Carolina Panthers: Top 10 Targets in 2011 Free Agency

The NFL Lockout is officially over, so now what?

The next couple of days, teams will be talking with free agents, rookies and undrafted rookies as they try to build a championship team in about three weeks.

All the attention will be following the New Orleans Saints and their 29 free agents, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their enormous budget, and what kind of talent the Dallas Cowboys can sign so they can misuse it during the season.

What very few people will be doing is paying attention to the Carolina Panthers. Other than Cam Newton, it is widely believed nothing else lies in the Carolina jungle. Little do they know the Panthers are looking to make a splash in free agency as soon as they are done re-signing their own.

I give you 10 potential Panthers that could be calling Carolina home in 2011.

10. Zach Miller

Miller has become a top-5 tight end in this league and there is a chance he will be looking to run away from Al Davis. I know we currently have three tight ends, but Miller led the Raiders in catches, yards and touchdowns last year, and he is a tight end. His play-making ability would be highly valued in a more pass-friendly system with young quarterbacks.

9. Eric Weddle

Weddle is not usually mentioned to be on the Panthers target list, but here is why he should be. He is a leader, he is a veteran, and moving him to free safety would upgrade the secondary and allow Sherrod Martin to move back to his natural corner position.

8. Steve Breaston

I understand the guy has had leg problems recently, but he has talent. He has never been able to show it, but he had 718 yards receiving on 47 catches last season and he was injured for a good part of the season. He could come in as the second wide receiver and maybe push to be the main guy.

7. Malcolm Floyd

What can I say, the guy is big. At 6’5”, 225 pounds, he makes a great red zone target. Plus, he would benefit in a similar system to that of the Chargers, where he averaged almost 20 yards per reception last season.

6. Brent Grimes

The corner out of Atlanta still is on my wish list. He is young, has good hands and finally broke out last season. He would make a nice replacement if Richard Marshall opts not to return. He also has a chance of being available, as Atlanta has a few starting linemen it may choose to sign first.

5. Braylon Edwards

This list continues to be receiver dominant, as that is an area in question. Braylon improved in the New York Jets offense from his days in Cleveland. He still dropped a few, but not as many and he has always been able to make the tough catches. He recorded over 900 yards receiving, averaged over 17 yards per catch and he had seven touchdowns. Add the fact that he is a big guy at 6’3”, 214 pounds and is only in his late 20’s, and Braylon could be another go-to target for our quarterbacks.

4. Steve Smith

One Smitty is good, but what if we had two Smittys? The Giants' Steve Smith is a speedy, shifty slot receiver that is good at his job. He has sure hands and possesses similar moves to the original Steve Smith. He is coming off an injury, and the Giants' depth at the position, along with lack of cap room, could make him expendable. Carolina would have a very dangerous receiving corps with this addition.

3. Aubrayo Franklin

Franklin is another guy not really mentioned in the same sentence as Carolina, but he comes in at around 320 pounds and can play nose for when Rivera goes to his 3-4 side of the defense. The years Carolina dominated on run defense were the years it had a guy who ate for five people. Franklin can be one of those guys and add a veteran presence to our weakest position.

2. Sidney Rice

Carolina’s main target at receiver very well may be the 6’4” receiver out of Minnesota. He will be highly coveted and is coming off a hip injury, but when he did play last season, he averaged 16.5 yards per catch, and the year before he exploded onto the NFL scene. He’s young and will make a great target for the red zone.

1. Brandon Mebane

Mebane is a guy already rumored to be on the Panthers target list which is a good start. He has good size and leverage, but he excels at both the run and the pass. He would add another veteran, but at the same time, youthful presence. Here’s an even better idea. Why not add Mebane and Franklin? Two veterans with the two rookies drafted and immediately giving Carolina a competitive line? Brilliant!

One Thing First...

When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, the one thing Carolina must do above all else is re-sign its own players. Charles Johnson and DeAngelo Williams are considered the best free agents at their positions, and James Anderson and Thomas Davis are up there in the linebacker group. Carolina has always been known as a team that takes care of its own first, and now is definitely the year to live up to that name.