Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

2020 Carolina Panthers Roster Prediction


Jeremy Igo

Recommended Posts

With the Carolina Panthers making their final cut downs to 53 players later this week, i thought I would take a moment and provide my thoughts on what the final roster will look like. Unsurprisingly, it is vastly different than last year's, and that is a good thing. 

QUARTERBACKS  (3)

Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier, PJ Walker

All three Carolina Panthers quarterbacks will make the team. However, the backup quarterback position is still up for grabs. According to head coach Matt Rhule that competition will go into the regular season. My gut says PJ Walker will win the position when it is all said and done. 

RUNNING BACKS (4)

Christian McCaffrey, Reggie Bonnafon, Mike Davis, Alex Armah 

Mike Davis has impressed as much as any player this training camp. There is some speculation that Alex Armah may not make the team but I don't see that happening. Armah is more than just a blocking fullback and has flashed ability both running and receiving. 

I hear that Christian McCaffrey guy is pretty good and is a lock. 

WIDE RECEIVERS (7)

DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper, Seth Roberts, Keith Kirkwood, Brandon Zylstra 

Matt Rhule has said that seven receivers is possible that season and I believe him. Joe Brady's offense is high paced and shows a high degree of ingenuity in the passing game. Not a shock for LSU's former passing game coordinator. You need plenty of tools in that of tool chest. 

TIGHT ENDS (3)

Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Free Agent 

Thomas and Manhertz are locks, obviously. But from what I hear the other tight ends have failed to make much of an impression at all. I look for the Carolina Panthers to pick up a free agent once cut downs happen later this week. Or, they may roll with two tight ends and allow Alex Armah to play the position if needed in an emergency. 

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Taylor Moton, Russell Okung, John Miller, Dennis Daley, Greg Little, Michael Schofield, Chris Reed, Tyler Larsen, Matt Paradis

All in all this offensive line could be pretty average. That would actually be a huge win for the Panthers. An average offensive line with all this talent around them would yield huge results on the score board. If they could be just average, 30+ point games could be common as soon as this season. 

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)

Kawann Short, Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, Yetur Gross-Matos, Stephen Weatherly, Efe Obada, Zach Kerr, Bravvion Roy, Marquis Haynes

In my opinion, this is the most exciting positions group on the team. The front four of Burns, Short, Brown, and Gross-Matos could provide pressure on the opposing quarterback without blitzing. Pressure from the base linemen is the foundation of all great NFL defenses. The Panthers are on to something here. 

LINEBACKERS (6)

Tahir Whitehead, Shaq Thompson, Adarius Taylor, Jordan Kunaszyk, Jermaine Carter, Free Agent

The Carolina Panthers continue to churn their roster as far as linebackers are concerned. That tells me they aren't happy with the current state of affairs and may pick up a player off waivers. It would not take much for a castoff from a solid NFL defense to make this squad. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS (9)

Eli Apple, Donte Jackson, Jeremy Chinn, Corn Elder, T.J. Green, Troy Pride Jr., Tre Boston, Juston Burris, Kenny Robinson

This group could be the Achilles heal of the Carolina Panthers. They do have some talent here, but it is inexperienced talent. In the NFC South, that just won't work. Donte Jackson is pinned as the top corner in the group, but can you see Jackson covering Julio Jones in Atlanta? How about covering Michael Thomas in New Orleans? Not good. 

Again, picking up a veteran here or even trading for one is a real possibility (I hope). 

SPECIALISTS (3)

Joey Slye, Joseph Charlton, J.J. Jansen (3)

I hear the Panthers are still sold on Charlton as punter despite a highly visible horrible punt in training camp. Joey Slye is not a long term solution at kicker, but for this season he will do. JJ Jansen is a long snapper. 

CONCLUSION

On paper, this is a team that will likely struggle. However, this provides Matt Rhule with a huge opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL. Rhule strikes me as the kind of guy that relishes such an opportunity. If you are expecting the Carolina Panthers to "tank for Trevor", you haven't been paying attention. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That secondary is brutal, and not in a good way. 

Look for us to be in a lot of games but by killed by two minute offensives. 

I guess it beats getting beat up the middle early like the end of last year. A couple of late times stealing cmc/dump off-drives might steals us 4-5 wins. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

but can you see Jackson covering Julio Jones in Atlanta? How about covering Michael Thomas in New Orleans? Not good. 

Again, picking up a veteran here or even trading for one is a real possibility (I hope). 

Why do you hope that? We don't have the talent for a SB run. So why would you hope we somehow are good on defense? Personally, I hope we're trash, and somehow get a great QB in next years Draft. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, nctarheelreincarnated said:

Why do you hope that? We don't have the talent for a SB run. So why would you hope we somehow are good on defense? Personally, I hope we're trash, and somehow get a great QB in next years Draft. 

No, but you dont make a super bowl run without establishing a winning tradition.  Remember, EVERYONE wanted us to tank at the end of 2014 for a better pick, instead we fought back and created an identity that would carry over into our 2015 superbowl run.  Point is, we can rebuild, but still establish who we are with our teams core.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Thorrez said:

That secondary is brutal, and not in a good way. 

