With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how much the Panthers have tied up in specific position groups over the next couple of seasons, what contracts could be terminated or extended, and what percentage of the cap each group takes up. For this series, I’ll be using the numbers at Over the Cap. Next on our list, the defensive line!
On the Books
For this group,
I’m combining the players listed as defensive linemen and edge defenders on OTC, so it does include guys like Jaelan Phillips and his cap hit of just shy of $10 million (though it does skyrocket next year, more on that later). Defensive leader Derrick Brown has a cap hit of almost $11 million, with his also ballooning in 2027. Tershawn Wharton, last year’s big free agent splash on defense, has a cap hit of $18.6 million. Edge Pat Jones is in the final year of his deal. The team could save about $5 million in cap space by cutting him, but his hit of $10 million might be worth riding out to avoid dead cap especially considering his effectiveness when healthy. Bobby Brown III is another player where the cap savings wouldn’t be worth cutting (his cap hit is $8 million and would only save $1.5 million upon being released) and is a solid rotational player on the inside. Aside from a few bottom of the roster/special teams guys, the remaining defensive linemen are on rookie contracts. Nic Scourton ($2 million), Princely Umanmielen ($1.5 million), and Cam Jackson ($1.1 million) are entering their second years, while rookie Lee Hunter ($1.8 million) just signed his rookie deal as a second round pick.
Next Year
As previously mentioned, some of these contracts really increase in terms of cap hit starting next season. Phillips’ $32.5 million hit and Derrick Brown’s $31.4 million hit are the real heavy contracts, neither of which would make sense to cut financially or from a football standpoint. The last year of Wharton’s deal is 2027, and only $4.8 million of that nearly $20 million cap hit is guaranteed, making him a likely cut candidate. Bobby Brown is in a similar boat, only counting $1.8 million against the cap in dead money if released next offseason. Pat Jones is already in the final year of his contract, but the team might bring him back if he is productive and relatively cheap. The guys on rookie contracts will be around next year and the year after at the very least. None of them were first round picks, however, so the Panthers will have to decide on extensions sooner rather than later due to the lack of a fifth year option.
Measuring Up
The good news overall for the Panthers is that they are currently dead last in the NFL in cap percentage spent on defensive linemen and edge rushers combined with just 5.11% of their cap going to those position groups. Spending that small amount of money on a group as talented as the Panthers have is definitely some smart GMing by Dan Morgan. As mentioned previously, though, some of those contracts increase quite a bit next season. Middle of the road spending, like the Buffalo Bills, is around 14% for these positions, while the big spenders like the Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting just shy of 25%.
