Carolina Panthers own top waiver-wire priority. Here are six cut players worth claiming
The Carolina Panthers have set their initial 53-man roster. But the work for Week 1 isn’t done just yet.
Hundreds of NFL players hit the waiver wire on Tuesday afternoon, and the Panthers own the top priority for claiming that talent on Wednesday at noon. If the Panthers see potential upgrades on the wire, they’ll pounce and get who they want from the collection of cut players on the list.
With clear needs at cornerback and edge rusher, expect the Panthers to take advantage of their top claim priority.
“Thinking about our roster, and thinking about the depth of our receiver room: there are teams out there with similar situations in different positions, where they may have six or seven guys that could help other teams,” head coach Dave Canales said. “And it kind of fluctuates what positions those are. ... I’m excited to see what there is out there.”
Here are six players on waivers who would make sense for the Panthers:
(Note: Veteran players with four accrued years of NFL experience are considered “vested” and are ineligible for the wire. Once cut, those players become unrestricted free agents.)
OLB K.J. Henry
The Panthers need help at edge rusher. After keeping just four players at the position at the cut-down deadline, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Panthers snag multiple outside linebackers on Wednesday.
Henry, a Clemson alum, was waived by the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. The 2023 fifth-round pick had 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups as a rookie. A 6-foot-4, 255-pound pass rusher, Henry played in 10 games last year, but he got caught up in a scheme change following a regime sweep this offseason.
Still just 25, Henry has plenty of potential left to explore. He also played 78 snaps on special teams during his first year in the league.
OLB Andre Carter II
Carter, a second-year pass rusher from Army, was cut by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. He had a strong preseason performance with 15 combined tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in three games.
Carter played primarily on special teams during his rookie season while appearing in 12 games. The 24-year-old defender, listed as 6-6 and 256 pounds, collected two tackles during his initial NFL campaign, as he only played 68 total snaps on defense.
The Panthers have added quite a few Vikings defenders during the past two years, with T.J. Smith, Luiji Vilain and D.J. Wonnum coming from that pipeline. Carter would make sense as the next member of that group, as he has upside on par with Eku Leota and D.J. Johnson.
CB Keenan Isaac
UPDATE: The Panthers claimed Isaac and five others on Wednesday.
Isaac is a long, lanky second-year corner who was just waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Canales, who was with Tampa last season, saw Isaac push his way from the practice squad to the main roster as a rookie in 2023. The 6-3, 190-pound cornerback appeared in two regular-season games last year. While he didn’t play at all on defense in those two games, he did chip in with 22 total special teams snaps.
The Alabama State alum had a strong preseason this summer, despite his dismissal from the Buccaneers. According to PFF, Isaac allowed just one catch for one yard on two targets in three games, earning an impressive 85.9 overall grade (with a 90.2 coverage grade) from the scouting service. He also picked off a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals.
WR Isaiah Hodgins
General manager Dan Morgan, while serving as a personnel exec for the Buffalo Bills, pounded the table for cornerback Dane Jackson in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Hodgins was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round that year.
The 6-4, 210-pound wide receiver fizzled out in Buffalo after Morgan left for Carolina, but Hodgins caught on with the New York Giants under Morgan’s pal, GM Joe Schoen, in 2022. During the past two seasons, Hodgins has racked up 54 catches for 581 yards and seven touchdowns for the Giants.
Hodgins isn’t much of a special teams option, but he is a big-bodied target who could help second-year QB Bryce Young in the red zone. He could also be a worthwhile replacement for Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE Alec Holler
The pickings are slim on the waiver wire when it comes to tight end. But the Panthers are lacking bodies at the position on their 53-man roster, and Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas are both coming off nearly summer-long leg injuries.
Holler, who was cut by the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, had a solid preseason, catching three passes for 33 yards. He also received a respectable overall blocking grade of 72.1 from Pro Football Focus in three total games. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound tight end could be a developmental partner to pair with Ja’Tavion Sanders for the future.
The undrafted rookie could also be used as an asset on special teams.
CB Zech McPhearson
After missing all of last season with an Achilles tear, McPhearson was buried within a deep, talented Philadelphia Eagles secondary this summer.
McPhearson, who is known as a core-four special teams ace, just couldn’t make up ground within a cornerback depth chart that also featured Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Quinyon Mitchell, Kelee Ringo and Cooper DeJean, among others. The 5-11, 191-pound defensive back should receive interest on the waiver wire because of his ability to block kicks and cover on punts and kickoffs.
In 33 career games (one start), McPhearson — a 2021 fourth-round pick — has produced 30 total tackles, a sack and two pass breakups. He might make sense as a bottom-of-the-roster contributor, especially if the Panthers think he has safety and nickel versatility.
This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 4:53 PM.
