NFL Rumors: Carolina Panthers interested in Hakeen Nicks, Nate Burleson?
By Josh Hill
The NFL offseason us officially upon us, which means that teams are starting to look at ways they can make immediate upgrades in order to secure deep runs in the postseason next year. One such team happens to be the Carolina Panthers, who were bounced in their first playoff game but took strides towards being consistent contenders in the NFC.
One position that may get an upgrade, or at least depth, is wide receiver. ESPN.com blogger David Newton suggests that that Nate Burleson could be a solid option for the Panthers if they look his way in free agency.
"Hakeem Nicks gets a lot of mentions because he comes from the New York Giants, where Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman was prior to last year. But if the Panthers were to go after one of these two, Nate Burleson makes the most sense. He’s a tall slot receiver that would take coverage off Steve Smith. The real question on either is the price tag."
Nicks will almost certainly be out of the Panthers price range, but as long as they keep Burleson away from slippery roads and pizza shops, he may end up being a great addition in the offseason.