The Panthers have made a change to their defensive coaching staff.
Joseph Person on TheAthletic.com reported and the team confirmed that secondary/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Cooley now has the title of defensive pass game coordinator.
Cooley moved to the Panthers last year after spending the 2022 season as the Rams defensive backs coach. He worked with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero with the Rams in in 2020 and 2021 as well and he coached in the college ranks before moving to Los Angeles.
Bert Watts is the safeties coach in Carolina and the Panthers have former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall on the staff as an assistant defensive backs coach.
Linebacker Justin Strnad was almost a Panther.
After agreeing to terms with the Panthers on a one-year deal, the free agent had a change of heart. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Strnad has decided to return to the Broncos on a one-year deal.
Strnad, 27, appeared in 50 games with five starts for the Broncos the past three seasons.
In 2023, he played 17 games and made five tackles, seeing action on 395 special teams snaps. Strnad has not played on defense since 2021.
The Panthers have agreed to terms with veteran receiver David Moore on a one-year deal, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Moore, 29, was with Dave Canales and Brad Idzik in Tampa last year.
He has played only 10 games the past two seasons, including seven in 2023. Moore totaled five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown last season.
Moore, who was with Seattle his first four seasons, spent the 2021 offseason with Carolina.
The Panthers also agreed to terms with linebacker Justin Strnad on a one-year deal, Joe Person of TheAthletic.com.
Strnad, 27, appeared in 50 games with five starts for the Broncos the past three seasons.
In 2023, he played 17 games and made five tackles, seeing action on 395 special teams snaps. Strnad has not played on defense since 2021.
Mike Williams was supposed to go on a longer free-agency tour. But those teams will have to look elsewhere for a receiver.
Per multiple reports, the Jets have agreed to sign Williams to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million.
Williams was previously slated to visit with the Panthers and Steelers.
Williams, 29, is coming off a torn ACL suffered during the Chargers’ Week 3 matchup with the Vikings. He was off to a hot start in 2023, catching 19 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown in three games.
The No. 7 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Williams has battled through various injuries in his career. He missed much of his rookie season due to a back injury and a knee injury. He had another back issue in 2022, finishing the regular season with 63 catches for 895 yards and four TDs.
Williams has twice gone over 1,000 yards in a season — 2019 and 2021. He led the league with 20.4 yards per reception in 2019.
In 88 career games, Williams has recorded 309 catches for 4,806 yards with 31 touchdowns.
Now Williams should help improve a receiving corps that’s expected to have Aaron Rodgers as its quarterback in 2024.
The Vikings have agreed to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $6 million with cornerback Shaq Griffin, Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report reports.
The Vikings will be Griffin’s fifth team in eight years, having played four seasons with the Seahawks and two with the Jaguars before splitting time with the Texans and Panthers last season. Houston cut him Nov. 29, and Carolina claimed him off waivers.
He made 13 game appearances with seven starts in 2023, totaling 39 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups.
Griffin, 28, was a third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2017, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2019.
In his career, Griffin has 366 tackles, seven interceptions, 64 passes defensed and a forced fumble.
