The Carolina Panthers have been extremely busy in free agency this off-season as they have looked to offset the effects of several big departures.
The Panthers are currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but their recruitment work will also be of interest to South Carolinians as the team has always represented them too.
The franchise's opening games in the debut 1995 season took place in South Carolina, and their first-ever NFL win came in the Memorial Stadium in Clemson.
The team has consistently boasted huge groups of support from both states, and that will continue to be the case in the upcoming season as the big additions look to make an impact for the Panthers.
Here we will look at those most likely to emerge as Carolinian favourites in 2024 and beyond.
Robert Hunt
Offensive guard Robert Hunt is, without a doubt, the Panthers' biggest addition of the off-season.
Hunt impressively decided to buy into the project despite the team being one of the outright weakest NFL teams, according to the major oddsmakers' Super Bowl odds - bet365 sportsbook for example offers the Panthers at 250/1 to achieve their first-ever success. They have a variety of deposit match bonus offers ahead of the 2024 season.
Hunt is the first major acquisition of an overhaul that may take several years for the Panthers to complete, he brings size and physicality immediately and is effectively one piece of the jigsaw for a hopeful championship push within a few years.
The team's acquisition of one of the top right guards in the NFL on a five-year, $100 million contract should be hugely beneficial when it comes to recruiting further talent of a similar calibre in the future.
Roster-building is a gradual process, and the Panthers have certainly made a hugely positive stride forward with their headline off-season addition.
Damien Lewis
Damien Lewis is another massive incoming free agent to solidify the guard positions. The fact the Panthers followed up the signing of Hunt at right guard with Lewis on the left shows that they are rebuilding from the inside of the field outwards.
Lewis is an extremely reliable player who will add further strength and height to the interior of the Panthers' offensive line.
The former Seattle Seahawks star agreed to a $53 million four-year contract to come to North Carolina, and his arrival has ensured that the focus of future recruitment can now be placed purely on the wider and more defensive areas.
The Other Significant Signings
The Panthers made two other significant signings for individuals that could turn out regularly in Charlotte.
A'Shawn Robinson came in to improve the team's depth at defensive tackle, and his initial contract is set at $22.5 million for three years. He will go into the upcoming season off the back of an impressive year with the New York Giants in 2023 in which he amassed 62 total tackles.
Linebacker Josey Jewell rounds out the lucrative mid/long-term additions and has come in on a $22.75 million three-year contract. Like Robinson, he performed well last year, having managed to record 108 tackles over his 15 regular season starts and a career-high 3.0 sacks.
The Panthers have seemingly strengthened well in numerous areas over the off-season. It is hugely unlikely there will be huge improvements in their NFL standing in the 2024 season, although the four mentioned here should emerge as regular stars that can be built upon in future years.
