Tracking Carolina Panthers’ free agency: Ex-Bills CB with ties to Dan Morgan agrees to deal

The Carolina Panthers still have a lot of work to do as free agency begins in earnest at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The team agreed to terms with a pair of guards on Monday and a pair of defenders on Tuesday. Carolina is also set to acquire wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a trade agreement with the Pittsburgh Steelers involving cornerback Donte Jackson and a late-round picks swap.

But following the trade of Brian Burns and the departures of Frankie Luvu, Jeremy Chinn and Yetur Gross-Matos, new general manager Dan Morgan can’t rest on those five additions from the legal tampering period to fill out his squad.

The Panthers still have heavy needs at edge rusher, cornerback, center and safety. The team is also expected to release the likes of Vonn Bell, Bradley Bozeman and Hayden Hurst at the start of the new league year.

Below is our Wednesday tracker to keep you up to date on all the Panthers’ moves. Stay tuned to this page for updates.

Carolina Panthers personnel news on Wednesday

▪ Former Panthers fullback/tight end Giovanni Ricci reached an agreement on a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, a league source told The Charlotte Observer. Ricci was set to become a restricted free agent but Carolina decided not to tender him, and he became an unrestricted free agent.

▪ Free-agent safety Jordan Fuller is scheduled to visit with the Panthers later this week, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Fuller spent the last four seasons with the Rams, where in 2023 he recorded three interceptions, three forced fumbles and eight pass deflections. He overlapped with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero when Evero served as safeties coach in Los Angeles in 2020.

▪ The Panthers announced as of the 4 p.m. deadline that they had released starting center (and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee) Bradley Bozeman, safety Vonn Bell and TE Hayden Hurst.

▪ The Panthers agreed to terms on a contract with former Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson on Wednesday before the start of the new league year, a league source told The Charlotte Observer. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Jackson will receive a two-year deal worth up to $14.5 million.

Jackson was drafted by the Bills in 2020 when GM Dan Morgan was an exec in the personnel department. According to Giants GM Joe Schoen, Morgan was the driving force behind Jackson’s selection in the seventh round. Jackson recently completed his four-year rookie contract with 152 career tackles, 28 career pass breakups and three career interceptions in 52 games (28 starts). Jackson is a logical replacement for CJ Henderson and/or Donte Jackson, who was traded to the Steelers on Tuesday.

▪ The Panthers tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free agent Raheem Blackshear, the team announced, securing his rights for the coming season. In other words: Blackshear is coming back. The running back made his biggest splash last season as a returner, a role in which he averaged 26.9 yards per kickoff return on 16 attempts — second best in the NFL among returners who had 15 or more KOR attempts.

▪ David Sharpe, who played in eight games in Carolina in 2023, has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans, according to a report from Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Sharpe, 28, was signed to the Panthers’ practice squad in September 2023 but was promoted to the active roster as the Panthers battled attrition on the offensive line.

▪ The Panthers plan to bring in pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for a visit this week, a league source told The Charlotte Observer. The Rock Hill, S.C., native will be a potential edge rusher replacement for the departing Brian Burns (as well as the rest of the Panthers’ pass rush). Clowney will be entering his 11th year in the NFL in 2024; his latest came in Baltimore, where he notched 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Clowney’s visit comes as other pass rushers visit Carolina. Among the biggest names, per a league source: Chase Young and D.J. Wonnum. It’s possible the Panthers sign one — or even two — of these three to the roster in an effort to rebuild the position.

Panthers comings and goings from Tuesday

▪ A league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer that the Panthers are trading veteran cornerback Donte Jackson and the No. 178 overall pick (sixth round) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and the 240th overall pick (seventh round).

▪ The Panthers agreed to terms on a contract with former New York Giants defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the deal is for three years and $22.5 million.

▪ The Panthers agreed to terms on a contract with former Denver Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the contract is a three-year deal, worth a maximum of $22.75 million.

▪ The Panthers announced they reached a contract agreement on a one-year deal with impending restricted free agent wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

▪ Former Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The deal is worth up to $5.1 million, per Schultz.

▪ San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Chase Young is expected to visit the Panthers on Wednesday, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

Updated depth chart projection following early moves

The following depth chart projection takes into account the releases of Bell, Bozeman and Hurst. The depth chart below also features players under contract or in agreement (in italics) ahead of free agency.

OFFENSE

QB: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton

RB: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Tarik Cohen, Mike Boone, Spencer Brown

WR: Diontae Johnson, Terrace Marshall, Cam Sims

WR: Jonathan Mingo, Michael Strachan, Jalen Camp

Slot: Adam Thielen, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

TE: Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Stephen Sullivan, Jordan Matthews, Chris Pierce

LT: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Ricky Lee

LG: Damien Lewis, Chandler Zavala

C: Austin Corbett, Cade Mays

RG: Robert Hunt, Nash Jensen

RT: Taylor Moton, JD DiRenzo, Ilm Manning, Badara Traore

DEFENSE

DE: Derrick Brown, LaBryan Ray

NT: Shy Tuttle, Raequan Williams

DE: A’Shawn Robinson, Nick Thurman

OLB: Amare Barno, Luiji Vilain

ILB: Shaq Thompson, Claudin Cherelus

ILB: Josey Jewell, Chandler Wooten

OLB: DJ Johnson, Eku Leota

CB: Jaycee Horn, D’Shawn Jamison, Lamar Jackson

S: Xavier Woods, Jammie Robinson

S: Alex Cook

CB: Dane Jackson,Troy Hill, Dicaprio Bootle, A.J. Parker

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Eddy Piñeiro

P: Johnny Hekker

LS: JJ Jansen