Carolina Panthers add two defensive backs to 90-man roster following two-day minicamp
The Panthers tinkered with the bottom of their defensive back depth chart on Thursday.
Following the completion of their two-day mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, the Panthers signed cornerback Greg Mabin and claimed safety Josh Thomas off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Panthers had one open spot on their 90-man roster, so the team only need to make one corresponding move — the waiving of fellow defensive back Vernon Scott — to accommodate the new additions. Scott was signed last month following a rookie minicamp tryout.
Mabin, 28, was given a two-day tryout during this week’s mandatory minicamp. He was one of three veteran players, including fellow cornerback Thakarius “Bopete” Keyes and tight end Jordan Matthews, to take part in a minicamp tryout for the Panthers.
Mabin will provide depth and insurance at cornerback with starters Jaycee Horn (ankle) and Donte Jackson (Achilles) recovering from injuries. Both Horn and Jackson are expected to return to the practice field for training camp in July, but it is unclear how quickly they’ll become full participants in this summer’s workouts.
Mabin will compete with the likes of Keith Taylor, Rejzohn Wright, Mark Milton, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Herb Miller and Colby Richardson for playing time behind Horn, Jackson and C.J. Henderson. Behind Jackson, Mabin will be the second-most experienced cornerback on the roster entering training camp.
Mabin, a former undrafted free agent out of Iowa, entered the league in 2017. The Panthers are Mabin’s eighth NFL team in six years. He has played in 45 career games and produced 64 tackles and seven pass breakups.
Thomas joins a crowded safety room that features Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods, Eric Rowe, Jeremy Chinn, Sam Franklin and fifth-round pick Jammie Robinson.
The Appalachian State alum entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Thomas spent his first two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, appearing in two games. The 6-foot, 205-pound safety was cut before Week 1 of last season and spent the entire 2022 campaign on the Cardinals’ practice squad. Thomas, 26, was elevated to the game-day roster for Arizona twice last season.
The Panthers’ roster is now at the 90-man limit.
This story was originally published June 15, 2023 at 4:09 PM.
