Stephon Gilmore and the Panthers appeared close to reuniting after the draft, but almost three months have passed since then, and the cornerback remains a free agent.
“There are still some good corners and safeties out there like Justin Simmons and myself that are still not signed,” Gilmore told Josina Anderson. “Honestly, I’m still being patient and staying ready until teams see what they have in training camp. But you mean to tell me among 32 teams that there are 64 starting corners that are better than me? I don’t think that. If teams want to win, I think they should sign the best players. I know I’m still a starter in this league. I started games last year, but the season doesn’t start until September, so we’ve got a while.”
Teams are being patient, too, and could be waiting until after Week 1 when vested veterans’ contracts no longer are fully guaranteed, though an injury to a starting corner could speed up the timeline for a team.
Gilmore, 33, is one of the few remaining free agents from PFT’s top 100.
The five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and one time defensive player of the year has played for the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts and Cowboys. He has 31 interceptions and 140 passes defensed in his career.
Gilmore started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s career took a turn for the better while playing in Dave Canales’s offense last year and he thinks Canales can help another quarterback take a similar turn in 2024.
Canales, who was the Bucs offensive coordinator last year, left the Bucs to become the head coach of the Panthers early this offseason and one of the biggest tasks he’ll face is getting Bryce Young to rebound from a rough rookie season. Former Bucs wide receivers coach Brad Idzik joined Canales in Carolina and Mayfield was talked about both of them during an appearance on Pardon My Take.
Mayfield was asked how he thinks Canales will do as a head coach and his positive assessment included mention of what the two coaches can do for his fellow Heisman winner.
“Good. He’s very relatable,” Mayfield said. “Smart guy. He took our receivers coach from Tampa with him to be the OC, Brad Idzik. Really, really good football mind. I think those two guys together around Bryce is gonna be good for him. Dave’s the definition of an optimist bully. It could be the worst day ever, everything could be going wrong and he’s sitting there, he’s like ‘Guys, we got the next play!’ He’s got a big ol’ smile on his face and you’re like ‘This guy’s full of shit’ but no. That’s literally who he is day in and day out and it’s honestly refreshing.”
It would likely be better for the Bucs’ chances of returning to the playoffs if Mayfield is wrong about the impact that their former coaches will have in Carolina, but it will make for a more entertaining NFC South if he’s right.
After finishing last season No. 31 in points and No. 32 in yards, the Panthers made a lot of offensive changes for 2024 — like trading for Diontae Johnson and trading up to select Xavier Legette at No. 32 overall.
In an interview with NFL Network, veteran Adam Thielen noted how those two receivers have added to the group. Plus, he’s also noticed improvement from players like Jonathan Bingo and Terrace Marshall Jr.
“It’s been a really exciting offseason to see those guys go to work,” Thielen said. “Some of the young guys get so much better — Mingo, Terrace Marshall. There are so many talented guys that weren’t really able to be themselves last year or years in the past. So, it’s been really cool to see them grow as players.
“Then Diontae, he’s just a special football player. The way that he moves and changes direction and can really track the football, you could tell it was an instant boost to that group and our team. So, I’m very excited about that. It’s great to have a talented rookie coming in that has a different skill set from the rest of us. He’s a big, strong, physical, fast guy that could do a lot of things. When you are able to have a few guys that could do a lot of different things, it creates a very easy, organic way to have success on offense.”
Johnson, 28, has 391 career receptions for 4,363 yards with 25 touchdowns in 77 games. He finished last year with 51 catches for 717 yards with five TDs in 13 games.
Carolina acquired Johnson in March in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson. The teams also swapped low-round draft picks in the deal.
The Commanders are adding to their front office.
Per Ben Standig of TheAthletic.com, Washington is hiring former Panthers General Manager Scott Fitterer as a personnel executive.
Fitterer spent the last three seasons as Carolina’s G.M. joining the club when Matt Rhule was head coach in 2021. He was fired after the 2023 season, which Carolina finished 2-15.
Before the Panthers hired him, Fitterer was with the Seahawks from 2001-2020 — advancing from area scout to vice president of football operations over that time.
The Commanders hired Adam Peters to be their G.M. in January before bringing on Dan Quinn as head coach.
Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson is getting a fresh start in 2024.
Chaisson was a Jaguars first-round pick in 2020 and spent the last four years with the team, but he never had the desired impact on the field. He started 11 of his 59 games for the team and recorded five sacks during his time in Jacksonville, but that has not sapped his confidence about what he’s capable of in the future.
Chaisson signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this offseason and shared what he believes the NFC South team will get in return.
“They’re getting a complete player and they’re getting a winner,” Chaisson said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “That’s the most important thing is the W column. I got used to winning in high school and college. It’s a mindset and acknowledgement of the grind it takes to reach a certain level and make a certain impact. It’s about competition. They’re getting someone who is truly loyal and respects the game, a true rarity. All in all, they’re getting a complete player, a complete person and human that comes with it. I feel like I have every tool it takes to be a great player.”
A breakout season for Chaisson would be welcomed by a Carolina defense that also brought Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum in to man the edges this offseason.
