Projecting Panthers’ 53-man roster a tough job; Carolina faces decisions at QB, WR, DB
The Carolina Panthers still needed to trim three players before Tuesday evening’s deadline, then the team has another week before ultimately finalizing its 53-man roster.
Teams have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to cut their rosters down to 80 players. Final roster cuts, down to 53, take place a week later, on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.
As the Panthers return to Charlotte ahead of their final preseason game Friday against Buffalo, a handful of players are doing some serious in-house scoreboard watching. Who’s on the bubble? Who’s a lock to make the team.
We have some thoughts.
Here’s an early projection of what the Panthers’ final 53-man roster might look like.
Quarterback (3)
Safe: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, PJ Walker
Notable cut: None. The team will likely place rookie QB Matt Corral on IR.
I could see Carolina keeping three quarterbacks. It’s unclear who a better backup is between Darnold and Walker. Both quarterbacks have turned the ball over a lot during training camp. Walker has the best win percentage (2-0, 100%) among quarterback of the Matt Rhule era..
Keeping Walker would signal Carolina anticipated he would not clear waivers. Would a quarterback-needy team (Vikings? Jets? Texans?) sign Walker? That’s the risk with keeping only two quarterbacks.
Running back (3)
Safe: Christian McCaffrey, Chuba Hubbard, D’Onta Foreman
Notable cut: Spencer Brown
No surprises here. The team signed D’Onta Foreman this offseason to provide a downhill running style and power in short-yardage situations. McCaffrey won’t come off the field much. Chuba Hubbard will spell CMC when he does.
Receiver (7)
Safe: DJ Moore, Robbie Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr., Andre Roberts, Rashard Higgins, Shi Smith, C.J. Saunders
Notable cuts: Keith Kirkwood, Derek Wright, Brandon Zylstra
Even though he has had an inconsistent camp, the team likes Zylstra, who is also a key special teams contributor. On Monday, Saunders returned from a calf injury that kept him out several weeks. Saunders might clear waivers, but he was consistently taking first-team reps before his injury. He and Smith have dominated the slot reps all throughout camp.
Watch out for Wright. He’s shown up in big spots over the past few weeks, making a real case for why he should make the final 53. On Monday he was taking first-team reps, though Robbie Anderson did not practice with a quad injury.
Tight end (4)
Safe: Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Colin Thompson, Stephen Sullivan
Notable cut: Giovanni Ricci
The Panthers have a collection of tight ends who are not separating from each another. Ricci has had the most target-heavy preseason, but he’s a converted fullback lining up at tight end.
If Ricci makes the team, it should not be a surprise. Maybe he stays if Carolina ends up keeping only two quarterbacks.
Offensive line (9)
Safe: Taylor Moton, Ikem Ekwonu, Austin Corbett, Brady Christensen, Pat Elflein, Bradley Bozeman, Michael Jordan, Cade Mays, Cam Erving
Notable cuts: Dennis Daley, Deonte Brown
There likely will not be any surprises across the offensive line. Brown, a 2021 sixth-round pick, was a long shot to make the team after the team drafted Mays at No. 199. Brown underperformed during minicamp and has not impressed in training camp.
Daley likely will not make the team because of the position flexibility Erving, Christensen and Jordan all provide.
Defensive line (9)
Safe: Brian Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, Derrick Brown, Matt Ioannidis, Marquis Haynes, Amare’ Barno, Daviyon Nixon, Bravvion Roy, Phil Hoskins
Notable cut: Darryl Johnson
The Panthers are encouraged by the training camp performances of Roy, Nixon and Hoskins. Haynes looks explosive on the edge. The team is deeper than expected up front. Johnson has been dealing with a minor injury and was ejected from one joint practice with New England.
Linebacker (5)
Safe: Shaq Thompson, Frankie Luvu, Damien Wilson, Brandon Smith, Cory Littleton
Notable cut: Khalan Tolson, Julian Stanford
The Panthers may keep six linebackers, but the team is more talented at defensive back than linebacker, which is why I’m only keeping five. If Carolina keeps six then either Stanford or Tolson would likely stay. Stanford is a nine-year veteran while Tolson and Arron Mosby are both rookies.
Tolson played more snaps than Stanford against New England.
Defensive back (10)
Safe: Donte Jackson, Jaycee Horn, Xavier Woods, Jeremy Chinn, C.J. Henderson, Keith Taylor, Myles Hartsfield, Kalon Barnes, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Kenny Robinson,
Notable cut: Sean Chandler, Sam Franklin Jr., Juston Burris, Tae Hayes
Forecasting the Panthers’ defensive back room was the most difficult prediction. I chose the best 10 defensive backs. But cutting three safeties, and keeping eight cornerbacks compared to only three safeties, seems unrealistic. Maybe Hartsfield can play some safety.
If not, then Barnes may not be safe while Burris would be. The team could cut Saunders, leaving room for another defensive back.
Walker, Saunders, Wright, Barnes, Robinson, Hayes and Burris are all competing for the final few roster spots.
Specialists (3)
Safe: Johnny Hekker, Zane Gonzalez, J.J. Jansen
Notable cut: None
The team cut 2021 sixth-round pick Thomas Fletcher early in training camp, ending the lone special teams competition. Carolina invested in Gonzalez, Hekker and returner Andre Roberts in hopes of transforming its kicking and return game to a top-10 unit.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 9:03 AM.
