2011 NFL Free Agents: The Carolina connection

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 21, 2011 6:49 AM CST in 2011 NFL Free Agents

With Pat Shurmur gone, I suppose all the former Eagles prospects will be enticed to Cleveland, what with its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and...and... Of course, since St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo also has a deep connection with the City of Brotherly Love's football team, maybe there will be bidding wars. There is another way. Last year the Rams tapped into defensive coordinator Ken Flajole's former team, the Carolina Panthers, to sign free agent linebacker Na'il Diggs. Like that move or not, it does represent one other logical connection for the Rams free agent interests.

There might be another Panthers free agent linebacker for the Rams to consider for their glaring need on the weakside: Thomas Davis. A free agent this year, the 27-year-old spent last season on IR after tearing his ACL. That could make him a slightly risky, slightly discounted free agent. Carolina could re-sign him, and since they plan to use a 4-3 defense under new head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. Carolina's large group of pricey free agents, including running back DeAngelo Williams, mean that Davis could be a casualty of financial decisions. Or not.

At the very least, it's a player to keep an eye on during the offseason.

Oh, all of this assumes that the owners will agree to a new CBA...ha!

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

o yes

by Ew-Whip11 on Jan 21, 2011 6:55 AM CST via mobile reply actions

I would love td he would add good speed to our front seven and he can cover he was a beast safety down at georgia

by Ew-Whip11 on Jan 21, 2011 6:57 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

IMPACT OLB draftee run is 1st rd. this year

ABout mid second rd is when impacting talent drops way off this year.

OT’s, qb’s and OLB’s and a few DT’s are going in the first round.

Maybe 2 rb’s, that is it.

by jlcdb70 on Jan 21, 2011 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

Definitely should take a look at him.

I’d like Geno Hayes but with his off-field concerns, I doubt Spags will get him. Does this guy have any character concerns?

"I kind of stepped my swagger up. You look at the Madden game and the swagger's so low, maybe they'll bump me up. Before it was a meatball flex, so you've got to liven it up a little bit." - Animal Jr.

by douchiedude on Jan 21, 2011 7:26 AM CST reply actions

Free agent OLB might be the best option.

Most of the top OLBs in the draft appear to be 3-4 guys. The one from N Carolina would be intriguing on 2nd or 3rd round though if healthy.

by p stuby on Jan 21, 2011 8:38 AM CST reply actions

anyone know if we still got kevin payne under contract? jw

by markg1127 on Jan 21, 2011 8:42 AM CST via mobile reply actions

No he was cut so the rams could keep there conditional pick

by RamsFan7 on Jan 21, 2011 10:44 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

YES YES YES YES YES

Guy is small, but is a monster. Gives us some speed on the outsides that we desperately need.

Sam Bradford

by Jombari on Jan 21, 2011 10:11 AM CST reply actions

Any thoughts on Thomas Howard the olb from Oakland?

I believe he’s a free agent this year and I dont believe the Raiders have any intentions of keeping him.

by diehardram87 on Jan 21, 2011 2:16 PM CST reply actions

Hate to burst your bubble over here...

Someone brought this up over on Cat Scratch Reader.

On the topic of Thomas Davis, he’s not going to be available. He was given the option to keep rehabbing to come back this season or to go ahead and shut it down with the assurance that he would be made a Panther again next year (CBA pending). He is a core part of our defense and one of the few free agents the Panthers front office has contacted about resigning.

Jerry Richardson won’t make any contracts while the CBA is still in the works, but mark my words, Davis will not be on the market.

by aceofsween on Jan 23, 2011 1:05 PM CST reply actions

I should add I guess...

We have the 4th most capspace in the NFL right now, with just about $70 million in salaries. The only teams with more space than us are the Bucs, Chiefs, and Raiders. The NFL average (for comparison) is about $96 million, so we’re talking $25 million more than the average team.

by aceofsween on Jan 23, 2011 1:19 PM CST up reply actions