Panthers’ free-agency grades: Adding playmaking WR, 2 big guards steps in right direction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — We are getting into a fun time on the sports calendar when NFL free agency flows into March Madness, which overlaps with baseball’s Opening Day, which starts even earlier this year because a couple of NL West teams are playing this week in Seoul, South Korea. Panthers acquire Diontae Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers Carolina received: WR Diontae Johnson, 2024 seventh-round pick Pittsburgh received: CB Donte Jackson, 2024 sixth-round pick There’s a corner of the Panthers locker room which for the last several years was inhabited by Burns, cornerback Jaycee Horn, safety Jeremy Chinn and Jackson. GO DEEPER Person: Panthers take risk in acquiring Diontae Johnson, but his upside is undeniable Grade: A Free-agent signings/agreements Offense G Robert Hunt Contract: Five years, $100 million, with $63 million guaranteed Teams that have given guards massive deals haven’t always been rewarded in the win column. Grade: B CB Dane Jackson Contract: Two years, $8.5 million, with $5.1 guaranteed Jackson was one of three free agent targets The Athletic identified who agreed to terms with the Panthers. Grade: B-plus OLB K’Lavon Chaisson Contract: One year, up to $5 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport This isn’t the first time the Panthers have taken a flier on a Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round bust, with Chaisson arriving just as former Jags cornerback CJ Henderson exits in free agency.