CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This is not your typical free agency primer for the Carolina Panthers.
That’s because what the Panthers do in free agency, which begins with legal tampering Monday, is expected to be tied to what happens Friday in a courtroom in Houston.
That’s where a grand jury will begin its process of determining if Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson should be indicted on legal charges stemming from criminal complaints filed last year by 10 women alleging sexual misconduct against the three-time Pro Bowl selection.
If the grand jury doesn’t indict, and Watson is left with the 22 civil cases alleging inappropriate behavior against him, the Panthers are expected to be among a group of teams that will aggressively pursue a trade with the Texans.