Peppers Time in Carolina May Be Over

by Jaxon on Jan 15, 2009 9:22 AM EST Comment 10 comments

I've always thought the chance of DE Julius Peppers ever leaving the Carolina Panthers was nil but now I'm not so sure. Peppers refuses to acknowledge that he wants to stay and the Panther defense lacked teeth in the pass-rushing game in spite of his career high 14.5 sacks. Of course it could all be contract posturing on Peppers part, making sure the Panthers know they will have to let go of serious coin for him. To franchise him would cost the Panthers around $17M next season. As hard as it would be to see him go I have to admit the team might be better served going in another direction:

After 10 weeks, the Panthers ranked second in the league on defense in points allowed and eighth in total yards allowed. By the end of the season those numbers has swollen to 12th in points and 18th in yards.

For the most part, it was the pass defense that failed the Panthers.

Carolina didn’t get much pass rush despite Peppers’ presence.

And now, there’s a good chance they may lose Peppers, who doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to be back in Carolina. Peppers is slated to become an unrestricted free agent, and there’s plenty of speculation the Panthers will put the franchise tag on him and trade the four-time Pro Bowl defensive end.

Last year the Vikings gave up a first rounder and two 3rd rounders for DE Jared Allen. I imagine Pep would fetch that and possibly more. At 28 years old his value will never be higher than it is right now. With 3 additional picks let say in the first three rounds the Panthers could get a DE plus fill a couple other needs, maybe at QB and CB.

Speaking of the CB position, the same article I linked above has a semi-surprising note:

They like (CJ) Wilson and view him as a star in the making.

That's interesting. If Lucas is cut and CB Richard Marshall moves to his spot Wilson may be the nickle corner. That may allow the Panthers to use a draft pick or free agent money in other areas.

In yesterday's post on free agent decisions I didn't mention anything about back-ups so I'll cover that now:

CB Ken Lucas: He got burned repeatedly this season and seemed to lack confidence after Chris Gamble got a contract extension. With Lukas set to count more than $9 million next season against the salary cap, look for the Panthers to cut ties with him. "I can’t answer that question," Lucas replied when asked if he’d be back next year. "I’m not part of the personnel department. I just play. If they call my name, then I’ll be back, but if not, I enjoyed my time here. That’s how I look at it. You can’t stress about stuff like that you can’t control."

LB Landon Johnson: A hip injury (although not serious) in the playoffs should only expedite Johnson’s release. At $10 million over three seasons, he was a big swing-and-miss this past offseason. The Panthers would be stupid not to free up some cap room by cutting him with two years left on his deal. Besides, Dan Connor should be back next year.

LB Adam Seward: Nobody wants out of Carolina more than Seward, who is frustrated over being deactivated for most of the second half of the season by Fox. He wanted to sign with New England last year and in a few weeks he’ll be free to go where he wants as an unrestricted free agent.

OG Geoff Hangartner: Another unrestricted free agent, he played in a lot of games for Carolina and it wouldn’t surprise me if he bolts for a place where he can start if the money is right. Somebody’s going to offer him starter’s money. Keydrick Vincent said he will be fine to go in minicamp, so Hangartner’s chances of starting next year are nil with the starting five basically set in stone, providing Jordan Gross re-signs.

WR D.J. Hackett: Hackett contributed little for the Panthers this season with 13 catches for 181 yards and no touchdowns. He was deactivated for the playoff game. Remember when he was supposed to be the starter? That never worked out so well, did it? Look for him to get cut with one year left on his deal.

DT Darwin Walker: He’s an unrestricted free agent and his career might be over with anyway. Walker injured his neck in a car accident this year and was never the same after that. Like Hackett, he was inactive for the playoff game. Look for Carolina to add more help at defensive tackle in free agency.

LB James Anderson: It’s hard to imagine Anderson, a former third-round draft pick, coming back next year unless he wants to do so as a low-budget special teams guy.

The only one in this group I would hate see go is OL Geoff Hangartner. His versatility is very valuable and was a big help early in the season when the Panthers battled injuries on the offensive line. The Panthers would have to find a back-up Center from somewhere.

Otherwise I think the Panthers have the depth or can find the depth to replace the other players.

Could Julius Peppers be wearing a new uni next season?

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think about it...

as much as i’d hate to see him go, pep wouldn’t be here forever. he’d retire, an injury would derail him, something. so if he wants to go trade him for some picks, free some cap space and lets develop some other guys. i think charles johnson could develop into quite a player, he had some good games.

there are a lot of positions that extra draft picks could help us out with and you hit them all. QB, DT, CB. I think Gross will be back so we shouldn’t have to worry about him.

And as far as depth at DT, if we lose Pep and have the cap space, who else thinks we should go after Haynesworth? He’s great, though that injury this year may be worrisome, but we may be able to get a lower contract because of it.

by rkpanthers on Jan 15, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I get the feeling

he doesn’t think the Panthers will offer him what he can get on the market so he’s resigned to leaving.

