Restructuring and Releasing: Tough Choices Ahead for the Panthers' Front Office

This is the time of year that used to make Panthers fans cringe with anxiety. We are now in the offseason and the Panthers are looking at another tough road ahead in reference to Cap Space. Click here for latest Podcast where I discussed the Panthers Cap Space situation and more!

Brandt Tilis - Panthers Executive VP Of Football Operations

Brandt Tilis was brought in by the Panthers for his work behind the scenes with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hailed as a "Salary Cap Guru" he will have a task ahead of him this offseason to live up to that moniker.

Depending on where you get your Cap Space coffee from, the Panthers are sitting at 14.4 million (Over The Cap) and 11.6 million (Spotrac) in available cap space heading into 2026 free agency. Dan Morgan has already expressed a desire to be aggressive in free agency and bring in much needed talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

To bring in that talent the Panthers will have to make some moves to free up more cap space. Many want the team to go after free agent DE Trey Hendrickson or trade for DE Max Crosby. The market value for Hendrickson will be in the 25 million plus range and Crosby just signed a 3 year 106 million contract extension with the Raiders. If either one of these players are to be an option for the Panthers, their current cap figures are not going to cut it.

Cap Projection Per Spotrac

Now there are ways more cap space can be added for the Panthers. Some players could agree to a contract restructure or extension. Also what happens every offseason no matter what team it is, someone will have to be cut. Who that is and which category they fall under has yet to be determined.

I'm very interested to see how this all plays out before Free Agency starts in March.

As always Panther Nation. Y'all be Good, be Safe and Keep Pounding Mayne!!!