Is Panthers’ DE Greg Hardy a Realistic Option for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers This Offseason?By Leo Howell - Jan 16th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Jan 12, 2014; Charlotte, NC, Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) on the field prior to the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports During his introductory press conference with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, new defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier sang the praises of adding an impact pass rusher to help run the kind of defense he and Lovie Smith hope to run in Tampa Bay. And while the top of the 2014 NFL Draft offers plenty of options in the pass rush department, the free agent market has a potential grand prize at defensive end: Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers. Hardy was a significant factor in a Carolina defense that dominated the NFL this season, joining the 49ers and Seahawks as elite NFC defenses capable of shutting down any offense. Over his last two seasons, Hardy has 26 sacks, three passes defended and three fumbles forced from his defensive end position. No Buccaneer can compare to those numbers, and even combining the last two Buccaneer sack leaders (Michael Bennett and Gerald McCoy) falls short of Hardy’s production. But will the Panthers’ sack master hit the open market? According to NFL.com, it’s a yes and a no. The Panthers’ salary cap is in a bad place, and the GM admitted that openly when talking about Greg Hardy. The franchise tag is always an option, but it would cost an awful lot for a defensive end, and the Panthers would need to make some moves to free up the space to fill out their roster. But Hardy has made no mistake that he wants to return to Carolina, and even said it would be an honor to be franchise tagged, rather than being upset by it like most stars usually are. There’s no doubt that Hardy would be an incredible addition to the Tampa Bay defense, and it would be made even better by taking him from a division rival. But the Panthers will likely do everything they can to get Hardy back, and even if he hits the open market, there’s no promises that he comes to Tampa. So it’s possible that “The Kraken” may dwell in Tampa Bay next season, but I wouldn’t call it a realistic chance. http://thepewterplank.com/2014/01/16/panthers-de-greg-hardy-realistic-option-tampa-bay-buccaneers-offseason/?utm_source=FanSided&utm_medium=Network&utm_campaign=Around%20the%20Network
Carolina's cap situation isnt that good. I dont know if he will end up in Tampa, but I doubt he stays in Carolina.
Draft a guard and cut Joseph and Nicks. Trade Revis and his $16 million cap hit. Sign Hardy and Tillman. Cut Bowers if he doesn't come around. We can get out of this hole we're in but we need to blow some shat up in order to do it.
Draft a guard and cut Joseph and Nicks. Trade Revis and his $16 million cap hit. Sign Hardy and Tillman. Cut Bowers if he doesn't come around. We can get out of this hole we're in but we need to blow some shat up in order to do it.
And who exactly is going to trade for a $16 million corner?
Hardy, in some ways would be like Simeon Rice 2.0. It's not often you get a chance to grab an elite pass rusher in his prime.However, he will get a huge payday in the neighborhood of $13M+ per year. We can't afford that. Not when we already have a $16M/yr cornerback on the roster. There is just noway to make that work. We can sign one of the other older DEs for a little over half that price. If we want an elite young pass rusher, we will have to find our own in the draft.Michael Sam and Aaron Donald would be a nice start. :)
Hardy, in some ways would be like Simeon Rice 2.0. It's not often you get a chance to grab an elite pass rusher in his prime.However, he will get a huge payday in the neighborhood of $13M+ per year. We can't afford that. Not when we already have a $16M/yr cornerback on the roster. There is just noway to make that work. We can sign one of the other older DEs for a little over half that price. If we want an elite young pass rusher, we will have to find our own in the draft.Michael Sam and Aaron Donald would be a nice start. :)
Isnt Donald a DT? I would be all over getting Sam with our 4th if he is still there.
Aaron is a DT, but a great pass rusher is a great pass rusher. Besides, he is 285lbs....so he could play DE if we wanted him to.
Aaron is a DT, but a great pass rusher is a great pass rusher. Besides, he is 285lbs....so he could play DE if we wanted him to.
He's not gonna have to athleticism to be a DE. He's a spiffy DT prospect but being a "elite" DT isn't gonna make you a good DE.
I can't see the Panthers letting him walk, and he wants to stay there. The Panthers have loads of jack tied-up in their RB position that with one swift cut they could probably free up enough money to resign hardy.
Aaron is a DT, but a great pass rusher is a great pass rusher. Besides, he is 285lbs....so he could play DE if we wanted him to.
He's not gonna have to athleticism to be a DE. He's a spiffy DT prospect but being a "elite" DT isn't gonna make you a good DE.
Charles Johnson is an inch taller than Aaron Donald and listed at an identical 285lbs. They have very similar styles....and Johnson is a top 5 DE in this league....in a 4-3 defense. I'm not sure what you see when you watch Donald that says he doesn't have the athleticism required. I see a guy who can line up anywhere on a 4-3 line and do very well.
I can't see the Panthers letting him walk, and he wants to stay there. The Panthers have loads of jack tied-up in their RB position that with one swift cut they could probably free up enough money to resign hardy.
I can, they are already paying Johnson almost $13 mil a year. They cant just cut their RBs. With the way their contracts are structured they wouldnt save any money by doing so...their cap hits are less than the amount of dead money their contracts are responsible for...which means they arent getting cut.
Yeah....Panthers are idiots with the RBs. Between Williams and Stewart, they have a cap hit of about $14M/yr for the next 3 years years and it almost all guaranteed.
I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not 1,000% sold on Hardy as an elite pass rusher. From what I saw he got a lot of his sacks rushing from DT in nickel packages and he also feasted on the worst offensive lines he faced. He still deserves a lot of money just for that, but I'm not sure I'd put him with the elite of the elite edge rushers.
We can get out of this hole we're in but we need to blow some shat up in order to do it.
what hole are you referring to?
I'd rather have Jared Allen. He's better looking.
