Feb. 9, 2026, 3:15 p.m. ET
Which of the Carolina Panthers‘ 2026 free agents will stick around for 2027?
Joe Person of The Athletic, in recently ranking the team’s 18 unrestricted free agents, dropped a few hints of who may stay for next season. First, he notes that punter Sam Martin and long snapper JJ Jansen are among the players they’d “like to have back.”
Martin, who signed over from the Buffalo Bills last offseason, just finished up his first campaign in Carolina. He ranked 22nd in net yardage per attempt (40.5) and ninth in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (27).
Jansen, meanwhile, is fresh off his 17th season with the organization. The former Pro Bowler turned 40 years old on Jan. 20.
Person later goes on to add that the Panthers could look to lock down homegrown center Cade Mays and re-sign inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom, but with a bit of a caveat. He writes:
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The sense is the Panthers would bring Rozeboom back at the right price, while trying to limit his exposure in passing situations.
Rozeboom started in each of his 15 games in 2025, recording 122 combined tackles and a career-high 2.0 sacks. He did, however, receive a career-low coverage grade from Pro Football Focus at 43.6.
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