After two years with the organization, Mike Adams is informed that the Panthers are looking in another direction.
Panthers safety Mike Adams was informed by the team that he will not be re-signed ahead of next season. The 37-year-old averaged 72 tackles and 2.5 interceptions during his two seasons in electric blue. While Adams was an adequate steward at both the free safety and strong safety positions, by the end of the 2018 season it became obvious that the Panthers lack speed and range at their safety position.
Panthers will not re-sign safety Mike Adams, per source (and as Adams indicated on social media).
— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 25, 2019
Not unexpected. And part of team’s plan to get younger and faster on defense.
With Eric Reid being resigned earlier this month, the team is in need of a free safety with enough mobility to allow Reid to excel underneath. Whether a free safety will be added through free agency or through the draft remains to be seen, but Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera has always coveted experience in his defensive secondary. While Adams’ experience is virtually impossible to replace, his ability to get to his spot after diagnosing the play has become a concern.
CSR expects that Adams’ replacement will be found in free agency. Rivera and company already have a young safety in Rashaan Gaulden, as well as a promising second year cornerback in Donte Jackson. This might already be as much youth as Rivera can tolerate in one personnel group.
While many fans hope the Panthers go after Earl Thomas or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix this offseason, the organization’s M.O. at the safety position suggests that they will be on the lookout for a young under-the-radar veteran type in free agency to fill the starting safety spot opposite Eric Reid. Drafting a safety in the first three rounds would suggest that the organization is exploring starting a young free safety. We suspect that this would be a result of not finding an adequate enough free agent at the position. A hedging of bets, if you will.
A list of safeties the Panthers have under contract in 2019:
Eric Reid (projected starter at strong safety)
Da’Norris Searcy (projected top backup at strong safety)
Rashaan Gaulden (projected starter at free safety, in mix for starting nickel spot)
Damian Parms (if on 2019 roster, safety depth/special teams)
Cole Luke (if on 2019 roster, safety depth/special teams)
Kai Nacua (if on 2019 roster, safety depth/special teams)
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