Panthers Tracks: Breaking down the Eli Apple signing and the low risk involved
The Carolina Panthers needed a veteran cornerback.
General Manager Marty Hurney said it was the biggest need the team was looking to address on WFNZ on Wednesday. Anyone looking over the roster would have realized that the team was very young at the position and could use some help.
Carolina addressed that hole Thursday signing cornerback Eli Apple to a one-year deal. Apple has had an up-and-down NFL career throughout his first four seasons. The Panthers will be his third team (Giants, Saints) after an agreement fell through with the Raiders earlier in April.
The former first-round pick is coming off allowing the highest completion percentage in his career (63.2%, 43 receptions on 68 targets) in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. He was also called for 11 penalties last year, most on the Saints. Although New Orleans elected not to pick up his fifth-year option, Apple played well at times, but has yet to live up to being the 10th overall pick.
What does this signing mean? He will definitely have an opportunity to prove he should be starting for the Panthers. Prior to bringing Apple in, the most realistic starter for Carolina was fourth-round pick Troy Pride Jr. Going up against some of the top receivers in the NFL is a lot to put on a rookie.
Is Apple guaranteed to start next year? Is he a long-term solution to replace James Bradberry, who signed a three-year deal with the Giants this offseason? Not right now, and that’s why the Panthers addressed the position in the draft. They lost a tremendous amount of talent at the position by one player leaving.
What Apple brings is experience and an ability to help the young defensive backs grow. With a one-year deal, the Panthers aren’t taking much of a risk. There are other high-profile corners still on the market, including Logan Ryan, who has played more slot cornerback. But Apple can be either a temporary solution while the younger players grow or his career could turn for the best in a new environment in Carolina.
Apple will be just 25 years old when the season begins with plenty of upside if he can discard some of the inconsistencies that have lingered throughout his career.
Virtual offseason
The NFL’s virtual offseason has been extended two more weeks through June 12, per a phone conference call the NFL had with reporters Thursday, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that teams will be continuing to conduct their offseason training programs online and will not yet be moving toward on-field work. The longer the virtual training extends into June, the more likely it is that teams may not meet in person until training camp (offseason programs must currently end by June 26).
The league is also hoping to have coaches in facilities potentially as soon as next week. The Panthers have not yet opened their facility, but are planning to do so in early June.
Hiring
Former Panthers interim head coach Perry Fewell has officially been hired as the Senior Vice President of Officiating Administration. Reports of Fewell joining the league’s officiating team first came out in April. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Officiating Department, including “outreach to the league’s head coaches and general managers.”
Fewell, the team’s former secondary coach, took over as interim head coach when Ron Rivera was fired with four games left in the season. Carolina ended the 2019 season on an eight-game losing streak.
New rules
The NFL owners’ approved a series of new rules and bylaws Thursday, including expanding the number of players who can be designated for return from injured reserve from two to three.
It will be interesting to see the impact that this makes, especially because it will give players who are injured at the beginning of the year a much better chance of returning at some point. With limited practice time this offseason, there could be an increase in early injuries suffered.
REQUIRED READING
+ Carolina Panthers sign veteran cornerback Eli Apple to one-year deal
+ Why doesn’t Cam Newton have a new job, and what comes next for former Panthers QB?
+ 5 questions the Carolina Panthers must answer once OTAs finally begin — whenever that is
+ How Michael Vick, Matt Rhule and Luke Kuechly are giving Charlotte 49ers a leg up on life
+ Who owns Rock Hill area land the Panthers could add to site plan? How would deal work?
+ “Always be ready”: XFL star P.J. Walker took advantage of opportunity en route to Panthers
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 10:48 PM.
