Despite being widely praised for a strong performance in the 2025 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers still have work to do on their roster. Heck, president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan—as he often has—would probably tell you the same.
So, while factoring in the team’s biggest remaining needs, let’s take a look at four potential free-agent signings that make sense for the Panthers . . .
ILB Chazz Surratt
The Panthers did not select an inside linebacker this past weekend—still leaving them with Josey Jewell, Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom at the top of the depth chart. While that trio probably isn’t the worst you can find throughout the NFL, there’s still room for competition.
Surratt, a Lincolnton, N.C. native and former Tar Heel, didn’t receive many looks between his stops with the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets. But the 2021 third-round pick was solid when given some chances this past season—where he, over a career-high 137 defensive snaps, earned an overall grade of 72.7 from Pro Football Focus.
CB Mike Hilton
Carolina also didn’t use any of their eight picks at the cornerback position, which has needed depth for quite some time.
For now, they seem to be content with Mike Jackson as their second starter on the outside across from Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn. But the defense might need a better answer at the slot, where 2024 fifth-round pick Chau Smith-Wade struggled a bit as a rookie.
Hilton has been one of the more reliable nickelbacks in the NFL over his eight-year run. The 31-year-old, in fact, may have just had his best campaign as a run defender—as he registered a career-high 38 stops.
S Julian Blackmon
Here’s the “big fish” that Panthers fans are hoping their team eventually reels in, and for good reason.
The starting free safety job remains wide open, with second-year Demani Richardson and veteran Nick Scott as the only real options. Carolina’s defense, which has struggled to take the rock away in recent seasons, should be hunting down a true ballhawking safety.
Blackmon, who met with the team earlier this offseason, notched seven interecptions between 2023 and 2024