CHARLOTTE — It's good to remember that, as serious a business as this is, it's still OK to have fun every now and then.
So when there was a technical mix-up during executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis' Zoom call earlier this week, and instead of a question, he heard an advertising read from a Raleigh radio station, Tilis grinned and asked: "Is this normal?"
(Tilis also showed his sense of humor by calling the show in question the following day.)
But beyond the glitch, it's also worth remembering that this offseason hasn't been normal in many ways.
As Tilis noted when he wasn't being informed about a sponsor's product, the degree of business the Panthers have done in free agency the last few years isn't the kind of thing they're going to be able to repeat every March. But as they're building this roster, they needed to go in and find some proven commodities to layer in with their draft picks, so spending on premium players like Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in 2024, Tre'von Moehrig and others last year, and Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd this spring was a necessity but not necessarily a trend.
The goal, as Tilis said, was to get to a level in the future where contending is more common, and at that point, the need was to hit on draft picks and make those guys the core of your future.
There's a time and a place for the kind of spending they've done, but they can't count on it every year.
So now the focus turns to the draft, and the final sprint toward being ready for that.
But people still had thoughts about free agency, and beyond.
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Hey Darin, Derrick from Hurricane, WV, again, I feel the front office and coaches have done a great job in free agency. It's been a while since we could look at our beloved Panthers pre-draft and honestly say we have a complete team and can truly draft the best player without any reservations. I realize everyone says we do that anyway, but it must be a lot easier, knowing your first draft pick isn't ignoring a major hole that needs filled.
Anyway, my question is, going into free agency, everyone said we were cash-strapped and were in the bottom half of the league with available salary cap space. I realize we had surprise retirements and contract restructures, but did we at all hamstring ourselves in the future for getting all these great players this year? I mean, we were able to get arguably the best edge rusher, linebacker, and available starting left tackle, punter, and long snapper. Keep Pounding! — Derrick, Hurricane, WV
It's true, they did go after some top-of-the-market names. And yes, Jaelan Phillips and JJ Jansen are pretty much the same. (Derrick, I shared this with Jansen, and he is very appreciative. And because you made someone else's day, I'll make yours by making you this week's Friend Of The Mailbag.)
Salary caps are fixed numbers, but they contain many ways of creating space. They restructured Derrick Brown's deal (as was largely intended when he signed, they build these contracts this way for a reason), released A'Shawn Robinson, and traded Andy Dalton, all of which created some space. They'll likely need to create more space before they sign all their draft picks, but that can be done with a few other moves, or more restructures (though Tilis said they'd prefer not to do too much of that).
They signed 10 outside free agents along with 14 of their own so far. And you never know, they might not be finished (seriously, most of the work is done). Of the group, only Phillips, Lloyd, and punter Sam Martin got more than a one-year deal, giving them flexibility for the future.
As they build, they needed to add some impact players along with Brown and Jaycee Horn on defense, hence the signings of Moherig, Phillips, and Lloyd. Again, it's not always going to be like this in March.
But they did need to add some playmakers to the roster, so they did.
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Hey, Darin. What do the past couple of years of free agent signings say about the Panthers - and Charlotte - as a destination for players? And along the same lines, so many former players choose to stay here after retirement, some even after finishing their careers elsewhere or only playing in the league for a short time. Do you have a sense for how many stick around compared to other NFL cities? Thanks as always. - John, Winston-Salem, NC
This is one of the top areas for retired players (and has been among the top five), because as Brentson Buckner famously said, "Charlotte is the married man's paradise."
Cats like Reggie White and Eugene Robinson were settled here before playing their final seasons for the Panthers, and there are plenty more where that comes from (it's not unusual to see Jason Sehorn at the Harris Teeter, among many others).
And a couple of recent former Panthers — Dalton and Austin Corbett — who are not from here have already declared that Charlotte's where they're staying when their playing days are done. And that's because Charlotte's really nice (We truly do "got a lot"). It's not for everyone, I suppose, but the people it's for, it's really for.
