Roster Battles

[Icege]

With training camp underway, the battle for one of the precious few NFL roster spots is in full force and it's no different here in Carolina. The Panthers have several match-ups of their own that they're watching with great interest to see who wins a place on the regular season roster.

• Starting Center (Austin Corbett, Cade Mays)
  Corbett has gone down in back-to-back seasons with season ending injuries and will be 30 in September. Cade Mays did well in his place and earned himself a 1yr deal with the team after they had originally cut him (and then brought him back off of the Giants' practice squad). Corbett would be the best back-up guard in the league if he loses to Mays who can also play guard if needed.
   
• Kicker (Ryan Fitzgerald, Matthew Wright)
  Fitzgerald seems to be the favorite to take over as the Panthers' kicker after they elected to move on from Eddie Pineiro in the offseason. Fitzgerald has a stronger leg than Pineiro and Wright, but Wright has NFL kicking experience (including with the Panthers).
   
• WR6 (Hunter Renfrow, David Moore, Jacolby George)
  This group also included Dan Chisena until he was placed on the PUP. David Moore has familiarity with Canales, Bryce, and the offense while is also a larger body (listed at 6'0" 220 lbs) with the ability to contribute on special teams. Jacolby George was getting a lot of buzz with Carolina offering him 3yr, $2.9M deal as a UDFA and could provide some extra speed to the offense while also being an option should Jimmy Horn Jr go down. Finally, there's the comeback story that many in the Carolinas are crossing their fingers for and that's Hunter Renfrow. This might ultimately come down between who they think are most likely to clear waivers and land on the practice squad.
   
• DL6 (Shy Tuttle, Jaden Crumedy, LaBryan Ray)
  Shy Tuttle took a pay cut but is a smaller NT that got pushed around in the run game, but he brings more experience than Crumedy and Ray combined. Crumedy, a 2024 6th rounder for the Panthers, spent a majority of last season hurt and did not see the field much. LaBryan Ray, on the other hand, was on the field a lot more than anyone expected last season with the 3rd most snaps on the DL/EDGE with only Clowney and Robinson having more. 
   
• EDGE5 (DJ Johnson, Amare Barno, Thomas Incoom, Carlos "Boogie" Basham)
  Evero's "pick" in DJ Johnson can set the edge, no problem. It's his nonexistent pass rush that prevents him from being much more than a rotational edge guy. Amare Barno provides size and speed on special teams, but hasn't really flashed much outside of preseasons. Thomas Incoom got a couple of defensive snaps in limited time, but he saw a lot more on special teams. Don't forget about former Demon Deacon and Buffalo Bills' 2nd round selection Boogie Basham who failed to catch on in New York after a trade that included him and a day three pick swap.
   
• LB4 (Jacoby Windmon, Jon Rhattigan, Bam Martin-Scott, Tuasivi Nomura)
  Windmon saw very limited action in Carolina towards the end of the season as the Panthers got down to the bare bones of the roster and posted some horrendous PFF grades. Jon Rhattigan has three times as many special teams snaps but barely sniffed the field on defense. With Josey Jewell out and the remaining three LB positions likely going to Wallace, Rozeboom, and Cherelus, there might even be room for a fifth ILB. I'm sure rookies Tuasivi Nomura (Fresno St) and Bam Martin-Scott (South Carolina) to beat out Windmon for LB5 or even Rhattigan for LB4. This is all assuming that a veteran like Raekwon McMillan or Kwon Alexander. Don't sleep on Khaleke Hudson less the team decide to go with someone familiar in Chandler Wooten.

[LinvilleGorge]

I think there's going to be a battle for which safety starts beside Moehrig too.

[Camp Fodder]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I think there's going to be a battle for which safety starts beside Moehrig too.

This and if Tremble is back TE1

[csx]

I'd go with the rookie kicker. You can get a Matthew Wright level kicker if he flops that bad if not Matthew Wright himself later.

[07579394]

I'd rather Barno transfer to an ILB,but...can he?

[PanthersNCSU]

6 hours ago, 07579394 said:

I'd rather Barno transfer to an ILB,but...can he?

I think he's reached the point where his only hope is to be a ST ace and make that his niche. Don't think he's a NFL level defender at any position. 

[LinvilleGorge]

2 hours ago, PanthersNCSU said:

I think he's reached the point where his only hope is to be a ST ace and make that his niche. Don't think he's a NFL level defender at any position. 

Yeah, intriguing athlete with crazy measurables but when an intriguing athlete with crazy measurables who isn't facing murder charges or something extreme off the field falls to the 6th round you know there are very real concerns on the field.

I still support the pick though. I mean, on the 6th round sure, roll the dice on a guy like that.

[shaqattaq]

20 hours ago, Icege said:

DL6 (Shy Tuttle, Jaden Crumedy, LaBryan Ray)
Shy Tuttle took a pay cut but is a smaller NT that got pushed around in the run game, but he brings more experience than Crumedy and Ray combined. Crumedy, a 2024 6th rounder for the Panthers, spent a majority of last season hurt and did not see the field much. LaBryan Ray, on the other hand, was on the field a lot more than anyone expected last season with the 3rd most snaps on the DL/EDGE with only Clowney and Robinson having more.

Just curious, are these the 5 you have down as locks: BB3, Brown, Wharton, Robinson, Cam Jackson?

[Icege]

1 hour ago, shaqattaq said:

Just curious, are these the 5 you have down as locks: BB3, Brown, Wharton, Robinson, Cam Jackson?

 

Yup!