/A

Wide Receiver/ Tight End

Returning: Signing: WR Diontae Johnson, WR David Moore, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (re-signed)

Reworded: The two tight ends, TE Hayden Hurst and TE Giovanni Ricci

Finally, a refreshing dose of unbridled positivity.

While some may praise the Diontae Johnson acquisition, I am not as enthusiastic about it. However, I can agree that it was a successful trade for the Panthers.

The addition of Johnson significantly improves Carolina’s group of receivers (although, initially, the standard was not very high). Moreover, the transaction incurred no expense for the team. Donte Jackson, the main player exchanged, was likely to be released if the Panthers were unable to trade him.

The decision to release Hayden Hurst was an easy one after his underwhelming performance last year. David Moore is a experienced backup and a known face to the Panthers and coach Dave Canales. Plus, Ihmir Smith-Marsette has shown his worth as a versatile player on special teams.

I do not have any problems with any of those actions.

Let’s take a moment to evaluate: Is this receiving team now considered above average in the NFL?

No.

If Mike Williams had chosen to join the Panthers instead of the Jets, we could have a stronger argument. However, at this moment, the team’s group of receivers is considered below average.

However, it is an improvement and a move towards progress.

Letter grade: B+

Offensive Line

In: OG Robert Hunt, OG Damien Lewis, OT Yosh Nijman
Out: C Bradley Bozeman

Do you recall the savings of cap space by the Panthers in the trade for Brian Burns? This is where they utilized it.

The Panthers reached a deal with guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis worth a total of $153 million across five and four years, respectively.

It may seem excessive for a non-premium position, but that is indeed the case.

I fully understand Dan Morgan’s perspective that without Bryce Young’s improvement, this team will not see improvement. It is crucial that he is not faced with constant pressure, especially in the middle, in order for him to progress.

Strengthening the guard position, which proved to be a major issue for the team in the previous season, may provide some relief for Young as he works towards becoming a dependable NFL quarterback.

It is difficult to picture Hunt and Lewis not being a significant improvement over the guards that Carolina had to deal with last season. Therefore, this can be considered a victory.

If you decide to spend a lot of money on a guard duo with high salary in the league, I hope that at least one of them has been recognized as a Pro Bowl player in the past.

According to reports, Hunt was likely the most desirable guard on the market in this year’s free agency. He performed well for Miami. However, is he truly deserving of a $100 million contract as a guard?

I understand that the Panthers may not be a strong team and may need to pay a high price to attract good free agents. However, I am not convinced that these two signings offer sufficient value. I hope that I am mistaken.

I think the Panthers made a good move by signing experienced tackle Yosh Nijman to a 2-year contract worth $8 million.

Nijman primarily served as a substitute in Green Bay, however, he excelled when provided with opportunities.

In a worst-case scenario, he is capable of filling in at either right or left tackle, serving as a valuable backup in the event that Taylor Moton or Ikem Ekwonu are unable to play.

At most, he may secure a position as a full-time starter, particularly if Ekwonu’s struggles from the previous season persist.

The recent additions to the team will improve Carolina’s offensive line in 2024, but they will have to perform exceptionally well to justify their costly contracts.

Letter grade: B-

Big picture

Finding suitable replacements for Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu will be a challenging task.

Derrick Brown now remains as the only bonafide stud on the Panther defense, which could be in for a big step back next season. If Ejiro Evero can get this unit to produce even close to the same statistics as last year, he should be a prime head coaching candidate.

Incorporating Diontae Johnson and two high-quality guards into the lineup will enhance the performance of the offense. However, the extent of this improvement remains uncertain.

Dan Morgan and the rest of the front office obviously made it a priority to get Bryce Young some help on offense so they can get a better look at what they have in the young quarterback.

This should be the main focus and I concur with the overall strategy.

The team had to make notable compromises on defense in order to execute this strategy. Unfortunately, their only results thus far are a decent but not exceptional receiver and an improved but overpaid interior offensive line.

Let me repeat myself: There are no players on this team that opponents need to strategize against. Unless Young can somehow improve and become one of those players, it will continue to be a difficult situation.

I comprehend the well-known phrases such as “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and “you have to walk before you can run”… However, as someone who fully believed in a potential turnaround for the Panthers, I have to admit that the progress thus far has been quite disappointing.

I hope the draft turns out much better.

The final grade received is a C-.

Source: wralsportsfan.com