(And if you want more on this topic, let me once again plug my buddy Michael Graff's Charlotte Optimist, where he talked to Dalton and Corbett about this phenomenon. Graff is another one who is not from here, but has become of here. And that's the kind we like, the ones that dig in.)
Now, as for the team, general manager Dan Morgan did say the other week that what's happening on the field does help with recruiting. Tilis noted, and accurately so, that for certain guys, money is always the motivating factor. But as free agency goes, and if a guy has competing deals of equivalent size, going to a place that's nice and to a team on the rise is a reasonable recruiting pitch.
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Hi Darin. I hope you are doing well. I just finished reading the latest Mailbag and was delighted by Simon from Charlotte's question about a Bojangles heist recovery. I appreciated the light-heartedness, and we all need a smile every now and then. I'm always torn this time of year. It's exciting to see which players we are picking up, but sad to see others go. I was expecting Rico Dowdle's departure, so I had somewhat prepared myself for it, but I was surprised to see Cade Mays go, and I am saddened by it. I guess it doesn't pay to be sentimental during free agency.
I have a question that was sparked by your answer to Will from Mt. Airy. Do you have any plans to retrieve the crystal ball from Ben McAdoo anytime soon? — LeeAnne, Lincolnton, NC
Listen, McAdoo once said the crystal ball was in his other pants, and while I'll go to great lengths to serve readers, there are limits to everything.
Mays was another one dictated by the market. He got a nice deal to go to Detroit, the kind it's hard to say no to when you're a former sixth-round pick. But good for Cade, even if it's bad for the turkey population in the Upper Midwest.
But it is hard to see guys who have made impacts, personal and professional, leave here. The last three guys to be nominated by the team for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award are good examples. From Bradley Bozeman to Adam Thielen to Corbett, they were recognized for their impact on the team and the community. And when guys build those bonds, it's hard to see them go.
And it was poignant this week to remove Corbett's entry from the team roster. He and I talked a lot over the last four years, sometimes about football. His willingness to share his recovery from a torn ACL in the final game of the 2022 season remains one of my favorite projects I've worked on since coming here, because not everyone is as open to or able to explain the grueling months of recovery and rehab like he did. Plus, we go to a lot of the same concerts, like Metallica last summer.
Likewise, all the support staff throughout the building build relationships with these guys over the course of seasons, so the comings and goings are tough for the human beings.
But as you noted, it's a business. And it moves on, and the circle of life continues. Just as Corbett was shuffling off to Buffalo this week, Phillips welcomed a new child to the world, and the Panthers family grew by one.
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Which current or former Panthers players are you taking to create your flag football team? I would have said Luke, prior to last week's game against Team USA. — Will, Rock Hill, SC
Answering Luke Kuechly is generally a good place to start for any question, including who you would want to start a podcast with, or a middle school football coaching staff, or a fishing trip.
But he admitted he's not necessarily built for this. Being 6-3 and 230-ish (and his buddy Greg Olsen revealed during the broadcast that he trained for two months to get ready for that game) isn't the advantage it was during his Hall of Fame playing career.
Kuechly said last week that the advantage lies with the smaller, quicker players. He specifically mentioned nickel corners as being the kind of agile and versatile athletes it would take to crack the Team USA lineup.
People the size of Jimmy Horn Jr. are far more common in the flag football world, so I'm thinking in that direction.
My first-round pick, though, seems pretty easy.
Working in tight spaces, making contested catches, and being able to move your body in multiple planes at the same time seems like an advantage.
So yeah, give me Steve Smith in his prime. At 5-9 and 3/4 — don't ever forget the 3/4 — Smith was a smaller target (and he made himself a target reasonably often enough). And as he proved during his playing days, he could make plays in the air, against bigger people, and could turn short plays into long ones with his change-of-direction and speed.
