You would be surprised to know that a lot more than watching prospects work out occurs at the combine. Dave Gettleman is the general manager of the Panthers and has been very meticulous with every move he makes. Gettleman came to the Panthers before the 2013 season and has put the right pieces around his young core to send them to the playoffs each year he has been there. Gettleman’s job entails re-signing his players, signing new free agents, drafting college prospects, cutting players who can’t contribute and finally trading players. Gettleman likes to tell the world he does not start scouting college prospects until after free agency. So then why does he and a host of others attend the NFL Combine?

Teeing Up Free Agency

Dave Gettleman will more than likely meet with a host of agents who represent players from the Panthers. The most important of which would be Panthers’ defensive end Charles Johnson’s agent. Charles Johnson is in limbo at the moment. Will Dave Gettleman cut him to save the Panthers from owing him over $10 million dollars or will Johnson’s agent and Gettleman find common ground for a restructured deal to keep Johnson on the team. Other players whose agents will more than likely meet with Gettleman include:

Josh Norman:

Norman is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL currently. Unfortunately he will hit free agency this offseason unless his agent and Gettleman can agree on a long term deal. While it is more likely he will be franchise tagged Gettleman has made it clear he would like to reach a long term deal. Norman was a key cog to the Panthers success in 2015 with 4 interceptions in the regular season, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Amini Silatolu

This is probably the least thought about but most important one of the bunch. Amini Silatolu is a back up guard for the Panthers who stepped in beautifully when Andrew Norwell saw extended rest due to a knee injury. Silatolu later tore his ACL and was out for the rest of the season. Dave Gettleman should make sure to meet with Silatolu’s agent during the draft to get a deal done and out of the way quickly. Bringing back Silatolu would be a good win for the Panthers.

Mike Tolbert

Another under the radar important conversation that may happen at the combine is the one Mike Tolbert’s agent will want to have with Gettleman. Tolbert has made it clear he would like to resign with the Panthers and the only real question will be if the Panthers would like him to be part of the team.

“Fullbacks like him are hard to find and valuable” – Dave Gettleman at the scouting combine

I think it is safe to say the Panthers want him after Gettleman’s press conference.

Best of the rest

Agents for Charles Tillman, Kawann Short, A.J. Klein, Philly Brown, Andrew Norwell, Michael Oher and Kurt Coleman could all be at the combine trying to convince Gettleman now is the time to extend their players, but more than likely Gettleman will try to push off those meeting until after the draft and before training camp so as to minimize his work load during the most important time of the year.

The All Powerful Question. Why At The Combine?

Well this is actually a pretty simple answer, and it is the same answer as to why the Combine happens before the end of the NFL year. To set up how teams approach free agency. If Gettleman gets contract extensions and resignings done with a number of players at the combine then he can walk into free agency ready and prepared.

That doesn’t necessarily answer the question, so here is the other side of it. By meeting at the Combine it not only gives Gettleman a chance to do all of his business in one place, but also allows him to insight into how they will handle the draft which will direct the questions he asks players in interviews and how hard he looks at certain prospects.