Carolina Panthers free agency 2018: Top 5 targets

2. Julius Peppers

Peppers, a certain future Hall of Famer, is a phenom. What he did last year proves that even further. Peppers racked up 11 sacks at 37-years-old despite playing less than 500 snaps. Well, Peppers’ contract has expired and it is uncertain if he will return to play another NFL season or not. But he certainly is still a difference maker and the Panthers should do everything possible to convince Peppers to stay at home in Carolina for another year.

The Panthers still have Charles Johnson, Mario Addison and Wes Horton at defensive end, but none of those three are special players. Carolina blitzed much more last year and some of that was due to not getting dominant play from their edge pass-rushers.

Even if Carolina were to resign Peppers, something that seems like an easy decision if Peppers agrees, the Panthers should consider drafting a defensive end early in the draft and possibly even in round one. That young player could learn a ton from Peppers. There is also a chance that Johnson is released for added salary cap space.