Among Smith's underrated qualities during his playing days was his balance and his ability to contort himself mid-air, land, and keep going. Also, he's eighth on the all-time receiving yards list, so he's proven time and again that he's a playmaker.
On the other side of the ball, I'm thinking Captain Munnerlyn.
The Chambers High head coach (and current UFL assistant) was always at a size disadvantage in the NFL, but he wouldn't be in that sport. And his willingness to compete was always evident, as it was with Smith. Maybe being that height causes you to behave a certain way, I don't know.
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I have been impressed with Corey Thorntons play. Do you think it would be a possibility that they might try him at nickel? With his size and length, he could be pretty good at covering the middle of the field. Your thoughts? Thank you for all of your input! — Thomas, Winston-Salem, NC
Nickel is a complicated position to play (not that any of them are easy), and it's a lot to throw at a rookie. Playing on the outside is often a physical matchup, but inside, there are a lot of adjustments that have to be made on the fly in this defense.
But they were experimenting with him there last year before his injury.
And the timing of that injury was unfortunate, because he was playing well and making them think about his long-term potential.
Thornton's an energetic player with a lot of physical traits. He's also a dedicated worker, whether it's on the field every day before practice with Chuba Hubbard, getting tips from defensive assistant (and former NFL cornerback) Kevin Peterson, or in here during the offseason continuing his rehab (he's a fixture in the stadium).
He has a chance to create a role for himself here, now and for the future.
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Hi Darin, I'm feeling pretty positive about our free agent additions and approach to team building in general. I was fully expecting to need to Google the names of our newest players again this year, so it was a bit of a surprise to read that we'd managed to acquire some of the biggest hitters at their respective positions and excited to see how it all plays out on the field next year.
With the draft fast approaching, my question is about undrafted free agents. It seems that the team is doing a good job of identifying likely contributors — Jalen Coker being the obvious example, and it sounds like Corey Thornton was also making a bit of a name for himself before he got injured last year. When they find a guy they like, how do they decide whether to spend a late-round draft pick on them or not? Do they have a fairly good idea of who is likely to go undrafted, and are they allowed to have informal deals with players that if they go undrafted, they'll come here? — Matt, Bristol, UK
Part of it is about having a late pick. This year, their final pick is a sixth-rounder (200th overall). And at that point, they're usually still sifting through players they had draftable grades on. But thinking ahead to that market is absolutely a factor.
If a guy is borderline draftable and will have a competitive market, you can always secure his rights by drafting him.
They can't cut deals in advance, but teams generally target specific positions for roster allocation purposes, and good agents know where to steer their guys so they have a better chance to make the roster. That was the case with Coker, who made a quick decision that the Panthers offered a chance to make an impact.
But at that point, a lot of it is about a defining trait or finding someone who fits here in ways he didn't elsewhere. For instance, is there a defensive end who might have been miscast in college who is a scheme fit here, or someone with a play style that fits, but without the typical physical stature? Or someone who's just crazy fast? Late draft picks are a bit of a lottery ticket, and undrafteds are like scratchers. There are no sure things, so you grab one on your way out of the convenience store. (I do not recommend scratchers as an investment strategy.)
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Wanted to start by giving a shoutout to Kenneth from Germany. I am doing all right given the circumstances, and I really appreciate the condolences. If I ever make it to Stuttgart, the cold ones are on me (I hear they are better over there).
I'd also like to take a moment to plug the upcoming UFL season for anyone who is as hopelessly addicted to football as I am. If anyone is new to the spring league and looking for a team, I am a fan of the Birmingham Stallions. Their current roster includes Panthers' legends such as Matt Corral, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Deon Cain.
I'm curious if the Old Guy himself has had a chance to watch any UFL games, and if so, how he feels that product (and other non-NFL football) impacts the direction of the sport at large? — Jake, Candler, NC
First off, the Mailbag Family crosses all borders, demographic and geographic, and we support each other.
