Carolina Panthers Signings: Grading Free-Agent and Trade Acquisitions

It has been the busiest free agency in Carolina history, but at least the Panthers are adding talent instead of dumping it.

This is really the first time in three years that Carolina has had any activity in free agency, so it is about time they get scored for their moves.

Here is the 2011 Carolina Panthers report card. Be patient; it’s a long list.

Steve Smith

Whenever the franchise’s best offensive player decides to stay with the team and admit his faults at the same time, it is a good day. Smith will give the Panthers a go-to receiver for at least one more year.

The addition of Cam Newton definitely helped keep him in Charlotte, and Smith already seems to have a good connection with Newton due in part to their work during the lockout. Newton will have a No. 1 and he can continue to mentor the young receiving corps.

Grade: A+

Greg Olsen

Everyone knew the Panthers would focus on re-signing their own players. What surprised everyone was that when Chicago started shopping tight end Greg Olsen, the Panthers jumped on the opportunity.

The Patriots take videotapes, but the Panthers tap phones. How else could they get a deal together so fast?

This could be the biggest addition of the offseason. Olsen was never meant to be in Mike Martz’s offense. Olsen even said Carolina was where he wanted to be all along. Now that he is in Chudzinski’s vertical scheme that features tight ends, along with Jeremy Shockey, life is good.

I understand that his blocking might not be strong, but seeing that he was better off blocking defensive ends than Chicago’s offensive line, I will wait to see him in Carolina’s system before he is written off as a bad blocker.

Grade: A

Jon Beason

Beason was not a free agent, but he only had one year left. If Beason was to have another franchise record in tackles, he would be able to command a lot more money.

Beason is the leader and the heart of the defense, maybe even the whole team. He will be at his natural linebacker position, and after this season there will be no confusion as to where he plays.

Management had the money and made a great preemptive move by signing Beason long-term. Adding the Beast to the aggressive mind of Ron Rivera will be about as scary as it gets.

Grade: A

James Anderson

Most people probably don’t know Anderson was even re-signed. At five years and $22 million, to get a guy who was in the top 10 in tackles last year is a steal.

It took a while, but Anderson has finally grown into a NFL linebacker. He is great in run support and should see his sack total increase between Rivera and Shaun McDermott.

I look forward to seeing Anderson this season now that he knows he can be a force on the defense.

Grade: A

Thomas Davis

Davis is a big wild card for the Panthers. They have seen what he can do, but at the same time to have two ACL tears on the same leg is a scary thought.

Davis was still under contract due to his year long stint on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but the decision was still tricky. How much does a player deserve who has Pro Bowl talent but cannot stay on the field?

In the end, Marty Hurney made the right deal. Davis is under contract for the next five years with only $12 million tied up. Plus, there are clauses tied in about his health, and the lack of guaranteed money makes this the best deal the Panthers could have formed.

Grade: A

Charles Johnson

Mr. Money in the Bank of 2011 is far and away Charles Johnson. His six-year, $72 million contract makes him the highest paid player (Peyton Manning doesn’t count).

The mammoth question is, does he deserve it?

This is a fair question. The guy is a five-year veteran, had one good year, and gets paid like he has dominated since he came into the league.

Charles Johnson may be a little overpaid, but he is well deserving of this contract. He may have been in the league for a while, but he was behind Julius Peppers for all but the most recent season. Was Carolina supposed to bench Peppers to see what Johnson could do?

If someone was to look at Johnson’s production compared to his snaps, they would see that he has always had the ability to do damage.

In his one good year, his 11.5 sacks put him in the top five in the league. His predecessor Peppers only had 8 sacks, though he does get just a bit more attention. The fact is that last season Johnson stepped up and replaced the production of Peppers.

The other reasons for the high contract are his age (25), his size (280 lbs.), and the fact he is very productive against the run. What might be the biggest reason for his contract is the fact Atlanta was trying to draw him home. His family wanted him to go to Atlanta, and Carolina needed something to keep him in Carolina.

It is true that the contract does help reach the cap floor, though it’s not mandatory until 2013, but to say that is even a top reason is completely misinformed.

This move solidifies the left side for a long time.

Grade: A-

DeAngelo Williams

I mentioned in an earlier article that Williams was not a top need, and with three solid backs still on the team this is a true statement.

He may not be needed as just another running back, but he is so much more to the team. He is well liked, he is respected, and he joins Jonathan Stewart to form the best running back duo in the league.

Williams and Stewart get along well, have great chemistry, and they feed off each other. Plus, Williams is the most complete back on the roster.

Williams’ presence on the team also allows Mike Goodson to focus more on his return game, and it allows Tyrell Sutton to be used in another manner.

