CHARLOTTE – With one of their regular pass pickers going to the free agent market next month, the Panthers have held their ground.
The Panthers signed with wide receivers Brandon Zylstra and Keith Kirkwood for one-year deals on Monday. Both were programmed to be restricted free agents.
Zylstra, 27, participated in all matches and managed three passes for 35 yards last season.
Of the yards they received, 28 of them came dramatically – in a fake punt against the Chiefs, pulling the surprise pass from bettor Joseph Charlton.
Kirkwood, 26, played just one game last year because of injuries. He started the season as an injury reserve, was activated for the Bears game, but was injured again in his left collarbone and was paralyzed during the year. He took a 13-yard pass.
As a Saints rookie in 2018 (when Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady was on the team there), Kirkwood took 13 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He also played for Panthers coach Matt Rhule at Temple.
The Panthers are headlined by DJ Moore and Robby Anderson under contract, although Curtis Samuel is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 17. None of the other receivers in the squad at the moment (Marken Michel, Ventell Bryant, Amara Darboh, Omar Bayless and Ishmael Hyman) got a pass last year.
The Panthers still have two RFAs they would like to keep – the offensive attack Trent Scott and the defensive attack Efe Obada.
Scott started seven games in the left tackle due to injuries from Russell Okung. A commodity known to San Diego line technician Pat Meyer, Scott offers some security in a stream position.
The Panthers have only one of their starting strikers from last year under contract (the Matt Paradis center), although they must use the franchise brand on the right tackle Taylor Moton if they can’t reach a long-term deal.
Obada developed into a solid interior rusher and was second in the team with 5.5 bags last year.