Dave Canales has added Dean Petzing to the Panthers staff as an offensive quality control coach.
Last fall, Petzing worked a similar position with LSU where he worked closely with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Coincidentally, Daniels is one of the hottest prospects in this year’s NFL Draft, with the current buzz suggesting that the Bears should consider him for the top pick.
Petzing is not going to work with Daniels with the Panthers. Rather, Carolina is trying to make the second year easier for Bryce Young, the former Alabama quarterback who topped last year’s draft.
Mike Kaye, the Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer, shared the news of the hiring on X. He noted that Petzing also worked with LSU coach Brian Kelly when he was at Notre Dame. However, this is Petzing’s first NFL job.
Canales is busy making major moves as he approaches his first free agent season as a head coach.
On Tuesday, hours before the NFL deadline, the Panthers placed the franchise tag on linebacker Brian Burns, their best pass rusher. This means Burns will earn $24.007 million, guaranteed, this coming season unless sides can negotiate something long term. But sides have been trying to get this done for the last year. Officially, the Panthers have until mid July, right before training camp opens, to get a bigger package done. Or, they could increase the offer for the one year deal.
Although the Panthers were one of the worst scoring defenses in the NFL, Burns played well, despite dealing with injuries. He posted eight sacks, with 18 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
While the Panthers want to keep Burns, it’s another story for tight end Hayden Hurst. The Panthers signed Hurst before last season to a three-year contract. But The Athletic reported that Carolina now will release him. The Athletic, quoting unnamed league sources, said that the team asked Hurst to take a pay cut, but he said no. Now, the team will cut the 30-year-old Hurst before March 16, when he is due for a $1.85 million roster bonus.
Such a move does not save Carolina much money. But Canales wants to remake the roster of a team that won only twice last season.
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