Carolina Panthers

2017 NFL Free Agency: 5 Big-Name Targets for Carolina Panthers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:53 p.m. ET

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After dropping from 15-1 and a Super Bowl berth to 6-10 and an early vacation, the Carolina Panthers can use 2017 NFL Free Agency to get back on track

In 2015 the Carolina Panthers could do no wrong. They went 15-1 and were steamrolling anyone who got in their way. They rode that number one seed and home field advantage all the way to Super Bowl 50. Once there, they got punched right in the nose. The Denver Broncos took the fight to the Panthers, and Carolina just couldn't respond. They also looked like they never really got over it.

After being crowned league MVP in 2015, quarterback Cam Newton fell off big time. He had a career low in completion percentage and quarterback rating. He also threw fewer than 20 touchdowns and his touchdown percentage per pass was the lowest of his career, while his interception percentage per pass was his second highest—outside of his rookie year.

Really to sum it all up, Newton was bad. That doesn't mean its all on him. Their running game was anemic and defensively they missed cornerback Josh Norman, who went to the Washington Redskins. A lot of what's wrong with the Panthers can be fixed though. They have a talented core of players, and can use the 2017NFL free agency period to land a few big names in their efforts to fix their woes.

Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) during a stoppage of play in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

5. Latavius Murray, RB — Oakland Raiders

Maybe Jonathan Stewart will still be the starting running back for the Carolina Panthers, but he shouldn't be. Stewart has struggled with health ever since being taken out of Oregon in the first round back in 2008. He was part of a running back class that included Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles. After Charles was released earlier this week, Stewart now remains as the last guy still with the team that drafted him in that stacked class of runners.

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Set to turn 30-years old in March, it may be time to move on. Or at least get younger. That's where Latavius Murray comes into play. The Oakland Raiders seem content to let him go and he could be a good fit for Carolina. The sixth-round pick of the Raiders back in 2013, Murray has averaged 4.0 yards per carry throughout his career. He also has shown some skill out of the backfield, catching 91 passes in his three years played.

Despite being productive for Oakland, Murray hasn't been getting much love since the offseason began, but maybe he should be. He just turned 27 years old, but has limited wear on him. Murray is coming off a season in which he carried the ball 195 times and for his career has just 543 carries. Stewart on the other hand has 1,501 carries. That's a lot of hits on a guy who plays a tough position. It may be time for some fresh legs.

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety D.J. Swearinger (36) against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

4. D.J. Swearinger, Safety — Arizona Cardinals

For some reason the Houston Texans gave up quickly on D.J. Swearinger. He was a second round pick out of South Carolina in 2013, but was released after just two seasons. He then spent part of the 2015 year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but played in just seven games before being released again. The former Texans starter then wound up on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, which was a fall far from grace for the former Gamecocks safety.

Eventually Arizona promoted Swearinger to the active roster and by 2016 he was a regular starter. For the Red Birds he recorded 66 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and eight pass deflections while starting 12-of-16 games. Now he's set to hit the open market yet again and has to be a much higher commodity than he was after being cut by Houston thanks to his solid play for Arizona.

Should Carolina be in the market for an upgrade over Tre Boston, Swearinger could be a good fit. He's a hard hitter that could help bring the toughness back to the Panthers. He's also adept at creating turnovers, recording six interceptions and five forced fumbles in his four NFL seasons.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Russell Okung (73) in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

3. Russell Okung, OT — Denver Broncos

Before the Panthers made their big run in 2015 they addressed a glaring need, left tackle. Quarterback Cam Newton was sick of running for his life, so he went out of his way to make sure that Carolina was able to land a big fish in free agency to help out. He sent a text out to offensive lineman Michael Oher, and told him that he needed his help according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith:

"With the free agent pool, I've sent texts out before, called guys and said, 'We'd love for you to be part of the team.' But Mike was different," Newton said. "I didn't say, 'I want you to be here.' It was, 'I need you.' That's different. Want and need are two different words, and that's what I used in that text, along with other explicit words before the 'need.'

In 2016, things on offense fell apart again, and a big reason for that was their blind side protector from 2015 lasted just three games. Concussion issues lingered all season for him and with that being such a scary situation it would be prudent to look for a replacement. As fate would have it, a talented and experienced starter is available in Russell Okung, most recently of the Denver Broncos.

Okung has 72 career starts for the Seattle Seahawks and 16 for the Broncos—who he spent just one season with. He now enters free agency for the second straight season and could improve the Panthers O-line drastically.

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3. DeSean Jackson, WR — Washington Redskins

The Carolina Panthers had a poor man's DeSean Jackson in Tedd Ginn, Jr. The veteran Ginn was a deep threat that also helped in the return game. He was a

bsolutely dangerous in spurts and could stretch a defense simply by being on the field.

Now in 2017 NFL free agency, the real DeSean Jackson is available. There are rumors that he wants to return to the Philadelphia Eagles, who originally drafted him back in 2008. He recorded three seasons of more than 1,000 yards and another two with more than 900 for the Eagles before former head coach Chip Kelly decided to release him. The move was questionable and Jackson then went to a divisional rival in Washington.

The lightning-fast Jackson then recorded at least 1,000-yards in two-of-three seasons for the Redskins including this past year for them. He's now 30-years old but still averaged 17.9 yards per reception in his last campaign and can be a deep field threat like no one else. With the Panthers featuring big receivers like Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess and tight end Greg Olsen, Jackson would be the perfect compliment to stretch the field. Plus, pairing him with Cam Newton's strong arm would be a lot of fun for us all to watch.

Dec 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) reacts to breaking up a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

1. A.J. Bouye, CB — Houston Texans

Rescinding the franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman proved to be a tough move to overcome. In 2015, they were 11th in the NFL in passing yards surrendered. Opposing offenses had an incredibly hard time completing passes, especially against Norman. Following his incredible year, the Panthers offered him the franchise tag, but pulled it after Norman hesitated to sign. He then got a big deal from the Washington Redskins and Carolina dipped all the way to 29th in the NFL in passing defense.

Of course it all can't be attributed to the departure of Norman, but it sure didn't help losing their best cover guy. Now in free agency, they can try and right a wrong by snatching up one of the best corners available in A.J. Bouye. The former undrafted kid out of Central Florida, Bouye blossomed into a starter for the Houston Texans.

He was praised for his ability to stick with the best of the best receivers and has shown a knack for creating turnovers. After hardly seeing the field as a rookie Bouye then recorded two interceptions his second season—one of which he returned for a score. The following season he recorded another two picks in limited time. In 2016 he had just one pick, but still showed a lot of improvement as a coverage corner.

With Houston paying big money to Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph, Bouye will surely be gone to the highest bidder. Carolina would be wise to get in on that bidding in an attempt to restore their defense.