Carolina is trying to find a new identity, one that Matt Rhule hopes is enough to save his job. In addition, the Panthers need to upgrade the offensive line, address several spots on defense, and find a starting quarterback they are confident can lead a more potent offense. With 21 pending free agents, the Panthers have a lot of holes to fill in building their new identity with only 28 million dollars to work with in free agency. Here are three players the Panthers need to re-sign entering 2022’s free agency.

Frankie Luvu

Luvu was a rotational player in 2021 and, although he is a Rhule guy, he added energy and playmaking ability to the Panthers’ defense. Luvu had a PFF overall grade of 84.8 and excelled in the pash-rush and run-defense categories. Fitterer said that adding a starting linebacker is important, so it doesn’t look like they are interested in bringing back Jermaine Carter. Luvu makes for a young and cheap option, where his familiarity with the defensive system and versatility could help field a potent defense.

DaQuan Jones

Jones probably isn’t viewed by many as an important signing. Draft nuts will point to Daviyon Nixon and Phil Hoskins as young, promising players set to play a sizeable future role. Let the young players cook beside high-draft pick Derrick Brown, right. Jones, however, played an important role in Carolina’s 2021 defense. He had higher PFF grades than Brown, and both Nix and Hoskins faced injury and played in a rotational capacity. A year ago, names like Braviyon Roy entertained similar ideas, but Carolina needed a more proven veteran commodity. It wasn’t Carolina’s interior that was problematic, either. This time, signing Jones to a two-year deal could mitigate the expense while trying to preserve some continuity on a defensive line that is bound to look differently on the edges.

Donte Jackson

Arguably the riskiest and most expensive of the list, Carolina should look to re-sign Donte Jackson. The last couple of seasons have been marred by injuries, and Carolina did bring in CJ Henderson, but Jackson had been playing better over the past two seasons and appeared to be maturing into a player much differently than was portrayed in Amazon’s All or Nothing Series. Henderson wasn’t bad but was slowly integrated into the defense, and former Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore, won’t come cheap despite claims that he wants to be close to home. Perhaps concerns about his durability will encourage Jackson to strike a deal with Carolina, where he can find a comfortable spot in the defense alongside Jaycee Horn.

Who on the list do you think Carolina needs to re-sign? Who would you avoid? Is there a name on the defense you think is more important? Let us know in the comments or on social media.

By Tony Dunn

Follow @Cat_Chronicles for the latest Panthers news and opinions from the fan perspective.