His price might have been a little higher than expected and Carolina’s access of money might have had a hand in it. Overall, Carolina keeps a strength a strength and Double Trouble will terrorize the league once again.

Grade: B+

Ron Edwards

A hole the size of Charlotte resided in the interior of the defensive line and it was detrimental to the run defense. The Panthers started to patch it up during the draft, but a veteran presence was desperately needed not only for depth, but to teach the young guys how to play the game.

Within the first three days, Carolina addressed this problem with the signing of Edwards. The 12-year veteran had been the nose tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Panthers and a three-year, $8.5 million contract lured him away.

Edwards comes in at almost 320 pounds and should be a great addition in the middle of the line. The only problem with this signing is that it was the only one made at the position.

Carolina had the money to go after Brandon Mebane, Aubrayo Franklin, or even a guy like Gabe Watson. Now Franklin joins Shaun Rogers in the middle of the Saints’ line.

Unfortunately, the Panthers only signed the one tackle and I hope the rookies can step up, as they will have to in order for the defense to succeed.

Grade: B

Jeremy Shockey

Shockey may have been signed before the lockout, but he is still a key signing. He is a 6’5”, pass-catching, veteran tight end who will compete to start. Seeing the depth at receiver, Shockey may still start with Olsen on the other side.

Shockey is here to play ball and win. He has a great chance to earn playing time, but at the same time if he could mentor Gary Barnidge, that would be a great benefit. This could be Shockey’s last hurrah under his Miami brethren Chudzinski.

Grade: B

Kevin Payne

Payne is a very unknown safety coming from St. Louis. He is 27 and will hopefully push Carolina’s young safeties for playing time. He also played for Chicago in Rivera’s defense.

I expect him to see most of his time on special teams, but if he can compete and give the incumbents a run for their money, he will have been worth the one-year deal.

Grade: C+

Sean Considine

Considine is going to be a great special teams guy. Of course, that is not specifically his purpose in Carolina.

Cinsidine spent four years in McDermott’s defense and with only training camp and the preseason to learn a new defense, he will be invaluable in teaching the secondary what their jobs are in the system. If all turns out well, he could be the unsung hero of the offseason.

Grade: C+

Omar Gaither

Gaither is one of the more intriguing Panthers signings.

Gaither grew up in Carolina and played in McDermott’s system, which is why he is here. What is intriguing is that Gaither was an everyday starter in 2007 and played in every game in 2008. Then, he was out during most of 2009, and 2010 was more of a rehab year.

With the question mark of Davis’ health, Gaither could be a steal for the Panthers with his depth and skills.

Grade: Conditional C

Olindo Mare

In possibly the most unpopular move of the offseason, the Panthers signed Olindo Mare to a four-year, $12 million deal. The move will be under scrutiny all season. Mare performed fairly well with Seattle last season and has a good leg for kickoffs.

It is not that Mare is not a good kicker; it is who he replaced. He replaced the last original Panther and a legend. Add the fact Mare is 38 while Kasay is 41 does not help matters much.

The poor guy is returning home, but if he does not excel—not just do good, but excel—then there will be a huge uproar from Panther Nation.

Grade: C-

Ben Hartstock

I have nothing against Hartstock, but I do not see the point of him. He is a tight end that will make $2 million per season and all he does is block. He had one catch last season. It may be better to just put Lee Ziemba out there.

I really hope Barnidge beats out Hartstock for the final tight end position, as this might be the most pointless move of the Panthers’ offseason.

Grade: D

Derek Anderson

In the first days of camp and team meetings, Coach Rivera repeatedly mentioned that Carolina would be bringing in a veteran quarterback. Everybody was certain that they would add one sooner or later.

I was thinking along the lines of Marc Bulger or even Jake Delhomme. However, when I heard the Panthers were looking at Derek Anderson, I asked the random person next to me for a towel or something as I was about to cry.

I have watched the Cleveland Browns since their rebirth. I remember Anderson the year before he had his 10-6 season, the year of, and the years after all the way through his Cardinals days. I just have one question: WHY?

I understand that he has knowledge of Chudzinksi’s system and had a pretty good year in 2008 when Chud was the offensive coordinator for the Browns. Also, he does technically qualify as a veteran.

The only problem with Anderson is everything else. He has an arm, but he does not know how to use it. He has trouble with short passes and pitches. He will throw more balls into the ground than he will overthrow them.  The guy trips over his size 16 feet.

This guy was bad before 2008, bad at the end of 2008, and bad since 2008. If he didn’t have prior knowledge of the system he would not be here.

Grade: D-

Overall this was a very good free agency period for the Panthers, but they could have done without Hartstock and Anderson.