But it's funny you ask about the UFL, because some of my young co-workers (who apparently have excess free time) have adopted teams. The one who pledged allegiance to the Columbus Aviators surprised us by declaring, "I'm prepared to die for them." I'm not even sure Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. or defensive coordinator Captain Munnerlyn, more Panthers legends, would go that far.
I personally don't watch a lot of minor-league football in the offseason for the same reason a lot of chefs don't cook at home. Besides, baseball season just started, and I'm prepared to die for the Cincinnati Reds (or at least spend some of my disposable income for them and check their scores most days and watch games when I can). And the NBA playoffs are just around the corner, and for a change, the Charlotte Hornets appear to be on their way to an invitation.
But I love the idea of minor league football as an abstract concept. It's a good chance for players on the fringes to get reps they wouldn't get otherwise. Ask Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and his old Amsterdam Admirals backup, Jake Delhomme, where they'd be without NFL Europe.
I also think a petri dish to experiment with new rules or technologies is a good thing for the NFL. And even if you don't develop a lot of players, you also create the condition to develop officials, equipment and film staffs, athletic trainers, all the support staff personnel it takes to make this industry work. I'm all for job creation, and would never harsh anyone else's mellow. The heart wants what the heart wants, so if watching Matt Corral helps you enjoy a weekend, go for it.
(As long as this doesn't create a new Weekly Matt Corral Question, which was a longtime feature of the 'Bag.)
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Hi Darin! The 2026 NFL schedule comes out around the end of May. Is that correct? I ask because my son (tomorrow is his birthday) asked to watch a Falcons vs. Panthers game as his gift (not only his birthday but including all scheduled gifts that a child can have in a year). We have eight of the 12 possible weeks in which he doesn't have tests, and before vacations, when travel prices really go up. So we hope we get lucky on those dates - he even prefers going to Charlotte (so do I, as it's a great city). We'll also hope that the war doesn't make the oil prices sky high for traveling, that your TSA gets what they deserve to function well, and also that my country survives the Presidential election this year. So, in retrospect, I guess the schedule part is the easiest, right?
In a tangent, but in a more positive note, I know social media/internet has a lot of flaws and problems, but personally I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity to see and interact with all the great professionals and fans of the Panthers because if it - I remember the 90s when I could only buy Sports Illustrated once a week on a special library and had to set my VCR to see SportsCenter on the next day because it'd show only at 4 a.m. on cable TV around here. I guess it's like everything in life: you have an opportunity to make good or bad use of things and yourself, right? It's our choice. Thanks! — Fernando, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The schedule comes out in the middle of May, usually, and I also hope it works out that you can come for a game here. It's always good to have Mailbag Family around. And yes, making a schedule and releasing it is light work compared to that other stuff.
Good point, that we have access to far more content than ever. Not all of it's great, but by all means, use your free market imperative to choose that which you enjoy.
As I've gotten older, I've started, shall we say, curating my online experience a little more carefully. Just because something is always available doesn't mean you have to consume it all (says the man who lives within walking distance of a Bojangles and a Showmar's).
But having access to all this media (social and otherwise) is definitely a way for people to come together, and I'm all for the communal experience.
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And on that note, let's go lightning round, brought to you by the patron saint of the lightning round Jeff from Fuquay-Varina, to close it out this week.
Do we think they're done in free agency? — Chris, Charlotte
They have to be close, based on cap room and roster spots available. They're at 74 on the roster, and with seven draft picks and a 90-man roster limit, that leaves a smaller-than-normal crop of undrafteds they have room for.
How's your bracket? — Cliff, Cornelius, NC
I'm far more concerned with how Colts legend Gary Brackett is doing.
The Reds are winning it all this year, aren't they? — Will, Charlotte
No doubt. At least 125 wins. Maybe 130.
Have you ever had an embarrassing Zoom mishap? — Katie, Charlotte
Not at work, thank god (and knock on wood), but now that I know sponsorship is an option, I might have to consider it.
