Catscratch Fever: Moves The Carolina Panthers Need To Make This Offseason

Let's make it plain and simple for all of us Panthers fans. We are going to go through a tough few months together. We are gonna have some cheers together, and to be honest, maybe a few cries together. This is probably gonna be one of the toughest Free Agent periods in our history.

So here is the first thing you should know.

Jake Delhomme, Jordan Gross, and Julius Peppers contracts are all huge. Jake Delhomme is scheduled to earn around $11 million this season. Either Jordan Gross or Julius Peppers can get the franchise tag this season. So it's either Jordan, Julius or Jake. Who is getting left out?

Sadly, I believe it will be Julius Peppers, for two reasons:

No. 1—Jordan Gross was the leader of an offensive line that helped DeAngelo Williams.

No. 2—Julius Peppers has already shown that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense, and we may have the crew to conduct a 3-4, but logically, I don't think we will use a 3-4 defense.

So with this said. If Julius Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defense, our defensive line may look something similar to this:

LE - Julius Peppers

DT- Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Damione Lewis, or Darwin Walker

RE- Tyler Brayton

Our linebackers may look something like this:

OLB Na'il Diggs

ILB Jon Beason

ILB Dan Connor

OLB Thomas Davis

Our linebacker crew doesn't look strong, and our defensive line is average, and that is with Julius Peppers. 

There are many young free agent linebackers available. Channing Crowder, Mike Peterson, and Michael Boley are all unrestricted Free Agents.

The draft is looking iffy. If a James Laurinaitis or Ray Maualuga start to slip into the first round, Carolina could make a move to draft one of these two stud linebackers. But Carolina, as of now, has no first round pick.

If Jordan Gross is released of his contract, we are in dire need of an offensive lineman.

Matt Birk is aging, and his salary would be lower than most Pro Bowl offensive lineman. He is an eligible contender if Jordan Gross leaves, though. Jahri Evans of New Orleans has played excellent in his rookie season of protecting Drew Brees. Evans is another possible outlook if Gross leaves.

It's gonna be a tough off season for all of us Panthers fans, and getting rid of Jake Delhomme is realistically not gonna happen, and shouldn't happen.

So let me ask all of you Panthers fans. What should happen in the offseason?