I don’t see this. I see below average but not worst in the league. Both of our safeties were hand picked by the coaching staff to fit what they wanted. We had Reid and cut him specifically for Burris. Jackson is hit or miss but hopefully continues to grow. Our CB2 i agree is a pile of garbage but this can’t be any worse than 2016 when Norman was cut and we had 3 rookies. It looks to me to be muchhhh better than that. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Carolina Cajun said:

No, but you dont make a super bowl run without establishing a winning tradition.  Remember, EVERYONE wanted us to tank at the end of 2014 for a better pick, instead we fought back and created an identity that would carry over into our 2015 superbowl run.  Point is, we can rebuild, but still establish who we are with our teams core.

Telling competitors to lose is always going to go poorly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote
2 hours ago, Jeremy Igo said:

WIDE RECEIVERS (7)

DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper, Seth Roberts, Keith Kirkwood, Brandon Zylstra 

 

I thought Kirkwood had a broken clavicle or collarbone or something else that starts with c.  Have you seen him out there doing work on the side?  Will he be available this season?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Games been a snooze fest of sloppy play
    • ESPN's David Newton: QUARTERBACKS (2): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton A preseason muscle injury to Dalton's right arm could force the Panthers to keep Jack Plummer if the issue gets worse, but that currently doesn't seem to be a concern. For the first time since going No. 1 in 2023, there is no question that Young is the starter after winning two of his final three games last season with 10 touchdowns (7 passing, 3 rushing) and no turnovers. RUNNING BACKS (3): Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne Selecting Etienne in the fourth round out of Georgia makes veteran Raheem Blackshear a likely cut. Etienne has shown in the preseason that he is a capable option as a runner, in addition to being a returner, which has been Blackshear's primary responsibility since 2022. WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr., David Moore, Hunter Renfrow This is the most improved group on the team, so keeping seven initially makes sense. If the Panthers go with six it could make coach Dave Canales' favorite, Moore, expendable with Renfrow showing he's close to the level he played in 2021 when he made the Pro Bowl with the Las Vegas Raiders. Brycen Tremayne, who's had an excellent preseason, will be a tough cut. TIGHT ENDS (3): Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans There is anticipation Tremble (back surgery) will be ready for the regular season after coming off the PUP list before the preseason finale, though he could still miss a game or two. Keeping him on the 53-man roster makes sense so she doesn't have to miss the first four games. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): T Ikem Ekwonu, G Damien Lewis, G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett, C Cade Mays, T Taylor Moton, T Yosh Nijman, T-G Brady Christensen, G Chandler Zavala, G Jarrett Kingston Injuries to guards Lewis (strained shoulder) and Zavala (knee) plays a factor in keeping 10 instead of the nine predicted going into camp. The starting five returning from 2024 had a solid preseason, but the lackluster play of backups showed depth remains a concern. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): DE Derrick Brown, NT Bobby Brown III, DE Tershawn Wharton, DE A'Shawn Robinson, NT Cam Jackson , DE Jaden Crumedy A shoulder injury that has kept fifth-round pick Jackson from making an impact means Crumedy could make it here. The biggest cut will be Shy Tuttle, who has 32 starts the past two years but little to show for it. Moving on from him will create $2.4 million in cap space that can be used elsewhere. LINEBACKERS (10): OLB D.J. Wonnum, OLB Patrick Jones II, OLB Princely Umanmielen, OLB Nic Scourton, OLB Thomas Incoom, ILB Christian Rozeboom, ILB Trevin Wallace, ILB Claudin Cherelus, ILB Jon Rhattigan, ILB Jacoby Windmon The release of ILB Josey Jewell (concussion protocol) at the start of camp required immediate attention, but Rozeboom has stepped up well. Depth remains a big question, particularly inside. Moving on from draft pick Bam Martin-Scott means he'll likely end up on the practice squad. It was time to move on from OLB DJ Johnson. Look for turnover beyond the starters here. CORNERBACKS (5): Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Shemar Bartholomew, Corey ThorntonJackson has played well enough at times to ease the concern opposite Pro Bowler Horn. Thorton's play during camp has been a big surprise, but the overall depth of this group means there likely will be turnover. SAFETIES (4): Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Demani Richardson, Lathan Ransom The big question is how long it will take fourth-round pick Ransom to replace Scott as the starter opposite Moehrig. Also, don't rule out another experienced player being signed. SPECIALISTS (3): K Ryan Fitzgerald, P Sam Martin, LS JJ Jansen Big-legged undrafted free agent Fitzgerald out of Florida State may have solidified his spot over Matthew Wright with a 52-yard field goal in the second preseason game against the Texans. The other two spots are solid, but Carolina likely will keep an eye out for dependable veterans who end up being released.
    • Holy poo Is it raining grease? Neither team can hold on to the ball.
×
×
  • Create New...