Well the Super Bowl is over and now the off-season begins. The Carolina Panthers have a new General Manager in Dave Gettlemen, and has his hands full with salary cap issues, possible free agents to go after, and the upcoming NFL Combine (in February) and NFL Draft (in April). The places that need the most help are Defensive Line (mainly at Defensive Tackle), Offensive Line, Wide Receivers, and Defensive Backs. Obviously these should be addressed in Free Agency and the Draft. I don’t see much in the way of Trades other than possibly trading either HB DeAngelo Williams or HB James Stewart. The most likely of those two being traded is HB DeAngelo Williams.

If they were to release him it would be a cap hit and they cannot afford to do that, so he will probably be the one traded. Not that they want to trade either of their HB’s.

The Panthers are about $15 million over the current salary cap of $121.1 million. GM Gettlemen has his hands tied as to what he can do for the cap. Tough decisions must be made by March 12, 2013, which is the deadline for all teams to be under the cap. CB Chris Gamble could be the first to go. His contract would free up $7.9 million, which in and of itself will not get the Panthers below the cap, but is a start. After CB Chris Gamble, it is anyone’s guess as to who will be cut next. GM Gettlemen likes to build through the draft, but is not above going after free agents, but those free agents contracts have to fit in the Panthers cap numbers. There are a lot of tough decisions to be made ahead for GM Gettlemen. Some other notables that could be cap casualties: LB Jon Beason (possibly lost job to LB Luke Kuechly), OT Jordan Gross (but that would leave Panthers without a Left Tackle), DT Ron Edwards (he’s 33 years old), LB James Anderson (LB Thomas Davis is healthy now), S Haruki Nakamura (only a part timer), OL Garry Williams (a backup), WR Armanti Edwards. Some more free agents: Unrestricted (11)-QB Derek Anderson, WR Louis Murphy, TE Ben Hartsock, TE Gary Barnidge, G Mike Pollak, DE Antwan Applewhite, DT Dwan Edwards, LB Jason Phillips, LB Jordan Senn, CB Captain Munnerlyn, S Sherrod Martin, Restricted (2)–DT Andre Neblett, CB Nate Ness, Exclusive Rights (1)–TE/FB Richie Brockel.

Some possible draft choices are Safety Kenny Vaccaro (Texas, 6’1”, 215 lbs), DT Sharriff Floyd (Florida, 6’3”, 303 lbs), CB Jonathon Banks (Miss. St., 6’1”, 185 lbs), OT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma, 6’7”, 303 lbs), WR Cordarelle Patterson (Tennessee, 6’3”, 205 lbs), DT Jonathon Hankins (Ohio St., 6’3”, 335 lbs), WR Justin Hunter (Tennessee, 6’4”, 205 lbs), DT Sheldon Richardson (Missouri 6’3”, 295 lbs). I have looked at several Mock Drafts and they seem to be split on the Panthers taking either DT Jonathon Hankins or DT Shariff Floyd in the first round. It is still early yet, and there is the combine in a couple of weeks, so things could change between now and the draft.

QB Cam Newton, WR Steve Smith, and both RB’s (James Stewrt, DeAngelo Williams), and LB Luke Kuechly seem to be the nucleus to build around. It will be interesting to see what a new GM (Dave Gettlemen) can come up with regarding this team. I believe the team will be better in the long run under this GM, and hopefully the fruits of his labor will be seen sooner rather than later. Panther fans are longing to return to the Super Bowl and to win it. I believe this will be the start of that path. Panthers must contend with a better Atlanta Falcons team, a rebounding New Orleans Saints team, and an up and coming Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, twice every year. The first step is to win the division. It won’t be easy to do, but with the right personnel, the right coaching, and the right GM’ing, it can be done. Loyal fans must have more patience than ever, and continue backing the Panthers no matter what. It will happen and it will be worth the wait.