Delhomme, who turned 34 in January, is heading into the final year of his contract and would have been in line for a contract extension. But do the Panthers give him one after that horrendous playoff performance against the Cardinals in which he turned the ball over six times?

That's the big question.

Delhomme has plenty of detractors among Carolina fans, but he's been a proven winner since arriving in 2003. If the Panthers sign him to a long-term deal then you know he's part of their future. If not, then this could be Delhomme's final year as the team's starting quarterback.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Panthers have a tough decision coming up - to franchise defensive end Julius Peppers (who doesn't want to be here) or offensive tackle Jordan Gross (who does). The ideal situation for the Panthers is to sign both, but that won't happen.

Their next best bet is to re-sign Gross to a contract extension and then franchise Peppers and trade him for some draft picks. That would allow the Panthers to save face after a very messy situation.

TOP THREE TEAM NEEDS

1. Defensive end: If the Panthers lose Julius Peppers - and it almost seems a certainty at this point - they will need a replacement. In fact, they could really use two speed guys coming off the ends to complement Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson.

2. Defensive tackle: The Panthers need help to go along with Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis. The team ran into all sorts of injury problems here in the past.

3. Cornerback: If the Panthers cut Ken Lucas as expected, they will need to fill that spot, even though they like Richard Marshall and C.J. Wilson as potential starters alongside Chris Gamble.

MEDICAL WATCH: DT Damione Lewis said he probably won't be back on the football field until training camp at the earliest after recently undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder.

Lewis, an eight-year NFL veteran who turns 31 in March, said he's been told by doctors that the surgery will take several months to recover from and said he expects to miss all of the team's minicamp in May as well as the three weeks of "summer school" or OTA's in June.

"It's just a matter of giving it time to recover," he said.

Lewis injured the shoulder in Carolina's Dec. 21 loss to the New York Giants.

However, instead of having surgery immediately to repair the problem, he elected to tough it out with the Panthers in the playoff hunt. He sat out the regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints, but did return for the playoffs and started against the Arizona Cardinals.

Lewis started 15 games for the Panthers last season and had 43 tackles, four sacks and one fumble recovery.

Lewis signed to a contract extension prior to the 2008 season after the Panthers decided to trade Kris Jenkins, who had started ahead of Lewis in 2006 and 2007.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None

TRANSITION PLAYER: None

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:

--LB Donte Curry is a career special teams guy who has been decent, but certainly irreplaceable player for the Panthers. In all likelihood the team will look for a younger, cheaper alternative.

--OT Jordan Gross has the Panthers over a barrel. The Panthers want him back, but Gross is an All-Pro and will have to spend big bucks to keep him. Also, if they re-sign Gross before Feb. 19 they can use the franchise tag on Peppers and then trade him and get some draft picks in return.

--C/G Geoff Hangartner is a quality backup lineman who started as much as the regular starters due to injuries up and down the line. If the Panthers re-sign Gross, then Hangartner will likely depart because there will be not starting spots open and he'll look to go somewhere he can start. He should command decent money in free agency.

--WR/KR Mark Jones was used on returns last year and was very reliable. The Panthers would certainly like to have him back but they won't overpay because Ryne Robinson and Jason Carter are returning from knee injuries and both could fill his role while also contributing as a receiver, something Jones rarely did.

--LS Jason Kyle is one of those "old reliable" veterans who never makes a mistake on long snaps. The team will do what it can to bring him back, but Kyle will shop himself for the biggest offer. He should get some interest around the league.

--OT Frank Omiyale was a backup tackle last season who started one game at left tackle due to an injury and played well. Granted, it was against Kansas City. Clearly, Omiyale would welcome a chance to go somewhere where he could have a real chance to compete for a starting job.

--DE Julius Peppers will not play in Carolina next year, but the question is if the team will have a chance to put the franchise tag on him and trade him. To do that, the Panthers need to reach a contract extension with Jordan Gross first so they can use the tag on Peppers and get something in return.

--LB Adam Seward desperately wants out of Carolina and will look to find a home in a 3-4 defense because he feels that suits his game.

--DT Darwin Walker is not the player he once was. He was inactive for Carolina's playoff game against Arizona (the Panthers went with inexperienced rookie Nick Hayden instead) and that decision had nothing to do with injuries. There are some who suspect Walker will hang it up.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--LB James Anderson is a former t third-round pick who has contributed little other than on special teams. He may get the low tender.

--DT Gary Gibson was a backup tackle last year and could get the low tender from the Panthers. He went on IR late in the season with a hand injury.

--TE Jeff King has been a three-year starter for the Panthers and he may get the first-round tender so others keep their hands off.

--S Nate Salley hasn't played all that much but the Panthers still like his game and he should receive the low tender.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--DT Nick Hayden actually started toward the end of his rookie season in 2008 after getting cut in training camp. The team likes him and he'll be back.

--DT J'Vonne Parker joined the team late in the season due to injuries. He'll probably be invited to camp to compete.

--CB C.J. Wilson is a guy the Panthers really like and he could wind up being the No. 3 or 4 cornerback in 2009. The team may cut Ken Lucas, which would allow Wilson to move up the depth chart. He's a former safety with good cover skills.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: None.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--QB Brett Basanez: FA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST: None.