The Carolina Panthers have struggled to field a dominant receiving corps in recent seasons, but the 2025 free-agent class offers an intriguing opportunity to address this need. With the defense steadily improving as well as the offensive line, providing their young quarterback with a reliable primary target should be the number one order of business.
The Charlotte-based outfit will have a salary cap size of roughly around $33m next season, give or take. However, that doesn’t tell the whole picture. They are projected to have upwards of ten picks in next year’s draft, which could see that projected figure slashed in half. The expiry of big-money contracts such as that of running back Chuba Hubbard, as well as the potential trading away of Miles Sanders and Jadeveon Clowney could see their cap space increase.
With that being said then, let’s take a look at some of the best options that will be available in the close season.
Stefon Diggs
Tee Higgins is without question the best playmaker available in the next free agency window. However, he is sure to command a whopping price tag, one that the Panthers may not be able to match should their draft prospects take shape as expected. The next best option may well be Stefon Diggs.
His current team, the Houston Texans, have seen their Lombardi hopes to tumble in recent weeks. At one point this term, websites allowing one to place a Super Bowl bet had them listed as a top three team. Now, however, they have been pushed all the way out to +2500.
While the Lone Star State outfit is amongst the contenders – albeit outsiders – the latest NFL odds make the Panthers a whopping +50000 longshot. We for one can’t blame them, but the addition of Diggs would surely see those odds shorten ahead of next term.
One stumbling block toward a potential deal could be the mighty $24m salary he currently commands. However, as he is currently recovering from a torn ACL, and with him now being 31 years of age, that number may well halve. If it does, the Panthers should pull the trigger.
BREAKING: Chiefs are trading for WR DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for a 5th round pick that can become a 4th rounder, per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/cQA1TFSHDY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2024
DeAndre Hopkins
Currently, with the Kansas City Chiefs, DeAndre Hopkins is a seasoned veteran who has consistently been amongst the league’s top wideouts throughout his career. After being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the champions earlier this year, the 32-year-old rejuvenated his career, serving as a reliable red-zone option for the mercurial Patrick Mahomes. However, at 33 years of age by the time the 2025 season gets underway, questions about his age and durability will loom large.
Luckily, that would mean that the former Clemson Tiger should be available on the cheap. He currently commands a pay packet of around $5.5m, and that figure is certainly reasonable considering the leadership and reliable pair of hands he would bring to Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers’ roster has lacked a true WR1 in recent years, and D-Hop could certainly fill that void, at least for a short while. Known for his ability to make contested catches and to thrive despite subpar quarterback play in the past, Hopkins could be a valuable mentor to younger receivers like Jonathan Mingo. For a young quarterback such as Carolina’s, having a trusted target who can win in tight spaces would be invaluable.
