What Move Will the Carolina Panthers Make Next?

The Carolina Panthers signed receiver Legedu Naanee to a one-year contract on Thursday and the move seems to add security to the wide receiver position.

While Naanee is not a star at the level of Braylon Edwards—whom many fans wanted the team to sign—he is a talented player who adds experience and depth to the position. 

Top free agents like New York's Steve Smith and San Diego's Malcolm Floyd remain on the market, and it seems unlikely the Panthers will sign either. The team seems content with what they currently have on the roster. They understand they're young out wide but the talent they've added at tight end will compensate for that during quarterback Cam Newton's rookie season. 

The position of intrigue right now is cornerback. Carolina has failed to replace Richard Marshall yet and there is not much talent left in the free agency pool. They appear to be awaiting cuts to begin around the NFL and if a talented cornerback becomes available, look for them to be right in the middle of talks with that player.

Chris Gamble is the team's best cornerback, but doesn't always seem committed. His physical skills put him among the best in the NFL at his position but he often gets lazy and has yet to live up to the contract he earned with his Pro Bowl-caliber play in 2008.

Gamble's backup, Captain Munnerlyn, is an entirely different story. Munnerlyn is an extremely hard worker. He lacks size but is a great nickel cornerback because he can line up on smaller slot receivers. Putting him on bigger receivers will be a mismatch that all opponents will exploit.

There were rumblings of the team making a trade for Asante Samuel, but that has yet to surpass the status of rumor. Samuel would be a huge upgrade and is one of the top playmakers in the NFL, but the asking price may be too high for a rebuilding team to match.

The team was interested in Carlos Rogers, but he signed with the 49ers, who had much more cap room available. That is not to say that the Panthers are limited by their cap room though. While there is no official number available, it is believed that the team has around $10 million to play with.

The most realistic move will be to resign center Ryan Kalil. Kalil is the best center in the NFC and a key cog in the Panthers' offense.

Kalil signed his franchise tender, but signing him to a contract extension would free up some cap room, making the Panthers a player for some big names who may come available through trade or by release.

The Panthers have been arguably the most aggressive team in free agency and it would be a shock if they remained quiet now, leaving a hole in their lineup at cornerback. Be patient though, because a move likely won't be made until the start of the preseason.