The Carolina Panthers made three signings on the first day of free agency at three key positions. They brought back fan-favorite center Bradley Bozeman, while signing former Bengals safety Vonn Bell and former Saints DT Shy Tuttle.
Bradley Bozeman
Resigning Bozeman ensures that all five starters from last season’s offensive line, a unit that ranked 10th in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus, will return. Bozeman received a three-year deal worth up to $18 million.
Bozeman had the highest run-blocking grade of any offensive lineman on the team (67.3), although the Panthers ranked 22nd in run blocking, according to PFF. He will play a big role in Carolina’s progression with a potentially new backfield next season.
Vonn Bell
Meanwhile, Bell spent the last three seasons in Cincinnati, where he has been exceptionally consistent in both the run and pass game. He ranked in the top-25 in run and pass grade for safeties during that time.
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Bell snatched a career-high four picks and tied his career-best with eight pass deflections – he never had more than one before then. His proclivity for big plays means he’s forced at least one fumble in each of his seven NFL seasons, culminating in a career-high in turnovers forced last season.
Signing for three years and $22.5 million, the former Cincinnati captain was the fourth-best safety on The Athletic’s free agency big board, and the No. 26 overall prospect. His signing will allow current strong safety, Jeremy Chinn, to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Chinn is a physical hybrid between safety and linebacker and will likely play more nickel next season with Bell manning the backend.
Over the last two years, Bell has 19 hustle stops, according to Next Gen Stats, tied for fourth among defensive backs. He has also shown his blitzing prowess with 13 pressures in that time, ranking fifth. Bell has only missed three games in his entire professional career and hasn’t missed any in the past two seasons.
A hard-hitting safety unit featuring Bell, Chinn and Xavier Woods will take over an aggressive defensive unit led by the former Broncos coach Ejiro Evero.
Shy Tuttle
Tuttle started 14 of 17 games for the Saints last season, recording just 29 combined tackles, two sacks and five pass deflections. He signed for three years and $19.5 million. That’s more than Bozeman’s contract, despite Tuttle’s limited success as a starter New Orleans for the past two seasons.
With Carolina switching to a 3-4 base under Evero, Chinn will have a less defined, but more tailored, role in the defense. Meanwhile, Tuttle will likely compete for a starting role alongside Derrick Brown.
After trading star wideout DJ Moore in a package for the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft, Carolina is still in need of a wide receiver, tight end and edge rusher. They are far from done in this free agency cycle, but this was a successful first day.
Look out for Mike Gesicki and Adam Thielen as potential suitors for a Carolina offense searching for veteran pass-catchers.