Carolina Panthers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints in the third quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Trey Flowers #98 and Dont’a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots sack Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

1. Trey Flowers

Most Super Bowl champions go to great lengths to keep their dominant edge rushers from hitting free agency. The Patriots aren’t most Super Bowl winners. There’s a real chance they’ll allow Flowers to leave New England this offseason.

If they do, he’ll be besieged by interest from teams who want to make him the centerpiece of their pass rushes. He doesn’t have quite the glitz and glamour that guys like Jadeveon Clowney and DeMarcus Lawrence possess, but he’s immensely productive. He may have only notched 7.5 sacks in the regular season, but he played his best football for the Patriots in the postseason.

His versatility will appeal strongly to Rivera and the way he wants to tweak the Panthers scheme next season. They’ll be looking for edge rushers who can rush the passer, hold up against the run and drop into space upon occasion. Some guys can’t do all three things well, Flowers is definitely a guy who can thrive playing football in different ways.

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Flowers might end up signing a deal that’s out of the Panthers price range, but they should stay in the race to sign him as long as they can. He’s a perfect fit for how Carolina wants to attack opposing offenses. The versatile defensive end would be a dream signing for Hurney and the Panthers.

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