Safety Mike Mitchell made the most of a one-year deal in 2013, starting 14 games and providing the NFC South champion Panthers with solid play in the back end of the secondary.
That would seem to position him well for a longer deal this offseason and early reports about interest in Mitchell around the league do nothing to change that opinion. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported Saturday that Mitchell fielded calls from the Bears, Eagles, Falcons and Broncos and added the Redskins to the list on Sunday.
Person adds that the Redskins join their NFC East rivals from Philadelphia as the teams showing the most interest in Mitchell. While we can’t be sure what that interest will amount to when it comes time for players to actually sign contracts, both teams are in major need of help at safety and Mitchell would certainly be an upgrade over what they had in 2013.
The Panthers aren’t out of the mix, but their limited cap space could make it hard for them to compete for Mitchell while also making other moves to bolster the team for the 2014 season.