How about Terrell Suggs anybody? We need another fiery competitor on the defense.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 15, 2009 12:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Defense...

could use someone with a nasty streak. Not these guys that go around helping up the competition after every play. Some of our guys have that mean streak like Harris, Beason, and Davis, but we need mean and nasty defensive players that like to hit people in the mouth every play. Panthers want to be like the Steelers, then look at the personnel on the Steelers Defense, tough S.O.B.’s.

by Davejinxer on Jan 15, 2009 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If we're going to upgrade a position on the defense

I think it should be the cornerback position, especially if Lucas is cut and Peppers leaves/signs elsewhere. And I think everyone knows what corner the Panthers should go hard at, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Chris Gamble but he is still young and imo is not a #1 corner yet. Now pair him up with Nnamdi, OMFG will that be nasty.

by ChipperTeixeira89 on Jan 15, 2009 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think I said

on another post that I would want Asomugha if the defensive coordinator would actually allow him to play to his strengths and not the soft zone the Panthers seemed to show all year. Otherwise I am all about it. I really thought Marshall would be a solution but he struggled all year. I am shocked they think CJ Wilson is a future star, that came way out of left field. He did not look too good against Arizona and really I have not seen too much from him since we drafted him in the 7th round. If he is going to be a future star, I would really like to see him show it on the field sometime next year.

I think the #1 priority should be upgrading the defensive line and having a defensive coordinator that may be slightly more aggressive or at least put the players in a position to make plays. The Panthers don’t lack talent on defense. I am going to miss Hangartner if/when he leaves. It is so nice to have a guy who can play three positions on the line.

I am all for franchising Peppers and trading him but I am afraid the franchise tag will also prevent the team from having as much leverage. It’s not like the Jared Allen situation because I don’t think he was franchise, if we don’t make a trade we are stuck paying Peppers $17 mill or risk losing him and getting nothing in return in free agency. If we did get a 1st and 3rd round pick, I think I would almost be happy with that. I would like more but that is what I expect to get for him.

by bengoodfella on Jan 15, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

bengoodfella is right

We need a more dominant pass rush, and a player with a mean streak and some speed can be that guy. I think we need to blitz more from the outside with Davis, Marshall and Hilee Taylor. Johnson can be a very good DE. I think Marshall and Gamble would make a better pair of starting corners than Lucas and Gamble. What would make them better, obviously, is the QB having less time to throw. Peppers was great, but our defensive coordinator needs to come up with more ways to get to the QB. Peppers has the talent to get 20 sacks a season, but when he sacrifices himself in a stunt for nothing, drops back into coverage, or is playing the run because we’re losing by 20, then he can’t get sacks. I think we’ll also miss his 2-3 blocked kicks a year. I want him to stay, but if we can’t find a way to get a better pass rush, Pep might feel like he’s wasting his time anyway. We need a new DC more than we need new players. And better play calling would help. Imagine this, we’re down by 10 points in the palyoffs, and we run the ball. Innovative…I know. Either way, if we trade Pep for draft picks, we’ll get enough to fill a couple positions. I’d expect at least 3 picks, including a 1st rounder. However, don’t we have to resign him before we trade him. I think we franchise him first, and then we trade him. If he gets franchised and is owed 17 million, many teams might decide he’s not worth it.

by usana_gaines on Jan 16, 2009 1:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We'll survive

if peppers leaves. Yes he will be a harder player to replace than most but we will move on. The biggest thing for me would be if he ended up in the NFC South, and after that the NFC in general. If we franchise him that won’t happen, but if we don’t do that and he walks it worries me.

by LittleKing on Jan 16, 2009 8:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gross vs Peppers

Would we want to see that on the field in a real game?

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 16, 2009 8:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would

like to see that for sure…or even Gross v. Otah. I don’t intend to be so hard on the Panthers but if Peppers does leave the Panthers it would not shock me if he did get 20 sacks. Someone would put him in a position where he can succeed. I wrote this another comment board, but Beason was the BACKUP last year to Morgan. He doesn’t play if Morgan doesn’t get hurt. I realize he held out of camp but if Morgan plays 16 games, there is a chance Beason doesn’t get on the field that much or plays another LB position (weak/strong side). I just hate to see Peppers go somewhere, find some sort of motivation (I feel like he disappears a lot), and start tearing the league apart. That being said, if we are not going to resign him, trade him and get something for him.

by bengoodfella on Jan 16, 2009 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm wondering

what are some of the better options as far as keeping or letting go of peppers. usana_gaines maded a lot of good points regarding peppers and what he brings but we’d move on. but if we resign /franchise him what are we losing our on. obviously the pros are a lot of the things usana_gaines mentioned, but the steep price tag will hurt us, especially since, in my opinion, gross is extremely important to keep. if we could let him go for some draft picks, this is a good year and we could try and pick up someone like mark sanchez or matt stafford at qb, mike hickens, michael crabtree, everette brown, etc. what about free agents? Haynesworth, Suggs, Asomugha, Houshmandzadeh, etc. but i will say, if we were to lose peppers, and get say asomugha, then a new D-Coord would be needed to make sure he can show his potential.

by rkpanthers on Jan 16, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs