Jeremy Chinn to remain at safety? What’s next for the Panthers ahead of free agency
Before the end of the 2021 season, Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow said that he and his staff were planning to watch film on Jeremy Chinn to determine whether he would be best at safety or linebacker in 2022.
The answer was safety.
Chinn, who is entering his third season with the Panthers, will return to the position he played last year. That part is certain.
But the spot opposite of him will likely have to be filled again.
Safety Juston Burris is heading to free agency, and he’s not likely to return. Burris, 28, struggled to stay healthy in his two seasons with the team. He had only 23 tackles and one interception in 10 games with the team in 2021.
And though Carolina was third in the league against the pass (192.1 passing yard per game) in 2021, it didn’t generate many turnovers.
That part needs to improve heading into 2022.
Ideally, Carolina would like to add a talented safety from free agency or the draft.
But the Panthers don’t have the money to spend on pricey free agents, even with the $16 million they recently created in cap space.
And after their first-round pick, which they hope to use on an offensive lineman or quarterback, they don’t pick again until the fourth round, making it difficult to find an immediate answer in the draft.
As part of our position breakdown series, here is a look at what’s next for the safeties:
Under contract (3)
▪ Jeremy Chinn
After an impressive rookie season at linebacker, Chinn made the move to safety for his second year. Safety was the position Chinn played in college and where he is most comfortable. He played well in Year 2. In 16 games, he led the team with 104 tackles and had one interception.
But he didn’t create as many turnovers as Year 1, which is why the Panthers considered moving him back to linebacker.
But he remained one of their most consistent players. The former second-round pick has two more years left on his four-year, $5.2 million rookie contract.
▪ Kenny Robinson
The former 2020 fifth-round draft pick and XFL player found his way on the field in 2021, mostly on special teams. Robinson, 23, played in 10 games and made one start, after starting the season on the practice squad. He also had 17 tackles and a punt return for a touchdown. He was someone who improved throughout the season and caught the attention of his coaches.
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▪ Sam Franklin Jr.
Franklin, 26, didn’t have as much of a role in 2021 as he had during his rookie season with the emergence of Robinson. But he was still a solid special teams player. He finished with 24 tackles and one tackle for loss in 16 games. Franklin is a backup who has experience filling in when there are injuries.
Free agent possibilities
▪ Rodney McCleod
McCleod, 31, was coming off an ACL injury in 2021 and played in 13 games with the Eagles. While age has caught up to him, he’s still a solid player and would be a temporary fill in. He likely won’t cost much. He had 58 tackles, two interceptions and four pass deflections in 2021.
▪ Anthony Harris
Harris, 30, spent the first six years of his career with the Vikings before signing a one-year deal with the Eagles last year. In 14 games last season, he had 72 tackles, one interception and three pass deflections. His best season was in 2019 when he had six interceptions. His deal with the Eagles was for one year at $4 million. The Panthers could probably sign him for something similar.
▪ Jabrill Peppers
The good thing about Peppers is at 26 he’s still young and entering his prime. He’s also coming off an ACL injury that cost him the majority of the 2021 season. He’ll likely have to sign a prove-it deal. Pro Football Focus projects his market value at one year for $5.5 million. In 2020, Peppers had 91 tackles, 11 pass deflections and one interception.
▪ Terrell Edmunds
The Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Edmunds’ deal prior to last season. Edmunds, 25, finished with 89 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. Pro Football Focus projects his contract at three years for $15 million. He could be a solid option, unless his contract gets too pricey.
Draft possibilities
▪ Kyle Hamilton
Hamilton is widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft. The Panthers’ focus is one offense in the first round, but would likely be the best available player on the board if he’s still there. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Hamilton is big for the position. The junior from Notre Dame played in only seven games in 2021 after missing time because of a knee injury. He had 34 tackles and three interceptions in those seven games. He had eight interceptions in his three-year career, including four as a freshman.
▪ Daxton Hill
Hill is expected to go late in the first round, but he’s a good prospect with a lot of upside at free safety. He ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Hill is 6-foot, 192 pounds and played at Michigan, where he had 69 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass deflections in 2021.
Bottom line
The Panthers won’t be doing any big spending this free agency. They will probably look for a mid- to low-cost free agent at safety, similar to what they did with Burris in 2020.
So no Tyrann Mathieu or Devin McCourtey. The Panthers’ biggest flaw on defense was their inability to create turnovers. They had nine interceptions last season, which was 27th out of 32 teams. They had 16 takeaways in total, which was 28th in the league.
Carolina has to find a playmaker this offseason to help the defense take another step. A good play-making safety can help improve that.
Position breakdowns:
▪ The Panthers likely will only be able to re-sign one. Stephon Gilmore or Donte Jackson?
▪ Examining the Panthers’ biggest problem spot and the contract situations around it
▪ Panthers have decisions to make to shore up, maximize potential of receiver room
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
