2015 Carolina Panthers Final Roster Projection

[DeeJay]

Just cut brown already,

Rivera is just hard headed,

Any Noteable WR's Cut gotta get someone, Cut sir purr to I swear he's causing all this

[SetfreexX]

QB-3

 

Cam Newton

Derek Anderson

Joe Webb

 

I think Webb is the future back up when Anderson finally retires, I really like the way this QB back-up situation has played out.

 

HB-4

 

Jonathan Stewart

Cameron Artis-Payne

Jordan Todman

Fozzy Whittaker

 

(Wegher to practice squad) I really think he’s more talented than Fozzy at the 4^th spot, but with the concerns of picking up the blitz he’s likely looking at a practice squad designation.

 

FB-1

Mike Tolbert

 

WR-6

 

Devin Funchess

Ted Ginn Jr.

Jarrett Boykin

Corey Brown

Jerricho Cotchery

Bersin or Player via cut

 

(Byrd-practice squad), with so little experience I just can’t see Boykin not making the team, aside from Cotchery, and Ginn he’s the only receiver on the roster with a decently impressive resume. I’ve never been sold on Brown and the pre-season hasn’t helped that.

 

TE-3

 

Greg Olsen

Ed Dickson

Brandon Williams

 

If Simonsen is eligible I think he hits the PS, Williams coming back with three years under his belt gets the nod especially with his special teams back ground.

 

OL-9

 

Michael Oher

Andrew Norwell

Ryan Kalil

Trai Turner

Mike Remmers

Darryl Williams

Amini Silatolu

Chris Scott

Nate Chandler

 

No need to keep Folkerts as Remmers is being groomed as the back up, with Williams starting by the mid-point of the season.

 

26 Offensive Players

 

DL-8

 

Charles Johnson

Star Lotulelei

Kawaan Short

Kony Ealy

Wes Horton

Mario Addison

Kyle Love

Dwan Edwards

Rakim Cox

 

I think keeping a 5^th DT is over-blown as people over  react a bit to the Star injury, but I do think we keep a 5^th DE.

 

LB-6

 

Luke Kuechly

Thomas Davis

Shaq Thompson

A.J. Klein

David Mayo

Adarius Glanton

 

I really can’t see us moving Mayo to the PS, I don’t think any draft picks under DG have not made the 53, why start now?

 

DB-5

 

Josh Norman

Charles Tillman

Bene Benwikere

Teddy Williams

T.J. Heath

 

Melvin White is the odd man out IMO, sub par last year, and doesn’t seem to be making plays consistently in the pre-season. We keep 5 with Colin Jones’ ability to back up the nickel.

 

S-4

 

Kurt Coleman

Roman Harper

Trey Boston

Colin Jones

 

Not much to see here aside from a guy like Marlowe hitting the PS.

 

24 Defensive players

 

Special Teams-3

 

Graham Gano

Brad Nortman

J.J. Janson

 

One of the best units in the NFL, and over looked by many. 

[Daeavorn]

What has Brandon Williams done to earn that last TE spot over simonson? That kid made some really nice plays.

[Chaos]

well if KB hadn't gotten injured Bersin probably doesn't make the cut ....so idk what you expect 

TBH I expect more talent at that skill position.  Having a UDFA all-star squad makes for good stories and inspiration, but we need results on the field.  

[MHS831]

Here is my final 2015 Carolina Panthers roster projection. 

 

Offense - 26  (25)

Quarterback - 3
Cam Newton
Derek Anderson
Joe Webb

Note: Remember, Webb can also play that large possession receiver spot if needed. This allows the Panthers to keep only 5 receivers. 

Running Back - 4  ( 3)
Jonathan Stewart
Fozzy Whitaker
Cameron Artis-Payne
Jordan Todman  I want to keep Todman too, but Whittaker looked good returning kicks, blocking, recieving, and running the ball.  If Wegher stays on the PS, we don't need Todman this year.  I would keep 3 RBs with Tolbert and Wegher (possibly) available.

Note: With Jonathan Stewart entering what is probably his last season in Carolina, Panthers keep an extra back for continuity into 2016. 

Fullback - 1
Mike Tolbert

Tight End - 4
Greg Olsen
Ed Dickson
Scott Simonson out,   Marcus Lucas in  (I like Simonson a lot, but think he would stay on the PS--Lucas gives a big recieving threat not unlike Benjamin in size--Add Simonson to the PS)
Richie Brockel

Note: Simonson has come on strong as of late and is kept as injury insurance. If Olsen or Dickson get injured, the Panthers offense would suffer greatly without a backup pass catching tight end. Brockel is kept for special teams and short yardage. Brandon Williams to IR possible. He has missed all of camp and preseason. Panthers could still keep him instead of Simonson though. Tough call. 

Wide Receiver - 5
Devin Funchess
Corey Brown
Ted Ginn
Brenton Bersin
Jerricho Cotchery

Note: I like Boykin and this is a very tough call. But keeping both Bersin and Boykin is fairly pointless as they are the same player. Boykin has a little more athletic ability but Bersin is more reliable. In a Ron Rivera locker room, reliability wins the spot. Personally, I would be very tempted to go with Boykin, but I don't think Rivera will. 

Offensive Line - 9
Michael Oher
Andrew Norwell
Ryan Kalil
Trai Turner
Mike Remmers
Daryl Williams
Chris Scott
Amini Silatolu 
Nate Chandler

Note: Panthers could opt to waive Brian Folkerts and use Mike Remmers as the backup center. This frees up roster space and makes room for the day that Daryl Williams is starting (it will happen this season).

