CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- This may be the year that Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman finally makes a big splash early in free agency.
Or at least a big ripple.
He has the money -- still more than $25 million in salary-cap space after re-signing many of Carolina's own free agents -- and has needs at offensive tackle, safety and defensive end.
He didn't waste any time with news coming Thursday morning that tackle Matt Kalil is set to join his brother Ryan on the Panthers' offensive line barring any last-minute snags in the negotiation, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Among the early targets he could pursue when free agency officially opens at 4 p.m. Thursday are Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and Green Bay Packers defensive end/outside linebacker Julius Peppers.
Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church was on Carolina's radar, but he reportedly will sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars for four years at more than $6 million a year.
Of those, Peppers would be considered the biggest splash -- even if the money isn't -- because of his history with Carolina.
But making a big splash early hasn't been a part of Gettleman's DNA since the Panthers hired him in 2013.
Look at the evidence:
2013: Signed only one unrestricted free agent, cornerback Drayton Florence, in the first week. Didn't sign the second, safety Mike Mitchell, until nine days into free agency.
2014: Didn't sign his first UFA, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, until nine days into free agency.
2015: Didn't sign his first UFA, safety Kurt Coleman, until six days into free agency. Signed only three overall.
2016: Signed only one UFA, center Gino Gradkowski, in the first week of free agency. Signed only two overall.
Gettleman, largely because he was strapped under the cap during his first four years, sat back and let the market play out instead of making a big offer right off the bat and overpaying.
That appears to be his nature even with money to burn.
It doesn't mean Gettleman won't make a run at a few players early. Kalil and Peppers might require more immediate recruitment before being snatched by another team.
Gettleman also has options that aren't UFAs, such as former Denver Broncos left tackle Russell Okung.
But even those players aren't at a level where you could consider signing one a big splash, which means perhaps Gettleman can afford to let the market settle.
Peppers, 37, began his likely Hall of Fame career at Carolina as the second overall pick of the 2002 draft. He remains the Panthers' all-time sack leader with 81.
He's from North Carolina and attended UNC. He would be a big local splash.
But this isn't going to be like 1998 when the Panthers signed defensive tackle Sean Gilbert -- who carried the franchise tag from the Washington Redskins -- cornerback Doug Evans and fullback William Floyd. Those were big splashes. They just didn't help Carolina make a big splash that season. The team finished 4-12.
Gettleman is more interested in fitting talent and character into a locker room than making a splash. Kalil would be a good fit if his surgically repaired hip is 100 percent as his father recently told the Pioneer Press of St. Paul, Minnesota. He probably can be had for between $5 million to $8 million a year.
Gettleman has the money to do these things, so look for him to at least disturb the free-agent waters earlier than normal.
