Reacts Results: Fans want upgrades in the secondary

Free agency help is available and Panthers fans want their team to take advantage

Last week we asked Panthers fans what, if anything, they’d like to see the Carolina Panthers do to upgrade their shallow secondary. There was one clear favorite amongst the three bigger name options available via either free agency or trade.

77% of Panthers fans would rather the team pursue an upgrade via signing a veteran free agent over trading for an aging, former star. Former Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon, PFF’s 23rd best coverage safety in 2024, is the clear choice for most fans. The Panthers visited with Blackmon in March, but did not sign him then and he remains unsigned at this time.

Justin Simmons, who has familiarity with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero from their shared time with the Denver Broncos, seems a distant second on most fans’ wishlists for this offseason.

Rumors are heating up around the league about the Panthers doing something to add to this need in the six weeks between now and the start of training camp, but there is little noise from within the Panthers organization on the subject. These rumors, for now, are more people seeing a need and drawing their own hopes and conclusions than they are indications of an imminent signing.

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