 

Defense: 24  (25)

Defensive Line - 9
Charles Johnson
Star Lotulelei 
Kawaan Short
Kony Ealy
Colin Cole
Dwan Edwards
Mario Addison
Kyle Love
Wes Horton

Note: Really strong group here. 

Linebacker - 5  (6)
Thomas Davis
Luke Kuechly
Shaq Thompson
AJ Klein
Adarius Glanton 

Billy Mayo (Good point below about Trusnik-Klein can play all 3 spots now, but Mayo showed up on special teams, and we are focusing on Special Teams this year)

Note: I have taken Mayo off the roster here. I just cannot see why you would keep him when he would so obviously clear waivers and land on the practice squad.  Cutting Trusnik and keeping Glanton instead helps the Panthers 2016 compensatory draft pick odds. 

Safety - 4  (5)
Roman Harper
Tre Boston
Kurt Coleman
Colin Jones

Dean Marlow--I want to keep Dean Marlowe, and even though Rivera said he needed a year, I think he can play STs.  Not popular after Rivera's comments, but when the dust settles, how versatile are Harper and Jones?  We could need him

Note: Pretty much a lock here. Jones can move up into that buffalo nickel spot the Panthers love so much. 

Corners - 6  (5)
Josh Norman
Bene Benwikere
Charles Tillman
Teddy Williams
Melvin White (White does not make my team, but I could not decide between White and Heath) With Byndum on the PS, Jones' ability to play the buffalo nickel, we don't need 6.) 
TJ Heath  (I have not seen much from Heath, but Jeremy says he has been a beast in practice.  Going with him, but it makes me go back to Todman and wonder who is the better player.)

Note: Teddy Williams has done enough to make this team in preseason. Special teams cause is helped by his addition. 

Special Teams - 3

Kicker - Graham Gano
Punter - Brad Nortman
Long Snapper - JJ Jansen 

Practice Squad - 9
Carrington Byndom
Damiere Byrd
Brandon Wegher (crossing fingers)
David Foucault
Marcus Lucas
Dean Marlowe
Martin Wallace

David Mayo

Rakim Cox

Terry Redden. 

 

View full article

I made changes (I have not been at practices like Jeremy has) so take it for what it is worth.  However, I question a few of the bubble choices based on a few plays and few hunches.  I added comments to explain my "genius" in bold. 

When I was done, I looked back at the big picture and wondered why I would keep Marlowe and let Todman go if special teams was the reason I kept Marlowe.  If Marlowe is not ready for us he probably is not ready for any roster, so he should be safe on the PS.  If we keep Todman, PS Marlowe, then we have quality in the post-Stewart/Harper era.  I am leaving what I have, but when all is said and done, keeping Todman over Marlowe makes more sense.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Simonson seems like the better blocker between Lucas&Williams..of course I do say that bc he is white. 

The lack of snaps for Lucas was puzzling esp in red zone situations where he could be a nice threat as a big wr or as a wing blocker on run plays..but oh well. They seen more of him than I have in practice. 

The additions of Wes Horton and Glanton make total sense. 

The experience Boykin has as a starter in GB makes me think we may keep him ....but from what snaps he received in week 3 It would seem his playbook will be requested. 

[SOJA]

TBH I expect more talent at that skill position.  Having a UDFA all-star squad makes for good stories and inspiration, but we need results on the field.  

KB, Funch, Cotch, Ginn, Brown 

That's a pretty talented group of WRs, if you look at some of our past teams that's a hell of a lot more than we used to have

[WesleyM]

With RR saying today that Colin Jones is going to see a specialist about his groin does that open the door to him going to IR once we officially get to 75 and someone else making the team? That would be a big loss actually as he is great on ST and the Buffalo.

[gorillamilitia13]

Agree with most of this but I think Boykin will make the team, over Todman. Maybe Mayo instead of Klein?

[caatfan]

Agree with most of this but I think Boykin will make the team, over Todman. Maybe Mayo instead of Klein?

I like Todman and Boykin both, but I don't think it's either or with those two, and if it were, I'd rather have Todman. I see no way Klein doesn't make the team. He's a good LB and can fill in at all three positions.

[PoundCat]

With Shaq, won't we be playing more basic 4-3? That being said, could we get away with 5 corners instead of 6, allowing us to keep Boykin? WR depth makes me nervous, especially with Funch being gimpy and Brown being droppy.

[KB_fan]

With RR saying today that Colin Jones is going to see a specialist about his groin does that open the door to him going to IR once we officially get to 75 and someone else making the team? That would be a big loss actually as he is great on ST and the Buffalo.

As far as I know, it would be possible to send him to the IR tomorrow as we plan to do with KB.  But, I believe that would mean losing him for the whole season.  Perhaps if he's seeing the specialist today, and it's bad, we'll have to do that.  If the specialist says there's a chance he could come back, we might hang on to him until the 2nd cuts and then we could put him on the IR with designation to return.  We'd then get him back after 6 weeks, I believe.  However, we can only do that with one guy per season.   So, this is tough....

[t96]

LOL,  Got to love the Huddle whiplash.  In one thread it's damn, how can we ever expect to be a good team if we keep filling our roster with UDFAs.  On another thread it's damn, Rivera & Gettleman are too conservative and won't give our team a chance by putting the UDFAs on the roster.

[I'm mostly thinking of Wegher here... obviously Boykin is not a UDFA.]

Boykin is a UDFA.

[PoundCat]

 

Boykin is a UDFA.

He was. Now he's an NFL veteran with 11 starts and 3 years experience. 

Edited August 31, 2015 by PoundCat
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