The Carolina Panthers enter the 2026 offseason with plenty of cap space and pretty easy means to make even more. They have a quarterback on a rookie contract, which is prime time to spend a bunch of money on a supporting cast. Other teams are not so fortunate. There are going to be a lot of tough decisions being made around the league where not-bad players are going to get cut purely for the cap savings. The Panthers can pounce on some of those free agents to bolster their offensive group. Here are a few
names to look out for.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Rams
Sean McVay used his offensive genius guru mind games and did this crazy thing where he adapted his scheme to his personnel in 2025, a foreign concept to many NFL minds. After operating almost exclusively out of three wide receiver sets for many years, he pivoted to a lot of three tight end groupings to capitalize on the team’s depth at the position. But that means the Rams are at a bit of a roster crunch at the position. Tyler Higbee is a free agent, so the team may simply let him walk and keep Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson. But if they bring Higbee back on a cheaper deal and want to chase some big fish in free agency, they can $7 million by releasing Parkinson.
Parkinson would immediately be the best tight end on the Panthers roster and add another reliable intermediate target for Bryce Young. And we’ve already seen him have success in Bank of America Stadium.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Steelers
Sticking with the tight end position, Smith seems a more likely cut than Parkinson. The Steelers took a shot trading for Smith to create a one-two punch with Pat Freiermeuth. That never really panned out, and Darnell Washington ate into a fair share of snaps as well. The Steelers are currently on the hook for $22 million in cap charges for Freirmeuth and Smith, which is too much for their production, especially when Washington is a fine TE2 and outpaced Smith in production last year.
Smith is just one year removed from a breakout season with the Dolphins where he tallied 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 88 catches. He’s just 30 years old, so it’s not like that talent completely evaporated. Like Parkinson, Jonnu would immediately step in as the Panthers best tight end and bring some real pop to that position.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Falcons
Fun fact: if nothing changes, Mooney would go into next season carrying the largest cap hit among Falcons wide receivers. He’s due to count over $18 million against the cap, and the Falcons could save nearly $12 million by designating him a post-June 1 cut. Should he hit the market, he’d fit the bill of wide receiver that the Panthers are looking for to complete their room. He’s popped off as a deep threat at points during his career, though he’s been inconsistent. A change of scenery could do him good, and he’d add some variety to a Panthers receiver room that currently features a bunch of tall, long guys.
Tank Dell, WR, Texans
This would feel kinda mean given that Dell has spent the past year and a half rehabbing from a catastrophic knee injury he suffered during the 2024 season, but the Texans have built up their wide receiver group in his absence. They have Nico Collins and used two draft picks on Iowa State wide receivers that were pretty good as rookies. There might just not be room for Dell, and the cap squeezed Texans can save a couple million by releasing him. If Dell can get back to health, he’d be a great fit as a young, speedy deep threat to complement the big bodies the Panthers currently have manning the position.
Elgton Jenkins, C/G, Packers
The Panthers are pretty good along the offensive line when healthy, but if there is a question mark, it’s at the center position. Jenkins carries a massive $24 million cap hit this offseason, and the Packers, who are hurting for cap space, could reclaim the vast majority of that if they release him. His play dipped last season, but he has been a Pro Bowler twice. Should he come at a reasonable price, he could be a nice acquisition to compete at center or provide insurance for Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt.
