Free agency priorities

Wide receiver

They didn’t draft a wide receiver until the 5th round. Steve Smith has cleaned out his locker and put his house on the market so can’t be relied on. He’ll probably be traded when doing so is allowed. That leaves them with David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, and Kealoha Pilares, all three of whom have a year of experience or less and weren’t drafted before the 3rd round. I wanted them to take a blue chipper through the draft. Instead, they’ll have to find veterans in free agency. With Cam Newton secured, this is undeniably their biggest need heading into free agency.

Defensive end

Charles Johnson and his 11.5 sacks could be gone as a free agent. Aside from him, they had 19.5 sacks last year. They have young guys in Everette Brown and Greg Hardy who could break out next year, but there are no guarantees there. Either they resign Charles Johnson or they have to find another end who can guaranteed bring the pressure next year.

Tight end

You’d have to be crazy to call signing Jeremy Shockey a fix at tight end. Shockey didn’t even average 40 yards per game with Drew Bress throwing him the ball. Now he’s 30 (31 in August) and has missed a combined 10 games in the last 3 years. How he is going to be a functional tight end with Cam Newton throwing to him. They need to bring someone else in.

Guard

Offensive linemen are tough to find in free agency, but guard was one of their biggest needs heading into the draft and they didn’t address the position until the 6th and 7th rounds (not like they had much choice). 

Quarterback

First and foremost, this team needs a quarterback, whether they are able to take Luck or are forced to settle for someone like Ryan Mallett or Cam Newton, they must take a quarterback. That how teams are built. The 2008 Falcons took Matt Ryan and went from 4-12 to 11-5. The 2008 Ravens took Joe Flacco and went from 5-11 to 11-5. The 2010 Rams took Sam Bradford and went from 1-15 to 7-9. The Jets went from no playoffs in 2009 to 2 straight playoff appearances with Mark Sanchez. The Buccaneers have to be happy with Josh Freeman, who sped up their rebuilding process and got them to 10-6 in 2010. The Lions have a lot of hope for their future with Matt Stafford (if he can stay healthy). The Panthers can follow the same path with a new quarterback.

Drafted Cam Newton (#1) 

Wide Receiver

No matter who has been under center for the last 2 years, they haven’t had anyone to throw to. Steve Smith has fallen off the face of the earth and could be cut this offseason. Neither David Gettis nor Brandon LaFell are consistent. Dwayne Jarrett blows. They need someone for their rookie QB to throw to.

Drafted Kealoha Pilares (#132) 

Defensive End

Other than Charles Johnson surprisingly breaking out for 11.5 sacks, this team only has 19.5 sacks this year. They need a pass rusher opposite him.

Guard

How did this once proud running team average struggle to run the football at times this year? Their interior blocking was among the worst in the league. The line also gave up 50 sacks this year, tied for 2^nd most in the league, roughly one every 9.7 drop backs.

Drafted Zach Williams (#203), Drafted Lee Ziemba (#244) 

Defensive Tackle

In addition to not getting any pass rush from any outside rusher other than Charles Johnson, they couldn’t get any pass rush from the inside of their line.

Drafted Terrell McClain (#65), Drafted Sione Fua (#97) 

Tight End

John Fox hates tight ends. They raped his mother and killed his father when he was young. Hopefully their new coach doesn’t have a problem with them, because tight ends are rookie quarterbacks’ best friends.

Signed Jeremy Shockey 

Offensive Tackle

I don’t know how Jordan Gross made the Pro Bowl. This line gave up 50 sacks and he was it’s left tackle. They also need depth behind Jeff Otah at right tackle. Otah missed the entire season and no one was able to come close to filling his void.

Safety

Not a priority for a team with so many other needs, but their defense needs safety depth after trading Chris Harris back to the Bears before the season.