Will we be able to afford our defense in 2017?

[PoundCat]

I'm wondering if we will be able to hold on to all the key pieces we have in place today. By then we would have locked up Keek and Norman with long term deals, and Star and KK will be due for extensions. On top of that, Frank, Wes, and Mario (whoever emerges as a starter) will probably be due an pay raise. Then we have CJ to take care of. Not to be too pessimistic, but can we afford it?

[Cam's New Arm]

I just don't see any of the journeymen DE's you listed turning into anything worth cap discussions. KK and Star will get bank but that's about it.

[Mol3m4n]

If anything, we should be able to upgrade. Charles Johnson's salary is crippling the defense.

[CarolinaNCSU]

I feel like KK and Star are affordable...right now.  If one or both truly break out though, I don't see how we can keep both. 

[ctrcat]

The ONLY certainties, IMHO, are that Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly are Panthers for a LONG time.  To each his own but considering the miracle GMan has made of our mess in two years' time, thinking about 2017, if forced to think about, makes me hard, not limp.  We will be out of cap hell and have two more GMan drafts, orchestrated by a man that had the best draft in football last year at the 28th position.  Live in the moment and enjoy the ride.  We're in good hands.

[DamnItJake!]

2017?? Gees lets get through this year and 2016.. U might say good riddance u overpaid bastards in 2017

[pantherclaw]

I'm not worried. We actually don't  have very many big money contracts on defense right now, and knowing Gettleman, he won't allow our defense to get old 

[Jangler]

Since the defense has always been a priority for the Panthers, I say yes.

[pantherking15]

Gman loves the D-line too much to let any of those guys walk.

1. The NFL salary cap is steadily increasing. By 2017, the salary cap might be over $165 mil.

2. We're getting all the dead money back from those awful Hurney contracts. I think we led the league in dead money in 2014 with $19 mil. This year, we have $12.1 mil in dead money. With Gettleman running the show, it's going to come down to $2 - $3 mil in no time.

3. I don't think Gettleman is ever going to go after big name free agents. He just doesn't see the value there. This will let us have enough space to keep our guys.

 

[pantherphan96]

leave the worrying to the Gman and the front office.

[ctrcat]

leave the worrying to the Gman and the front office.

The great thing is, GMan DOES think about it.  A lot.  In his words, he "walks a tightrope" every day between having this team ready for the present and future.

[pantherphan96]

The great thing is, GMan DOES think about it.  A lot.  In his words, he "walks a tightrope" every day between having this team ready for the present and future.

agreed. the dude is always scheming and planning out the future of the team. he won't rush into deals but showed that he will get them done, as seen with the Cam deal. the guy is very forthcoming with his plans (outside of commenting on contract negotiations) and does what he says he will do, whether it is going with BPA, not reaching on a need, or getting a deal done.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

sounds like a problem for future me

[Captain Morgan]

 

 Norman proved last season to be as close to a shutdown cornerback as Carolina has had in several years. With another strong season he could demand a top 10 cornerback salary that could elevate his cap number to close to $10 million in 2016.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/14356/how-the-panthers-spend-josh-norman-leads-cornerbacks